Testing the Oracle?

Abstract

By exploring stories about oracular consultation in light of actual practice, and vice versa, this chapter aims both to nuance current characterization of specific oracle stories and their meanings for their ancient audiences, and to deepen understanding of the lived experience of oracular consultation. Starting from the story of oracular consultation by King Kroisos (as told by Herodotos), this chapter explores literary and epigraphic evidence for dual oracular consultations of three different kinds. While drawing attention to the socio-political implications of consulting an oracle, this evidence also underlines the ancient perception of the pervasive presence of uncertainty in these interactions. In this light, Kroisos’ activities—often interpreted as illustrating how not to treat an oracle—can be seen to be similar to more familiar, everyday types of multiple oracular consultations.