Role of Didymaean Oracle in the Public Life of Miletus in Hellenistic Times

Material from Miletus was examined in the context of a problem that has long been a subject of scholarly debate, namely the influence of oracles on the social and, in particular, political life of the Greek poleis. It is noted that in most cases the analysis of this problem has focused primarily on the evidence of ancient authors; however, in recent years a trend has emerged toward the increasing use of epigraphic data in the study of this issue. The article analyzes inscriptions from Miletus and Didyma dating to the Hellenistic era, which contain texts of oracles or references to them. The corpus of Milesian and Didymaean inscriptions is sufficiently representative to outline a general vision for this city. In the research among other texts such oracles are examined as related to the granting of citizenship to Cretan mercenaries, the conclusion of an isopoliteia treaty between Miletus and Heraclea on Latmos, the transformation of the cult of Artemis Boulephoros Skiris, the erection of an altar dedicated to Poseidon Soter. The analysis of the surviving inscriptions leads to the conclusion that in Miletus, the practice of consulting an oracle was not a standard procedure in domestic politics and was used only in extraordinary conditions, whether due to acute political necessity or a natural disaster. The trend observed in Miletus is generally in accordance with the statistics of oracle consultations from Dodona, for example. Inscriptions from Miletus and Didyma dating to the Hellenistic period, which record oracle texts or references to them, were examined. The naturally formed corpus of Milesian and Didymaean inscriptions is shown to be sufficiently representative to outline the general picture for this polis. Oracles concerning the granting of citizenship to Cretan mercenaries, the conclusion of an isopoliteia treaty between Miletus and Heraclea on Latmus, changes in the cult of Artemis Boulephoros Skiris, the construction of an altar to Poseidon Soter, and a number of other texts were analyzed. It has been concluded that in Miletus the practice of consulting an oracle was not a standard procedure in internal politics and was employed exclusively in extraordinary situations, whether in cases of acute political necessity or natural catastrophe. It has been noted that the trend observed in Miletus is generally consistent with the available statistical data on oracle consultations, for instance, at the sanctuary of Dodona.

EDN LXEIAU

References
[1] Nilsson M.P. Greek Popular Religion. New York, Columbia University Press, 1940, 166 p.
[2] Nilsson M.P. Cult, Myths, Oracles and Politics in Ancient Greece. New York, Cooper Square Publishers, 1972, 177 p.
[3] Finley M.I. Politics in the Ancient World. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 1983, 152 p.
[4] Bowden H. Classical Athens and the Delphic oracle: divination and democracy. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2005, 188 p.
[5] Agoratsios E. Politics and Oracles: A Study of the Athenian political relations with the Delphic Oracle in the archaic period c.632/1-505/4 B.C. London, Lambert Academic Publ., 2010, 140 p.
[6] Bonnechere P. Oracles and politics in ancient Greece: in regard to the new lamellae of Dodona: a needed palinody. Dodona. The omen’s questions. New approaches in the oracular tablets. Ioannina, Eforeia Archaiotiton Ioanninon, 2018, pp. 67–78.
[7] Robert L. Trois oracles de la Théosophie et un prophète d’Apollon. Comptes rendus des séances de l’Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres, 1968, no. 112, pp. 568–599.
[8] Robinson T. Theological oracles and the sanctuaries of Claros and Didyma. Ph.D. Dissertation. Cambridge Massachusetts, 1981, 932 p.
[9] Fontenrose J. Didyma: Apollo’s Oracle, Cult and Companions. Berkley, University of California Press, 1988, 282 p.
[10] Somolinos J.R. Los oraculos de Claros y Didima. Edición y comentario. Ph.D. Dissertation. Madrid, 1991, 739 p.
[11] Rehm A. Theodor Wiegand. Didyma. Zweiter Teil. Die Inschriften. Herausgegeben von Richard Harder. Berlin, Gebr. Mann, 1958, 391 S.
[12] Günther W. Inschriften von Milet. Teil 4: Eine Prosopographie. (Milet VI. 4.). Berlin, Boston, De Gruyter, 2017, 676 S.
[13] Nawotka K. The Nourisher of Apollo. Miletos from Xerxes to Diocletian. Wiesbaden, Harrassowitz Verlag, 2023, 294 S.
[14] Kaverau G., Rehm A. Theodor Wiegand. Milet: Ergebnisse der Ausgrabungen und Untersuchungen seit dem Jahre 1899. Das Delphinion in Milet. Berlin, Georg Reimer, 1914, 442 S.
[15] Brulé P. La piraterie crétoise hellénistique. Paris, Les Belles Lettres, 1978, 190 p.
[16] Parke H.W. The Oracles of Apollo in Asia Minor. London, Sydney, Dover, Croom Helm, 1985, 288 p.
[17] Herrmann P., Günther W., Ehrhardt N., Feissel D., Weiss P. Inschriften von Milet. Teil. 3. Berlin, New York, De Gruyter, 2006, 337 S.
[18] Sokolowski F. Lois sacrées de l’Asie Mineure. Paris, E. de Boccard, 1955, 211 p.
[19] Müller H. Milesische Volksbeschlüsse. Eine Untersuchung zur Verfassungsgeschichte der Stadt Milet in hellenistischer Zeit. Göttingen, Vandehoeck & Rupprecht, 1976, 96 S.
[20] Dittenberger W. Orientis Graeci Inscriptiones Selectae. Bd. 1. Leipzig, S. Hirzel, 1903, 558 S.
[21] Robert L. Les inscriptions de Didymes. Gnomon, 1959, no. 31, pp. 657–674.
[22] Peek W.Th. Wiegand, Didyma 2 Teil. Die Inschrift. Bearb. Von A. Rehm Hrgs. von R. Hardner. Helikon, 1964, no. 4, pp. 564–565.
[23] Oesterheld C. Göttliche Botschaften für zweifelnde Menschen: Pragmatik und Orientierungsleistung der Apollon-Orakel von Klaros und Didyma in hellenistisch-römischer Zeit. Göttingen, Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 2008, 670 S.
[24] Haussoullier B. Inscriptions de Didymes comptes de la construction du Didymeion. Revue de philologie de littérature et d’histoire anciennes, 1919, no. 43, pp. 175–226.
[25] Herrmann P. Inschriften von Milet. Teil. 2. Berlin, New York, De Gruyter, 1998, 166 S.