Thursday, 23 June 2016

Dodona Oracle and the Boiotians

It was the Boiotians  and Pelasgians who consulted the Oracle at Dodona before a battle with the Thracians and their Pelasgian allies. The Thracians had abused a peace treaty saying they could still attack the Boiotians at night which was rather unfair since the Boiotians had lapsed off their defences since the treaty. Thus the proverb 'A Thracian pretext'. The Oracle had three priestesses and one of them was faithful to the opposing side of Pelasgians since Dodona had seemed to be biased towards the Pelasgians - it being located in the area of where they originated. She gave a supposedly biased oracle translation, after rustling and waving leaves and interpreting the voices of the Gods and all that. She suggested the Boioioioiotians commit sacrilege. The Boiotian messenger decided to take the matter in his own hands and he burned the priestess for giving a supposedly false oracle or maybe it was because she was Pelasgian and they were only doing what she had advised them to do. They were in subsequent bother anyway and a trial was set up. The Boeotians noticed to their chagrin that there was an all woman dury and wanted more men to balance things out and make things equal. This was granted and the verdict was a draw, thus the Boiotioans escaped a conviction. Close one. The men then took charge of the Dodonian Oracle. A clothed tripod is now paraded as a reminder of the unfortunate episode. Sorry about the typos. You try writing Boiotians constantly under such duress.

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