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An '''oracle''' is a person or thing considered to provide wise and insightful counsel or prophetic predictions, most notably including precognition of the future, inspired by deities. If done through [[occult]]ic means, it is a form of [[divination]]. | An '''oracle''' is a person or thing considered to provide wise and insightful counsel or prophetic predictions, most notably including precognition of the future, inspired by deities. If done through [[occult]]ic means, it is a form of [[divination]]. | ||
The | The [[Oracle of Amun|Oracle of Zeus Ammon at Siwa Oasis]] was so famous that Alexander the Great visited it when he conquered Egypt to ask if he was the son of Zeus. | ||
==Oracles in Antiquity== | ==Oracles in Antiquity== | ||
[[File:Oracle of Delphi.jpg|400px|thumb|The Oracle of Delphi delivering a prophecy]] | |||
The word oracle comes from the Latin verb ''ōrāre'', "to speak" and properly refers to the priest or priestess uttering the prediction. In extended use, oracle may also refer to the site of the oracle, and to the oracular utterances themselves, called ''khrēsmē'' "tresme" (χρησμοί) in Greek. | The word oracle comes from the Latin verb ''ōrāre'', "to speak" and properly refers to the priest or priestess uttering the prediction. In extended use, oracle may also refer to the site of the oracle, and to the oracular utterances themselves, called ''khrēsmē'' "tresme" (χρησμοί) in Greek. | ||
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Walter Burkert observes that "Frenzied women from whose lips the God speaks" are recorded in the Near East as in Mari in the second millennium BC and in Assyria in the first millennium BC. In [[Egyptian religion|Egypt]], the goddess Wadjet (eye of the [[moon]]) was depicted as a snake-headed woman or a woman with two snake-heads. Her oracle was in the renowned temple in Per-Wadjet (Greek name ''Buto''). The oracle of Wadjet may have been the source for the oracular tradition which spread from Egypt to Greece. Evans linked Wadjet with the "Minoan Snake Goddess." | Walter Burkert observes that "Frenzied women from whose lips the God speaks" are recorded in the Near East as in Mari in the second millennium BC and in Assyria in the first millennium BC. In [[Egyptian religion|Egypt]], the goddess Wadjet (eye of the [[moon]]) was depicted as a snake-headed woman or a woman with two snake-heads. Her oracle was in the renowned temple in Per-Wadjet (Greek name ''Buto''). The oracle of Wadjet may have been the source for the oracular tradition which spread from Egypt to Greece. Evans linked Wadjet with the "Minoan Snake Goddess." | ||
At the oracle of Dodona she is called Diōnē (the feminine form of Diós, genitive of Zeus; or of dīos, "godly", literally "heavenly"), who represents the earth-fertile soil, probably the chief female goddess of the proto-Indo-European pantheon. Python, daughter (or son) of Gaia was the earth dragon of Delphi represented as a serpent and became the chthonic deity, enemy of Apollo, who slew her and possessed the oracle. | At the oracle of Dodona she is called Diōnē (the feminine form of Diós, genitive of Zeus; or of dīos, "godly", literally "heavenly"), who represents the earth-fertile soil, probably the chief female goddess of the proto-Indo-European pantheon. [[Python]], daughter (or son) of Gaia was the earth dragon of Delphi represented as a serpent and became the chthonic deity, enemy of Apollo, who slew her and possessed the oracle. | ||
The [[Witch of Endor]] performed a function similar to an oracle with elements of [[necromancy]]. Some translations or commentaries of the [[Bible]] equate her with the Python oracle. | |||
==Oracles in global cultures== | ==Oracles in global cultures== | ||
[[File:Egyptian Oracle Cards.jpg|350px|thumb|Modern oracle cards]] | [[File:Egyptian Oracle Cards.jpg|350px|thumb|Modern oracle cards]] | ||
The term "oracle" is also applied in modern English to parallel institutions of divination in other cultures. Specifically, it is used in the context of [[Christianity]] for the concept of divine revelation, and in the context of [[Judaism]] for the Urim and Thummim breastplate, and in general any utterance considered prophetic. | The term "oracle" is also applied in modern English to parallel institutions of divination in other cultures. Specifically, it is used in the context of [[Christianity]] for the concept of divine revelation, and in the context of [[Judaism]] for the [[Urim and Thummim]] breastplate, and in general any utterance considered prophetic. | ||
===Celtic polytheism=== | ===Celtic polytheism=== | ||
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The Igbo people of southeastern Nigeria in Africa have a long tradition of using oracles. In Igbo villages, oracles were usually female priestesses to a particular deity, usually dwelling in a cave or other secluded location away from urban areas, and, much as the oracles of ancient Greece, would deliver prophecies in an ecstatic state to visitors seeking advice. Two of their ancient oracles became especially famous during the pre-colonial period: the Agbala oracle at Awka and the Chukwu oracle at Arochukwu. Although the vast majority of Igbos today are Christian, many of them still use oracles. | The Igbo people of southeastern Nigeria in Africa have a long tradition of using oracles. In Igbo villages, oracles were usually female priestesses to a particular deity, usually dwelling in a cave or other secluded location away from urban areas, and, much as the oracles of ancient Greece, would deliver prophecies in an ecstatic state to visitors seeking advice. Two of their ancient oracles became especially famous during the pre-colonial period: the Agbala oracle at Awka and the Chukwu oracle at Arochukwu. Although the vast majority of Igbos today are Christian, many of them still use oracles. | ||
Among the related Yoruba peoples of the same country, the Babalawos (and their female counterparts, the Iyanifas) serve collectively as the principal aspects of the tribe's world-famous Ifa divination system. Due to this, they customarily officiate at a great many of its traditional and religious ceremonies. | Among the related Yoruba peoples of the same country, the Babalawos (and their female counterparts, the Iyanifas) serve collectively as the principal aspects of the tribe's world-famous Ifa [[divination]] system. Due to this, they customarily officiate at a great many of its traditional and religious ceremonies. | ||
Many of these practices remain in use around the world today by followers of various [[African diaspora religion]]s. | |||
===Norse mythology=== | ===Norse mythology=== | ||
In Norse mythology, Odin took the severed head of the god Mimir to Asgard for consultation as an oracle. The Havamal and other sources relate the sacrifice of Odin for the oracular [[ | In Norse mythology, Odin took the severed head of the god Mimir to Asgard for consultation as an oracle. The Havamal and other sources relate the sacrifice of Odin for the oracular [[rune]]s whereby he lost an eye (external sight) and won wisdom (internal sight; insight). | ||
Pre-Columbian Americas | ===Pre-Columbian Americas=== | ||
In the migration myth of the Mexitin, i.e., the early Aztecs, a mummy-bundle | In the migration myth of the Mexitin, i.e., the early Aztecs, a mummy-bundle carried by four priests directed the trek away from the cave of origins by giving oracles. An oracle led to the foundation of Mexico-Tenochtitlan. The Yucatec Mayas knew oracle priests or chilanes, literally 'mouthpieces' of the deity. Their written repositories of traditional knowledge, the Books of Chilam Balam, were all ascribed to one famous oracle priest who had correctly predicted the coming of the Spaniards and its associated disasters. | ||
===Tibet=== | ===Tibet=== | ||
In Tibet, oracles (Chinese: 护法) have played, and continue to play, an important part in religion and government. The word "oracle" is used by Tibetans to refer to the spirit that enters those men and women who act as media between the natural and the spiritual realms. The media are, therefore, known as kuten, which literally means, "the physical basis" | In Tibet, oracles (Chinese: 护法) have played, and continue to play, an important part in religion and government. The word "oracle" is used by Tibetans to refer to the spirit that enters those men and women who act as media between the natural and the spiritual realms. The media are, therefore, known as kuten, which literally means, "the physical basis." | ||
The Dalai Lama, who lives in exile in northern India, still consults an oracle known as the Nechung Oracle, which is considered the official state oracle of the government of Tibet. The Dalai Lama has, according to centuries-old custom, consulted the [[Nechung Oracle]] during the new year festivities of Losar. Nechung and Gadhong are the primary oracles currently consulted; former oracles such as Karmashar and Darpoling are no longer active in exile. The Gadhong oracle has died leaving Nechung to be the only primary oracle. | |||
Another oracle the Dalai Lama consults is the Tenma Oracle, for which a young Tibetan woman by the name of Khandro La is the medium for the mountain goddesses Tseringma along with the other 11 goddesses. The Dalai Lama gives a complete description of the process of trance and spirit possession in his book Freedom in Exile. Dorje Shugden oracles were once consulted by the Dalai Lamas until the 14th Dalai Lama banned the practice, even though he consulted Dorje Shugden for advice to escape and was successful in it. Due to the ban, many of the abbots that were worshippers of Dorje Shugden have been forced to go against the Dalai Lama. | |||
==Modern oracles== | ==Modern oracles== | ||