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The Oracles

A ten‑minute visual journey through Delphi, Dodona, and Siwa, revealing how ancient peoples consulted the divine and how modern archaeology records those practices.

Chapters

• 0:07 Delphi: The Heart of the Greek Oracle
• 2:28 Dodona: The Whispering Oak
• 3:46 Siwa Oasis: The Desert Oracle
• 4:55 Oracles Across the Ancient World

On-screen text

• 0:07 Delphi: The Heart of the Greek Oracle
• 0:14 Delphi: The Heart of the Greek Oracle
• 0:31 Delphi's temple rebuilt after 373 BCE fire Historical record · Pausanias, Description of Greece 10.9.1
• 0:49 The marble Omphalos, Delphi's navel stone Historical record · Pausanias, Description of Greece 10.9.2
• 1:07 Pythia sat on stone bench in adyton Historical record · Excavation report, French School at Athens, 1892, Temple of Apollo, adyton
• 1:25 Bronze tablets recorded oracle replies Historical record · Inscription IG IX,1 138 (Delphic Decree, 342 BCE)
• 1:43 Spartans asked Delphi before Thermopylae Tradition / scripture · Herodotus, Histories 7.170
• 2:01 Pythian Games decree carved in stone Historical record · Inscription IG IX,1 140 (Pythian Games decree, 5th c. BCE)
• 2:19 Charioteer statue dedicated at Delphi Historical record · Marble statue “The Charioteer of Delphi,” c. 470 BCE, Delphi Archaeological Museum
• 2:28 Dodona: The Whispering Oak
• 2:35 Dodona: The Whispering Oak
• 2:52 Dodona's sacred oak stood in Zeus's grove Historical record · Strabo, Geography 7.3.14
• 3:19 Priests read rustling leaves for Zeus's will Historical record · Pausanias, Description of Greece 10.13.2
• 3:37 5th‑century BCE dedication stone to Zeus Historical record · Inscription IG I³ 1.28 (dedication to Zeus at Dodona, 5th c. BCE)
• 3:46 Siwa Oasis: The Desert Oracle
• 3:53 Siwa Oasis: The Desert Oracle
• 4:10 Alexander's stone inscription at Siwa Historical record · Stone inscription of Alexander the Great, Siwa Oasis (c. 331 BCE), Egyptian Museum, Cairo
• 4:28 Plutarch says Alexander asked if he was divine Tradition / scripture · Plutarch, Life of Alexander 44
• 4:46 Siwan priestess titled "Wife of Amun" Historical record · Diodorus Siculus, Bibliotheca historica 17.45
• 4:55 Oracles Across the Ancient World
• 5:10 Spartans consult Delphi Tradition / scripture · Herodotus, Histories 7.170
• 5:34 Dodona priests hear Zeus Historical record · Pausanias, Description of Greece 10.13.2
• 5:58 Alexander asks: Am I divine? Tradition / scripture · Plutarch, Life of Alexander 44

Sources

Historical record: Pausanias, Description of Greece 10.9.1 · Pausanias, Description of Greece 10.9.2 · Excavation report, French School at Athens, 1892, Temple of Apollo, adyton · Inscription IG IX,1 138 (Delphic Decree, 342 BCE) · Inscription IG IX,1 140 (Pythian Games decree, 5th c. BCE) · Marble statue “The Charioteer of Delphi,” c. 470 BCE, Delphi Archaeological Museum · Strabo, Geography 7.3.14 · Pausanias, Description of Greece 10.13.2 · Inscription IG I³ 1.28 (dedication to Zeus at Dodona, 5th c. BCE) · Stone inscription of Alexander the Great, Siwa Oasis (c. 331 BCE), Egyptian Museum, Cairo · Diodorus Siculus, Bibliotheca historica 17.45

Tradition / scripture: Herodotus, Histories 7.170 · Homeric Hymn to Zeus, line 31 · Plutarch, Life of Alexander 44

Sound: synthesized ambient (wind, drone, water) (CC0 — made by SoapBox). Made in 232 s of CPU.