Interesting article in Scientific American: Questioning the Delphic Oracle. (link via SciTech Daily Review)
"Tradition attributed the prophetic inspiration of the powerful oracle to geologic phenomena: a chasm in the earth, a vapor that rose from it, and a spring."
The article gives a good historical overview of various scientific theories and debates about the Oracle as well as describing some of the more recent geological and archaeological findings, such as this:
"The temple at Hierapolis was not a place of prophecy, and the carbon dioxide was not so much intoxicating as toxic, claiming the lives of sacrificial animals, from sparrows to bulls. Even today the gas, which is emitted irregularly, kills sparrows that perch on the wire fence intended to keep people out. Other temples of Apollo in Turkey, however, were oracular, and they were built over active springs, such as those at Didyma and Claros. A link clearly seemed to be emerging between temples of Apollo and sites of geologic activity. "
Today in Rotten History (rotten.com) had a nice piece of calendar trivia for today:
Aug 12 1869 -In San Francisco, Emperor Norton I issues a stern edict outlawing both the Republican and Democratic political parties. Violators face a prison term of five-to-ten years.
It's MY birthday today. Although I know quite a bit of the calendar trivia for my birthday, of course, I did learn of a new one today by visiting Today in Rotten History. Namely, that today in 1614 was the day Countess Elizabeth Bathory died. She was that infamous person who had hundreds of virgins slaughtered so she could bathe in their blood -- she thought bathing in the blood of young virgins would keep her young.
I share my birthday with Jules Michelet (1798), Aubrey Beardsley (1872), Count Basie (1906), Friz Freleng (1906), Nancy Kulp (1921), Princess Margaret (1930), Wilt Chamberlain (1936), Kenny Rogers (1938), Clarence Williams III (Mod Squad actor, 1939), Peter Weir (1944), Joe Strummer (1953), Budgie of Siouxsie & the Banshees (1957), and Hawaii, which became a state on this day in 1959.
Saw this fun thing on Melusine's (Hespeth's) LiveJournal and just had to find out what my battle cry was. Heh.
Jeweled Meat Hammer indeed.
