The Oracle of Delphi

[hoplite14gr]

Diodorus Siculus(16,26) and Pausanias "Phokika" are the main sources
of information on the Delphic ceremonies.
The excavations showed nothing of a chasm in the Temple showed no chasm.
Perhaps they have mixed the GAIA ceremonies with the later Apollonian.
In a description Pythia stays in an altar that X-mass tree branches are burned. The fumes from the raisinous branches make you dizzy.
She chews DAPHNE leaves and she stays in a closed room among fumes of incence and DAPHNE to make th prophecy.
From personal experience I know that DAPHNE leaves fumes can get you stoned. No wonder she was in ecstacy.
Kind regards