Historical Nonfiction

Dating back to 1400 BC, the Oracle of Delphi was the most important shrine in all Greece, and in theory all Greeks respected its independence. Built around a sacred spring, Delphi was considered to be the omphalos – the center (or, to be exact, the navel) of the world. The “oracle” was the priestess of Apollo, whose title was Pythia. Her answers were send by the god, but paid for by gold. Ancient Greeks flocked to the site for answers. Since the spring was also supposed to have healing powers, the sick pilgrimaged there as well. Archaeologists have found thousands of ceramic body parts at the site, presumably the afflicted areas that devotees wished to cure.

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