Lecture | UMW Research Seminar
A Battle with the Voice of the Gods – Oracle Chants as a Medium of Discursive Negotiations during the Peloponnesian War
- Date
- Monday 18 March 2024
- Time
- Serie
- Unification of the Mediterranean World Research Seminars 2023-2024
- Address
-
Johan Huizinga
Doelensteeg 16
2311 VL Leiden - Room
- Conference room (2.60)
Speaker: Dr Jens Fischer (University of Potsdam)
Title: "A Battle with the Voice of the Gods – Oracle Chants as a Medium of Discursive Negotiations during the Peloponnesian War"
Date: 18 March 2024, Monday, 15h15.
When it comes to dealing with oracles in the fifth century BC, the focus is usually on Delphi, the Pythia, and those enigmatic messages she received from Apollo. However, there existed another form of oracles that, while rarely appearing in our modern perspective, must have been very present in the daily lives of contemporary people. I am referring to equally peculiar oracle chants, which were passed from mouth to mouth and attributed to mythical seers of ancient times. I will demonstrate that these comparatively unknown oracles must be considered an important medium in contemporary discourse, often exerting a considerable influence on political decision-making.