Anthony F. Franco
Andrewes, Antony.
The Greeks
. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 1978.
A description of Greek life to about 350 B.C. Chapter 11. “Gods and Oracles” is of particular usefulness for background information to this unit.
Fontenrose, Joseph.
The Delphic Oracle
. Los Angeles: University of California Press, 1978.
Fontenrose’s work remains the leading source of information for any study of the Delphic Oracle. Anyone using this unit must consult Fontenrose first, for both his technical data and his insights. The book also contains his “Catalogue” of oracular responses and is very thoroughly indexed and cross-referenced.
Franco, Anthony F. “Search for Tomorrow: Science Fiction Literature and Today’s Student”, Vol. I, New Haven, Ct.: Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute, 1979.
A unit that introduces various scientific novels to students in an attempt to motivate students to think seriously about their futures as well as the future of society.
Franco, Anthony F. “Skill Building for Educational and Vocational Advancement”, Vol. I, New Haven, Ct.: Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute, 1978.
A career orientation unit that stresses job application language, business letter form, and résumé writing.
Herodotus.
Histories
. Translated by A.D. Godley. London:. William Heinemann Ltd., 1931. (Loeb Classical Library)
Herodotus continually refers to the Delphic Oracle and its importance in the formation of Greece.
Lagerkvist, PŠr.
The Sybil
. Translated by Naomi Walford. New York: Vintage Books, 1958.
An entertaining and intriguing story of a retired Pythia and her consultation with a man beset by a major problem. Note: This book contains some sexual matter in several scenes and should only be read by more mature students in the upper grades unless modified first by the instructor.
Lucian. Volume IV. “Alexander The False Prophet”. Translated by A.M. Harmon. London: William Heinemann, 1925. (Loeb Classical Library)
A seething account of Lucian’s contempt for Alexander of Abonoteichus, whom the author labels as an outright charlatan.
Mikalson, Jon D.
Athenian Popular Religion
. Chapel Hill, N.C.: The University of North Carolina Press, 1983.
An excellent overview of the religious practices and beliefs of average Athenian citizens. Chapter 6. “Divination” is especially helpful.
Nilsson, Martin P.
Greek Folk Reli
gion. Gloucester, Mass.:. Peter Smith, 1971.
Very useful background information concerning seers and oracle mongers. Book takes viewpoint of the religious beliefs and practices of the rural Greeks.
Parke, H.W. and Wormell, D.E.W.
The Delphic Oracle
. Volume I. The History. Oxford: Basil Blackwell, 1956.
An extensive review of the Delphic Oracle including its origin and practices. At its time the leading source of information concerning this institution.
Parke, H.W. and Wormell, D.E.W.
The Delphic Oracle
. Volume II. The Oracular Responses. Oxford: Basil Blackwell, 1956.
Parke and Wormell’s catalogue of oracular responses that are credited to the Delphic Oracle. An invaluable source for anyone using this unit.
Pausanias.
Description of Greece
. Translated by W.H.S. Jones. London: William Heinemann, 1931. (Loeb Classical Library)
This famous travelogue has many references to the Delphic Oracle, as well as descriptions of the entire country.
Plutarch.
Moralia
. Volume V. 351c-438e. Translated by Frank Cole Babbitt. London: William Heinemann Ltd., 1969. (Loeb Classical Library)
Contains two very pertinent writings dealing with the Delphic Oracle:
“The Oracles at Delphi No Longer Given In Verse” details how responses have returned back to prose form since simplicity was needed with directness rather than obscure verse and language.
“The Obsolescence of Oracles” details how there was a lesser need for oracles since the population had decreased. The treatise discusses astronomy, geometry, whether the year is growing shorter, and the
daimones
—beings lower than gods but higher than mortals who were thought to be in charge of the oracles.
Xenophon. Volume III.
Anabasis
. Translated by Carleton C. Brownson. London: William Heinemann Ltd., 1968.
Anabasis
is Xenophon’s account of his travels on an expedition which Cyrus the Younger led against his brother, Artaxerxes II. The work is praised as a military textbook as well as a tale of travel and adventure. Xenophon puts great emphasis on the importance of oracles.