Description

In ancient Greece no other practice was so universal than the consultation of oracles These holy sites were found in 260 locations around the Greekspeaking world and they were considered the most satisfactory means of ascertaining the future These sanctuaries were set apart from the profane ordinary world and were in the beginning restricted to natural locations where the divine was thought to be especially present They were set aside for special spiritual functions and a state of purity was generally required of its participants A historical tendency toward providing haven for criminals was based on the fear of shedding blood in a holy place and the fear that the evil magic would emanate from his curse