Meta Description: Join Dr. Jeff Winkle and Dr. David Noe in Ad Navseam Episode 56 as they journey to the “Belly Button of the World.” From the shrieking priestess of Delphi to the “wooden wall” that saved Athens, explore the mysteries of the ancient oracle, the Latin language of divination, and why you should never name a hockey team an adjective.
Introduction: Afternoon Vibes in the Vomitorium
Welcome back to the “Vomitorium,” listeners! It is Episode 56 of the Ad Navseam Podcast, and the atmosphere is a little different today. Usually, your hosts Dr. Jeff Winkle and Dr. David Noe record in the evening, when they are “careworn” from the “trials and travails of life.” But today? They are recording in the afternoon. There is a “chill in the air,” the energy is high, and they are ready to tackle one of the most mystical topics in the ancient world.
Shout-Out: The Superfan Returns
Before ascending Mount Parnassus, we have a shout-out to a true “Superfan”: Suzanne Williams. Suzanne is a Latin teacher in Northwest Arkansas who minored in Latin at Florida State “for fun” (the best reason). After moving around with her military husband, she is “getting back into the game” of teaching. Dr. Noe loves the phrasing—she’s like a relief pitcher warming up in the bullpen, saying, “Put me in, Coach!” To Suzanne, for keeping the classical flame alive: Gratias tibi agimus!
Correction: Eating Crow (and Crows)
Dr. Winkle has to start with an apology. Last week, he mocked the state of Minnesota for not having a hockey team. He stands corrected: they are the Minnesota Wild. However, he refuses to apologize for his opinion on the name. “Can you turn an adjective into the name of a team?” he asks. It’s like calling a team “The Florida Ferocious.” It’s terrible.
But this leads to a fascinating etymological detour. Where does the phrase “Eating Crow” come from? Dr. Noe did the research. It likely comes from a short story by Rudyard Kipling (1885) called The Strange Ride of Morrowbie Jukes. In the story, a proud European colonist falls into a sandpit and watches a native man survive by eating wild crows. He declares, “I shall never eat crow!”—symbolizing the swallowing of one’s pride. So, Dr. Winkle swallows his crow (and his pride) regarding the NHL.
The Topic: The Oracle of Delphi
Today’s main event is the Oracle of Delphi, the most famous religious site in the Greek world. Dr. Noe reads an opening quote from Herbert Huffman, noting that Delphi was the “most ancient in time and the most famous in repute.” It was the “established inspiration oracle” that had no rival in the Mediterranean.
Defining the Oracle: The Greeks had a specific vocabulary for this. The verb chreomai means “to use” or “to enjoy,” but its third, specific definition is “to consult an oracle.” Dr. Noe recalls seeing this on flashcards as a student and realizing just how important prophecy must have been if they had a dedicated verb for it. It wasn’t just fortune-telling; it was a fundamental way of accessing the divine.
While there were other oracles—like the Sibyl at Cumae (famous from the Aeneid) or the Oracle of Zeus at Dodona (famous for its oak trees)—Delphi was the “Gold Standard”.
The Site: The World’s Belly Button
Delphi is situated on the slopes of Mount Parnassus, overlooking a sea of olive groves and the Gulf of Corinth. Dr. Noe and Dr. Winkle agree: it is the “most beautiful place” they have ever been. But it wasn’t just beautiful; it was the Omphalos—the navel of the world. According to myth, Zeus released two eagles from opposite ends of the earth. They met directly over Delphi. To mark the spot, there is a stone (the Omphalos) that looks like a giant acorn. Dr. Winkle clarifies the important geological question: “It’s an outie.”
Apollo and the Python: How did Apollo get there? He was a young, rebellious god (Dr. Noe imagines him on a motorcycle) looking to make a name for himself. He found the site guarded by a giant serpent, the Python. Apollo slew the snake and let it rot in the sun. The Greek verb pytho means “to rot.” This act of violence (killing a beast sacred to Gaia) required penance, but it established Apollo as the master of the site.
The Process: Convenience Stores and Gas
Consulting the oracle wasn’t like visiting a 7-Eleven. You couldn’t just walk in.
- The Approach: You walked up the “Sacred Way,” passing Treasuries built by various city-states (like the Athenians and Siphnians). These were like “mini-temples” stuffed with gold and bronze tripods. Dr. Noe notes they were often robbed by warlords like Philip II, making them the “convenience stores” of the ancient world—handy for quick cash if you were an army on the move.
- Purification: You had to wash in the Castalian Spring.
- The Sacrifice: You offered an animal (or a sacred cake if you were poor). If the animal didn’t “shake the water off its head” correctly, the oracle was closed. It was a strict system.
The Pythia: Drugs, Gas, or God?
The medium was the Pythia, a priestess. Plutarch (who was a priest at Delphi) describes her as a “blank slate”—a young woman from a poor peasant family with no technical skill or knowledge. She was a pure vessel for the god . She would sit on a tripod in the inner sanctum and “shriek” or “babble” her answers. The priests would then translate these noises into perfect dactylic hexameter poetry.
How did it work?
The hosts debate the three main theories:
- Supernatural Possession: She was literally possessed by Apollo.
- Drugs: She chewed laurel leaves (a lot of them) to induce a hallucination.
- Geology: She sat over a chasm emitting ethylene gas (a sweet-smelling hallucinogen). Dr. Winkle notes there is geological evidence for a gas vent under the temple.
Dr. Noe asks the hard question: “Yes or no, Winkle. Supernatural?” Dr. Winkle’s answer: “Yes.” He leaves the door open to the mysterious.
Famous Answers: The Wooden Wall
The oracle was famous for ambiguity.
- Croesus: “If you attack Persia, you will destroy a great empire.” (He destroyed his own).
- The Wooden Wall: When the Persians invaded in 480 BC, the oracle told Athens to trust in the “wooden wall.” Some thought it meant a literal wall on the Acropolis. Themistocles argued it meant ships. He was right. The Athenian navy (the wooden wall) saved Western civilization at the Battle of Salamis.
- Socrates: The oracle declared no man was wiser than Socrates—because he knew that he knew nothing.
The Mundane Questions of Dodona
While Delphi handled empires, the oracle at Dodona handled the everyday. Archaeologists have found lead strips with questions from regular people:
- “Who poisoned Aristovula?”
- “To which god should I pray for my business?”
- “Who stole the sheet?” (Dr. Noe’s favorite—someone woke up cold and wanted divine justice).
- “Should I stay or should I go?” (Proof that The Clash were tapping into ancient wisdom).
A Biblical Coda: The Spirit of Python
Dr. Noe ends with a fascinating connection to the New Testament. In Acts 16, Paul and Silas meet a slave girl in Philippi who has a “spirit of divination.” The Greek text actually says she has a pneuma pythona—a “Spirit of Python.” It is a direct reference to the Delphic dragon. The girl follows them, shouting that they are servants of the Most High God. Dr. Noe argues this suggests the oracle’s power was real—supernatural, perhaps demonic, but accurate enough that even the apostles had to deal with it. It wasn’t just a scam; it was a spiritual reality.
Sponsors: Fuel for Your Pilgrimage
This ascent up the sacred mountain was supported by:
- Ratio Coffee: Dr. Noe loves his Ratio 8 (oyster with walnut trim), and Dr. Winkle swears by the Ratio 6. No plastic, no scorch pads, just perfect coffee.
- The Deal: Visit ratiocoffee.com and use code ANCO for 15% off (now including the Ratio 8!).
- The Moss Method: Want to read Plutarch’s description of the Pythia in the original Greek? Dr. Noe’s self-paced course takes you from “Neophyte to Erudite.” Includes live Office Hours!
- The Deal: Visit mossmethod.com.
- Hackett Publishing: Whether you need a Greek lexicon or a history of philosophy, Hackett has it all.
- The Deal: Visit hackettpublishing.com and use code AN2021 for 20% off and free shipping.
The Gustatory Parting Shot
Dr. Winkle leaves us with a quote from the great comedian Jim Gaffigan (from his book Dad is Fat). It captures the essence of travel, whether you are going to Delphi or Disney World:
“In the end, that’s what most vacations are. Just you eating in a place you’ve never been. ‘Why don’t we eat something? And then we’ll go get something to eat.’ Then we should see that thing we’re supposed to see. ‘They probably have a snack bar so we can get something to eat.'”
Valete! (And watch out for the vapors).
Resources for the Latin and Greek Learner:The Moss Method: Ready to tackle the Latin language or Ancient Greek? Visit latinperdiem.com to start your journey today!
