The Oracle of Delphi and ApolloAs a visitor to Apollo's oracle discovers, the problem with oracles is that their visions are often fairly ambiguous.
One fateful day, Apollo, the god of prophecy, decided he needed a voice to speak for him. He sought an oracle, a wise woman with the power to foresee and interpret the future in ancient Greece. With an oracle, he could bestow his gifts without the burden of answering endless questions.
Apollo erected his oracle in a temple at Delphi using part of his special magic.
In ancient Greece, there were a lot of oracles and fortune tellers. Apollo aimed for perfection with his. He aimed to make his oracle the most well-known.
Apollo was aware that other oracles' prophecies tended to be quite hazy. Yes, the frost will be gone, and spring will arrive if the gods command it", an ordinary Oracle might respond if you asked, "Shall I plant my garden tomorrow?". Such a response was not very helpful.
Apollo was determined to ensure his oracle's responses were clear and accurate, a strategy that seemed foolproof. Yet, even the most well-intentioned of oracles can be misunderstood, leading to unforeseen complications.
A weary king, for instance, travelled past numerous oracles before arriving at Apollo's oracle in Delphi. She could only be truthful, he knew. Who will win the fight tomorrow? he inquired of Apollo's oracle when he at last arrived. She said kindly, "A great king," while grinning at him.
Hearing this made the king very delighted. He was quite happy to have visited, and after leaving several gifts, he swiftly left to get his men ready for combat.
In his haste, he had forgotten that other kings would lead their armies into combat early in the day. The smile of an oracle was meaningless. Even the most accurate oracles have this problem.
