BASEL BADRY

THE
PROPHECY
OF DELPHI
A REASEARCH MADE BY BASEL BADRY ABOUT THE PROPHECY OF DELPHI AND IT'S
RELATION WITH OEDIPUS, THE KING OF THEPES AND THE MAN WHO SOLVED THE
MYSTERIOUS RIDDLE OF SPHINEX AND THE FAKE SON OF THE KING AND QUEEN OF
CORINTH

TO CREDITS
 BASEL BADRY

CREDITS

THESE RESEARCH PAGES ARE MADE BY BASL BADRY, A STUDENT

IN CAIRO UNIVERSITY |FACULTY OF ARTS | DEPARTEMEN OF
CLASSIC GREEK AND LATIN STUDIES | 3RD YEAR | UNDER
SUPERVISON OF PROFESSOR ASMA'A RABIE'E

TO AGENDA
 BASEL BADRY

THE AGENDA
CHAPTER 1- INTRO
this chapter will include a brief intro and identification of Oedipus and
the prophecy of Delphi and how the prophecy of Delphi has scrambled
Oedipus life
CHAPTER 2- BACKGROUND OF DELPHI
this chapter will include an almost full background of the prophecy of
Delphi and to whom is attributed ,building details and brief history intro

CHAPTER 3-THE ROLE OF ORACLE

this chapter will include the role of Delphi prophecy throughout the ages
and how it has played a role in several historical crucial events

CHAPTER 4-INFLUENCE OF ORACLE

this chapter will include how the Delphi temple reigned influence on
approximately the most important kingdoms of ancient world

CHAPTER 5-ORACLE IMPACT OEDIPUS

this chapter will include a brief philosophical study about the affection of
Delphi oracle on Oedipus story where another famous tragical element
enters Cadmus family story

BACK TO INTRO PAGE CHAPTER 6-CONCLUSION

this chapter will include the summary of our story and how the Delphi
TO SOURCES AND REFRENCES temple begun to fall by time
 BASEL BADRY

The Delphi prophecy and the story of Oedipus are among the
most popular and fascinating topics in Greek mythology. The
Delphi prophecy is an ancient Greek belief in which people could
get guidance and predictions of the future from the Oracle of
Delphi. On the other hand, Oedipus is a tragic hero in Greek
mythology who unwittingly fulfills a prophecy that he would kill his
father and marry his mother. This paper aims to explore the
relationship between the Delphi prophecy and Oedipus, analyzing
the role of the Delphi prophecy in the story of Oedipus and how it
influenced the actions and decisions of Oedipus and other
characters in the story and I will discuss it from Sophocles
approach in his tragedy Oedipus Rex, our journey begins when
king Laius have heard from the prophecy of Delphi that his
offspring Oedipus will eventually kill Laius and marries Jocasta the
wife of Laius and Queen of Thebes, then Laius tries to thwart the
prophecy therefore he gives Oedipus to a shepherd and ordered
him to leave Oedipus to die on the mountain however the
shepherd feels sympathy for the youngling so he did not left him
for death and he gave Oedipus to another farmer and events
cascade and Oedipus reaches the royal court of Corinth

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The infant Oedipus eventually came to the royal court of

Polybus, king of Corinth, and his queen, Merope, who adopted
him, as they were without children of their own. Little Oedipus
was named after the swelling from the injuries to his feet and
ankles ("swollen foot"). many years later Oedipus was told by a
drunk man that he isn't the real son of Polypus and Merope
,hence he confronted his fake parents with these news but they
obviously denied it, ironically he went to the same oracle in
Delphi that his parents consulted previously, and again the
Oracle will tell him that he is destined with the murder of his
father and the marriage of his mother ,hence he tried to avoid
such destiny by not returning to Corinth and to travel to Thebes
since it's near to Delphi .to end this chapter, Oedipus
encountered his birth-father Laius and killed him due to road
problem, afterwards he encountered sphinx and he was the only
one who was able to solve her mysterious riddle ,-ironically
again- the brother of Jocasta has announced that anyone who
would spare the people life by killing sphinx would be the king
and marries Jocasta and the Prophecy was fulfilled

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The oracle at Delphi played a significant role in Greek mythology.

It was believed to be the most important oracle in Greece, and
people would travel from all over the country to consult with it.
The oracle was known for its cryptic messages and predictions,
which were delivered by a priestess known as the Pythia.
The oracle was believed to be the mouthpiece of the god Apollo,
and its predictions were considered to be infallible. The oracle
was consulted on a wide range of matters, including political
decisions, military campaigns, and personal issues. and inside the
temple we may find: at first we will see the sanctuary of Athena
Pronaia then if walk along the Sacred Way, a path to the
sanctuary of Apollo that was lined with treasuries and votive
monuments. Given that Delphi was a Pan-Hellenic sanctuary, it
was not controlled by any one Greek city-state and instead was
a sanctuary for all Greeks — city-states constructed the
treasuries as offerings to Apollo and to show off their power and
wealth .The central and most important part of Delphi was the
temple of Apollo, where Pythia delivered her prophetic words in
the adyton, a separate, restricted room at the rear. The temple of
Apollo sat atop a large terrace supported by a polygonal wal

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Priests from Knossos (on Crete) brought the cult of Apollo to Delphi in
the 8th century B.C., during which time they began developing the
sanctuary to the god.
They built the first stone temples to Apollo and Athena towards the end
of the 7th century B.C.
However, Delphi’s history appears to stretch back much further.
Archaeological evidence suggests a Mycenaean (1600–1100 B.C.)
settlement and cemetery once existed within the sanctuary area.
Around 1400 B.C., Delphi may have held a sanctuary devoted to the
deity Gaea or Athena that was destroyed by a rock fall at the end of the
Bronze Age. What’s more, archaeologists discovered artifacts and
evidence of rituals in Korykeion Andron, a cave on Mount Parnassus,
that date back to the Neolithic Period (4000 B.C.).Early History of
Delphi In the early Archaic period (beginning in 8th century B.C.), the
Delphi sanctuary was the center of Amphictyonic League, an ancient
religious association of twelve Greek tribes. The league controlled the
operation and finances of the sanctuary, including who became its
priests and other officials
Over the years, the nearby harbor community of Krisa had grown
wealthy from trade and traffic to Delphi. Around 590 B.C., Krisa
inhabitants acted impiously towards the sanctuary of Apollo and
pilgrims headed to see the oracle, though what exactly Krisa did is

CHAPTER 2-P2
unknown (some historical accounts claim that people defiled the
temple and captured the oracle).

BACK TO AGENDA
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The Oracle of Delphi played an influential role in ancient history

for fourteen centuries, helping determine the course of empires .
The Delphic oracle was one of the focal points of Greek political
history, and over which four sacred wars were fought. The
Theatre and the Stadium, where the Pythian Games took place
every four years, were places of community celebrations
reflecting triumphant Hellenism . Greeks believed that the Oracle
of Delphi existed since the dawn of time and accurately
predicted various historical events, including the Argonaut’s
expedition and the Trojan War. and such great oracles like Pythia
and Sibylla, were consulted by generals and king, and ordinary
people who sought divine guidance on important matters. The
oracles influenced many historical events, such as the Persian
Wars, the Peloponnesian War, the rise of Alexander the Great, and
the expansion of Rome. Some of their prophecies were
ambiguous or conditional, leaving room for interpretation and
human choice. The oracles of Delphi were respected and revered
for centuries as the voice of Apollo and the center of the ancient
world.

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so in this page I will discuss a sample of important events that

was affected by the oracles and prophecies of Delphi 1- we may
begin in the era when Lucius Tarquinius Superbus was a king,
Lucius was a tyrant who had taken the Royal chair with force
once he had killed Servius Tullius . In 509 BC, having angered the
Roman populace through the pace and burden of constant
building, Tarquin embarked on a campaign against the Rutuli. At
that time, the Rutuli were a very wealthy nation, and Tarquin was
keen to obtain the spoils that would come with victory, in hopes
of assuaging the ire of his subjects. Failing to take their capital of
Ardea by storm, the king determined to take the city by siege
instead. afterwards a fierce snake was in Lucius royal court
therefore he sent his two sons Tittus and Arruns with his nephew
Brutus who has different mental tendencies, when the three
arrived to the temple and the oracle said :"oh boys whoever will
kiss his mom first will be the king" the 2 siblings were annoyed
since their brother Sextus was near Rome so they kept the
prophecy hidden, but unlike them, Brutus thought that earth is
the mother of all humans so he claims to tumble and he kissed
the ground, events cascade and the Lucretia catastrophe
happens and Brutus leads revolution against Superbus and the
republic era begins hence Brutus and Lucretia husband are the

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first counsels of Rome and another prophecy was fulfilled

BACK TO AGENDA
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By the 5th century BC, Delphi had become the most important
oracular sanctuary in Greece. It attracted visitors from across the
Greek world and beyond, from places such as Asia Minor and
Egypt.But Delphi is perhaps better known for the Pythia, a
priestess who would answer questions put forward by those who
came to consult her after a ceremony was executed. Rising to
worldwide fame during the 8th century BC, the oracle, given by
the priestess in a gas-induced state of ecstasy, was interpreted
by a group of priests and put into elegant hexameters. Exerting a
strong influence throughout the Greek world, the oracle was
consulted before major undertakings, with individuals, city-
states, and foreign dignitaries traveling from around the world to
seek advice from her.Though the occupation of the sanctuary
can be traced back to the Neolithic period, the majority of the
ruins still standing today date from the 6th century BC, which
corresponds to the most intense period of activity at the site.
The first stone temples, belonging to Apollo and Athena, were
built towards the end of the 7th century BC. Literary and
archaeological records show that other gods, including Artemis,
Poseidon, Dionysus, and Hermes, were also linked to the
sanctuary.

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The oracle at Delphi’s preeminence and influence can be partly

attributed to her close association with Apollo, who was the god of
prophecy and oracles; oracles from Delphi not only came directly from
the Gods but from the God who specialised in prophecy. This
influence can be seen in the openness of Delphi, which allowed for the
oracle to become a Pan-Hellenic center and religious authority. The
Delphic oracle could, and did, give divine approval to Greek colonialism
and was a vital step in the process of spreading Greek culture and
politics across the Mediterranean. The influence of the oracle, as the
voice of the Gods, extended over the actions and decisions of political
and military leaders and thereby influenced the politics and history of
Greece. by their divine power ، here i will provide a quick history
about the construction of the temple: the development of the
sanctuary and oracle began during the 8th century, and in the 6th
century, their political and religious influence grew significantly over
the whole of Greece.Long before Delphi was pronounced the navel of
the earth, and according to popular myth, one day Apollo left Mount
Olympus in order to destroy Python, a monstrous snake that guarded
the sanctuary of goddess Earth.and reason. Following the murder,
Apollo exiled himself so that he could be purified, to later return to
Delphi disguised as a dolphin, leading a ship full of Cretan sailors.
Later on, those sailors built a temple to honor Apollo, becoming his

CHAPTER 4-P2
priests. Apollo has thus pronounced the protector of the site, while
Zeus cast a massive stone right on the spot where Python was killed.

BACK TO AGENDA
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The Influence of the Delphi Oracle on Oedipus:

In the story of Oedipus, the Delphi oracle plays a central role.
When Oedipus was born, his parents, Laius and Jocasta, were
told by the Delphi oracle that their son would kill his father and
marry his mother. In an effort to avoid this fate, Laius and Jocasta
abandoned Oedipus on a mountainside.
Oedipus was then taken in by a shepherd and raised as the son
of King Polybus and Queen Merope of Corinth. When he heard
from the Delphi oracle that he was fated to kill his father and
marry his mother, he fled Corinth in an effort to avoid his destiny.
However, as fate would have it, Oedipus ended up killing Laius on
the road to Thebes and marrying Jocasta, his own mother. When
he learned of the truth, Oedipus blinded himself in horror and
shame.
The story of Oedipus illustrates the power of fate and the
inability of humans to escape their destiny. Despite Oedipus'
efforts to avoid his fate, he ultimately fulfilled the prophecy of the
Delphi oracle.
Curse Inheritance in Greek Mythology:
The concept of curse inheritance was a common theme in Greek
mythology. It was believed that certain families were cursed by
the gods for the sins of their ancestors. These curses would be

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passed down from generation to generation, resulting in tragedy
and suffering for the cursed family.

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The Cadmus Family:

One of the most famous examples of curse inheritance in Greek
mythology is the story of the Cadmus family. Cadmus was the
founder and first king of Thebes. According to legend, he killed a
dragon that guarded a sacred spring and sowed its teeth in the
ground. From the teeth sprang up a group of fierce warriors,
known as the Spartoi.
Cadmus then married Harmonia, the daughter of the god Ares,
and they had several children. However, their happiness was
short-lived, as the gods cursed their family for Cadmus' earlier
transgressions Their son, Polydorus, was killed by his own brother
in a fit of jealous rage. Their daughter, Semele, was seduced by
Zeus and died in childbirth. Their grandson, Pentheus, was torn
apart by his own mother and aunts, who were in the throes of a
Bacchic frenzy.

Conclusion:
In conclusion, the Delphi oracle and prophecy had a profound
philosophical influence on the story of Oedipus, illustrating the
power of fate and the inability of humans to escape their destiny.

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Oedipus-Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oedipus
BASEL BADRY
SOURCES &
REFRENCES
intro to Latin studies by grand
HISTORY.COM-DELPHI the culture trip -Delphi greek travel ideas Delphi
https://n4vu.com/qna/what-did-the- professor . ali abd-eltawap
https://www.history.com/topics/ancient-
greece/delphi oracle-of-delphi-prophecy-about- https://greecetravelideas.com/the- https://cu.blackboard.com/bbcswebdav
oedipus/ archaeological-site-of-delphi/ /pid-101398-dt-content-rid-
938070_1/xid-938070_1