(Greek mythology) the oracle at Delphi where a priestess supposedly delivered messages from Apollo to those who sought advice; the messages were usually obscure or ambiguous.
Thus both the Amphictyonic Council and the oracleofDelphi were in their power.
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The Beotians had suffered from drought for two years and sent to consult the oracleofDelphi.
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Consulting the oracleofDelphi concerning his new government, he is said to have received the following answer:
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Hence it was chiefly to a political cause that the immortal oracleofDelphi owed its pre-eminent importance.
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When the city of Athens was once in danger of being attacked and destroyed, the oracleofDelphi was consulted.
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Parnassus, the famous mountain of Phocis, the seat of the temple and oracleofDelphi and the home of the Muses.
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For having sent to consult the oracleofDelphi concerning the fortune of his new government and city, he received this answer:
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What was the mad oracleofDelphi, but a wretched creature whose limbs had the unfortunate conformation of an object of desire!
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The commonwealth of the Laws, like the Republic, cannot dispense with a spiritual head, which is the same in both-theoracleofDelphi.
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But with the increasing influence of the Dorian oracleofDelphi, with which it was connected, it became gradually considered a Hellenic institution.
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The oracleofDelphi, in response to a question put by his friend Chaerephon, had affirmed that no man was wiser than Socrates.
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But as this was a step of doubtful propriety, they first consulted the oracleofDelphi, the great authority on questions of international law.
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Outbreak of the Ten Years' Sacred War, caused by the Crissians levying grievous taxes on those who went to consult the oracleofDelphi.
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Engaged in an obstinate war with the neighbouring Absinthians, the Doloncians had sent to the oracleofDelphi to learn the result of the contest.
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The main-top, over which he presided, was a sort of oracleofDelphi; to which many pilgrims ascended, to have their perplexities or differences settled.
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Byron alludes to the oracleofDelphi where, speaking of Rousseau, whose writings he conceives did much to bring on the French revolution, he says: