THE ORACLE Pythia

Ancient Greek image of a woman on a stool with a bowl and laurel leaf with a man in a toga facing her — The only surviving image of the Delphic Pythia
c. 440–430 BC, Berlin Museum
public domain

Ancient kings and rulers from across the world traveled to the remote mountain town Delphi, Greece, to visit a nameless elderly peasant woman. They made the trek because she alone could see the future, and channeled the voice of god. Her words made world leaders change the course of their lives, but no one ever documented who she really was. Travel with us on location to Delphi, Greece, to reenact an ancient visit to Pythia, the oracle of Delphi.

Katie is on location with guest Dimitrios Georgaras, who has been “listening to the harmony” at Delphi for forty years.

Temple ruins from above and the side — The Temple at Delphi
photo by Bernard Gagnon

View down a hillside with mountains in the distance — Delphi, Greece
photo by Katie Nelson

View down a hilllside with trees and paths — Delphi, Greece
photo by Katie Nelson

Columns and stelae — Delphi, Greece
photo by Katie Nelson

A drawing depicts an ancient Greek temple surrounded by other buildings — Artist’s rendition of the temple at Delphi
by Albert Tournaire

Carvings in ancient greek — Delphi, Greece
photo by Katie Nelson

Statuary created by Dimitrios Georgaras
photo by Katie Nelson

Chess set created by Dimitrios Georgaras
photo by Katie Nelson

carvings in ancient greek with symbols above each word — The Epitaph of Seikilos, the oldest surviving musical notation in the world
public domain

A man and woman stand in front of shelves of replica Greek vases and statuary — Dimitrios Georgaras and Katie in his shop in Delphi

After a career in the Greek merchant navy, Dimitrios Georgaras began creating bronze pieces using the ancient method of sand-casting. He has been “listening to the harmony” at Delphi for forty years, having visited the site and archaeological museum over a thousand times.

Music featured in this episode included

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