Pythia

The Pythia was the high priestess of the Temple of Apollo at Delphi, Greece. She was believed to deliver prophecies from the god Apollo, making the Delphic oracle one of the most famous in ancient Greece.

The Pythia was typically a woman over 50, dressed in maiden's attire. She would enter an ecstatic state, possibly influenced by vapors from geological fault lines beneath the temple, and channel Apollo's messages. These prophecies were often ambiguous and required interpretation by priests.

Consultations were sought for significant matters, including wars, colonization, and political decisions. The Pythia's counsel was highly influential, leading to conflicts over control of Delphi. Her prophecies, though sometimes misleading, played a significant role in ancient Greek affairs until the decline of paganism in the 4th century CE.