The Discussion Of Delphi Oracle's Influence On The Political Activities Of The Polis

In ancient Greek's Opinion, if you want to know the god's important information, you will go to the oracles centers to inquiry. They believed the gods would say to the people and point out the right way, and then prophesy future events; Communicating with the gods also became essential ingredient in their daily life. For making this communication comes true, Greeks expressed their sincere heart and worshiping gods'attitude through various ways, consulting oracles was one way. In many oracles centers of Greece, the most famous oracle center is Delphi. It is the Apollo temple locus, where is well-known by the oracles conveyed by female priest Pythia. Oracle is mainly conveyed by Pythia who replaced the Apollo god. In the development of Greek history, Delphi providing an oracle center for enquiry on many subjects was of incalculable significance in Greek Society. It entered into every aspect of Greek life, and provided instructions and helps for the polis politics, religion and individual businesses. In totally, concerning about prosperity and decline city-state and individual happy and anger, there is no place without its mark. Why did oracles have a significant impact on Greeks'life? They should consult the oracle regardless of the important or the minor matter, in order to obtain blessing. Why did Greeks so trust Delphi oracle, what's mysterious in this place? How did oracle affect Greek society, and what's the relation between the politics and oracle? The oracle is completely independent, or to a certain extent being lured by the ruling class?This thesis is the production of those thoughts.It consists of three parts.The introduction describes the history of Delphi oracle's research and temporary situation and points out the foundation and novelty of the paper.Chapter one mainly introduces the situation of Delphi oracle, including the Delphi sanctuary and the procedure of the oracle and so on.Chapter two and three are the main parts of this paper. In the second chapter, the author through classical documents'analysis, mainly discusses the oracle's influence on overseas colonial activities of the polis, and points out that oracle not only assigned the colonial places and"Oikists", impelled the colony's establishment, but also participated in the management of colony. The legislation of colony must be approved by Apollo, and only in this way it can be effective. At the same time, oracle connected the slayer or traitor's purification with the colonial activities, which made the colony's establishment indispensable.Chapter three mainly dissertates the oracle's influence on the politics reforms of the polis (The Lycurgean Reform at Sparta and Cleisthenes'Reform at Athens) and the development of democracy at Athens. The oracle approved the politics reforms, and normalized the polis's legislation and religious activity. From the Athens tyranny politics to democracy's transition, the oracle has also played the role. It is used ingeniously by the Athenians, and it became their powerful religious weapon to expel the tyranny and restore the democracy politics, indirectly promoted the democracy development.In the end, this thesis summarizes the oracles'influence on the politics activities of the polis, and inquires the oracle's cultural significance.