Dodona, Ancient oracle in Epirus, Greece
Dodona is an archaeological site in Dodoni Municipality, Greece, featuring a theater, temples, and the sacred oak tree. The theater could seat 17,000 spectators and sits among the restored ruins of religious buildings.
Priests and priestesses interpreted messages from Zeus through the rustling of oak leaves from the 15th century BCE until 393 CE. The site lost its function after the Christianization of the Roman Empire.
Faithful individuals submitted questions about health, finance, and public matters on lead tablets, receiving oral responses from the religious authorities. The priesthood interpreted the signs through the rustling of oak leaves and the ringing of bronze vessels.
The site sits 20 kilometers from Ioannina and is open to visitors, with ongoing excavations and restored structures. Sturdy footwear is recommended as the terrain is uneven and spreads across several terraces.
More than 4,000 inscribed lead tablets have been found at the site, preserving the original questions of the faithful. These inscriptions show the evolution of the Greek language and the concerns of daily life across centuries.
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