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Pythia
(1,432 words)

[German version]

[1] Prophetess of the Oracle of Apollo at Delphi

(Πυθία; Pythía). Prophetic seer of the oracle of Apollo Pythios at Delphi. In addition to her genuine designation as Pythía, her function is characterized by such epithets as mántis (Aesch. Eum. 29), prómantis (Hdt. 6,66), or prophȇtis (Eur. Ion 42). The P.'s establishment may have occurred after a period in which male priests were responsible for the promulgation (H. Hom. 3,393-396; [3. 215]). In…

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Scherf, Johannes (Tübingen) and Decker, Wolfgang (Cologne), “Pythia”, in: Brill’s New Pauly, Antiquity volumes edited by: Hubert Cancik and , Helmuth Schneider, English Edition by: Christine F. Salazar, Classical Tradition volumes edited by: Manfred Landfester, English Edition by: Francis G. Gentry. Consulted online on 04 June 2023 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/1574-9347_bnp_e1016090>
First published online: 2006
First print edition: 9789004122598, 20110510



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