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Oracles are human beings who make predictions, or offer insight, based on a (claimed) connection to the Gods. In the ancient world many sites gained a reputation for the dispensing of oracular wisdom: they too became known as "oracles", as did the oracular utterances themselves.
In classical Greece, the pre-eminent oracle - the Sibyl (or Pythia) - operated at the temple of Apollo at Delphi. This oracle exerted considerable influence throughout Hellenic culture: the Greeks consulted her prior to all major undertakings -- wars, the founding of colonies, and so forth. The semi-Hellenic countries around the Greek world, such as Macedonia, Lydia, Caria, and even Egypt also respected her. Croesus of Lydia consulted Delphi before attacking Persia, and according to Herodotus received the answer "if you do, you will destroy a great empire." Croesus found the response favorable and attacked, and his enemies destroyed his empire.
The oracle also allegedly proclaimed Socrates the wisest man in Greece, to which Socrates said that if so, this was because he alone was aware of his own ignorance. In the 3rd century A.D., the oracle (perhaps bribed) declared that the god would no longer speak there.
Dodona became the second most important oracle in ancient Greece, dedicated to ZeusZeus Kronios (descendant of Cronus), or simply Zeus or Zdeus ( Greek ) or Dias (Greek ) ("divine king") is the leader of the gods and god of the sky and thunder in Greek mythology. Etymology Zeus is the continuation of Dyeus, the supreme god in Indo-Europ, HeraclesFor the son of Alexander the Great, see Heracles (Macedon). In Greek mythology, Heracles or Herakles ("glory of Hera") was the demigod son of Zeus and Alcmene, the grand-daughter of Perseus and the wife of Amphitryon. In Roman mythology he was called Herc and DioneDione in Greek mythology is the goddess considered to be the mother of Aphrodite. This name comes from Book V of Homer's Iliad Aphrodite journeyed to Dione's side after she is wounded in battle while protecting her favorite and son Aeneas. In this episode.Another oracle of note lay in Egypt, in a temple dedicated to AmmonFor the people in the Bible, see Ammon (nation). For the extinct mollusc see Ammonite. Ammon was the Graecized name of a major Egyptian deity, in the native language Amun "the hidden one" (alternative spelling "Amon"). He was one of the Ogdoad and was mar, whom the Greeks associated with ZeusZeus Kronios (descendant of Cronus), or simply Zeus or Zdeus ( Greek ) or Dias (Greek ) ("divine king") is the leader of the gods and god of the sky and thunder in Greek mythology. Etymology Zeus is the continuation of Dyeus, the supreme god in Indo-Europ. Alexander the Greatbust of Alexander the Great Alexander III (late July, 356 BC June 10, 323 BC), King of Macedon ( 336 BC-323 BC), known as Alexander the Great was one of the most successful military commanders of the ancient world. Following the unification of the multipl visited it, and though no record of his query remains, the oracle certainly hailed him as Ammon's son, which influenced his conceptions of his own divinity.
On CreteCrete sometimes spelled Krete (Greek Kappa;ρτ&eta / Kriti) is the largest of the Greek islands and the fifth largest in the Mediterranean Sea. It is the Greek island closest to North Africa. Tourist attractions in Crete include archeological sites lay another important oracle, sacred to Apollo. It ranked as one of the most accurate oracles in Greece.
In Norse mythology, Odin took the severed head of the god Mimir to Asgard for consultation as an oracle.
In Chinese lore, Oracle is the set of symbols used for fortune-telling in the Shang Dynasty