Delphi contributed greatly to wartime and peacetime endeavors, political and civil conflicts, and intellectual and religious pursuits throughout the Greek world. By the eighth century BC, Delphi had unequaled prestige as an oracle in mainland Greece. During this time, the sanctuary prospered, in part, because the oracle played an important role in advising Greek cities on colonization ventures.⁷ Greek cities planning to establish a colony abroad first consulted the oracle as to where they should go and who should become the leader of the new colony. Other peoples of the Mediterranean, including Lydians, Persians, and Romans, also visited Delphi to consult the oracle. However, there was no obligation of the god to answer a question. If he did decide to answer, it was possible to misinterpret his words disastrously. According to Kenneth Dover, oracles were the manifestations of the graciousness of the gods, and any hint about the future, no matter how fragmentary or ambiguous, was a precious gleam in the darkness of human ignorance.⁸

The treasuries of the sanctuary all bear testimony to the worldwide fame enjoyed by Delphi. The site's many devotees expressed their gratitude by dedicating precious gifts and offerings; most of the major city -- states maintained rich treasuries within the sanctuary. Monuments housing riches such as gold tripods, sculptures and bronze statues from all over the world, including Sicily, North Africa and the Black Sea, lined the Sacred Way to the temple. Many of the legendary figures of Greece consulted the oracle and nearly all the ancient authors mention the oracle of Delphi at some point, or record some story or incident relating to it. It was here that Oedipus, King of Thebes, learned of his dreadful fate, that he was destined to kill his father and marry his mother.⁹ Pythagoras, the philosopher, and Herodotus, the historian, asked for guidance from the famous oracle. Plutarch served here as a priest in an effort to revitalize the weakened religious life of the city. Delphi had become the religious and political center of the Greek world a position that no other sanctuary could claim.¹⁰

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