This morning on NPR they were talking about some recent research concerning the Oracle at Delphi. Greek legend has it that the Oracle would go into a trance in her temple, with vapors floating around her, and she would make prognostications about the future. For years scholars believed that these stories were myths used to build up her reputation as being a conduit of the gods.

A recent geological study of the area around Delphi found sandstone with embedded petrochemicals, and hundreds of minor earthquake faults. As the rocks along the faultlines slip, the friction would heat them and the hydrocarbon gasses would be released--methane, ethane, ethylene, and so on. Ethylene was used at the turn of the century (before ether and nitrous oxide) as an anesthetic; inhaling even very small amounts leads to euphoria, out-of-body experiences, and changes in one's voice.

So it appears that there were, in fact, vapors, that the Oracle did, in fact, go into a trance, and that she did, in fact, speak in a different voice--a voice of the gods.

Interesting, huh?

My wife pointed out that the citizens who came to ask questions might also have been affected by the ethylene gas:

"Oh, great Oracle, I want to start a pig farm. Tell me, Oh great and wise Oracle, how far apart should I plant the pigs?"

 

LOL, that's too funny.

 

Interesting. When my wife & I were there 2 years ago, our tour guide was a university professor of history in Athens. She told us that they have never actually found the Oracle of Delphi temple. They believed it was under Apollo's temple, but after many excavations, never found it.