[B-Greek] Spirit of the Python

Ann Nyland accuratebibles at ozemail.com.au
Sat Mar 29 17:43:09 EST 2003


Hello Denny,
Well, it was really connected with the Delphic oracle, but I suppose Jeffrey
means not exclusively. It is a Pythian spirit which was also called a
"Delphian". At any rate, the word is an epithet of Apollo, and his most
famous oracular shrine was Delphi. Apollo also spoke through shrines at
Branchidae, Didyma, Claros, Boeotia, Torad and Lycia. The method was by
possession: the oracle (person) was said to be filled with the spirit of
Apollo or by his inspiration. People would approach the oracle and ask
questions, and once possessed, the oracle would answer. In fact the Delphic
oracle was known as the "Pythia".
Ann Nyland
.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jeffrey B. Gibson" <jgibson000 at attbi.com>
To: "Denny A Diehl" <dd-1 at juno.com>
Cc: <b-greek at lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Sunday, March 30, 2003 8:29 AM
Subject: Re: [B-Greek] Spirit of the Python


>
>
> Denny A Diehl wrote:
>
> > Denny Diehl here
> >
> > Greetings Greekers.  Off topic perhaps.  At any
> > rate, respond to me individually, if you would.
> >
> > In Ac 16:16, the slave girl had a spirit of divination,
> > or a Python spirit.  Am I correct in my understanding
> > that this was connected to the Oracle at Delphi?
>
> no -- to Apollo.
>
> > Also, I understand that the Oracle breathed fumes
> > which came up out of rock in the temple at Delphi.
> > Upon breathing these fumes, the Oracle came to a
> > frenzied state, in which she would prophesy in ecstatic
> > speech which would be interpreted by her attendants.
> > Correct or no?
>
> The fume theory was abandoned long ago. But some recent geological
> surveys have indicated that it might have been true after all. There
> was, I think, a discussion of this on the Classics List some time ago.
>
> > If so, what reference might I find this or correction of
> > it?
>
> Try, besides a good commentary on Acts [i.e., Barrett], the article on
> PUQWN by W. Foerster in the Vol. 6 of the TDNT.
>
> Yours,
>
> Jeffrey Gibson



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