The Oracle Interior

Around the walls of the interior are depictions of winged medusae or gorgons. These fearsome creatures are traditionally seen as the Guardians of the temple and of the occult mysteries. Frightening in appearance, they represent the first challenge to the seeker of the unknown, embodying the fear of what might be in any journey. At the same time, they also stand for the protective force of the divine that guards the seeker of wisdom and the knowledge they seek. Certainly, in approaching the Oracle (and any Oracle for that matter) there is trepidation, and in many cases, the nature of question the Pythia is asked concerns a journey be it of the spirit, or the body.

Above these murals, and just visible is the dome of the Oracle, painted with stars. Unlike the five pointed stars of the modern day, the Greeks represented these celestial bodies with four and eight points. This graphical representation may be derived from the even older cultures of Mesopotamia, where the eight-pointed star represented the Mother Goddess, Ishtar.

On the floor is the casting circle, which is part of the original Oracle, developed for the Online Temple, and from which the readings are derived. Letters from the Greek Alphabet are arranged about it in a specific sequence, and answers are given based upon their mythological and numerical significance.

And seated upon a marble throne is the Pythia herself. A priestess of Hecate, she is dressed in a simple black robe. This color signifies the Goddess Hecate as Queen of the Night, and among some following the modern Hecatean tradition, the color worn by her priests and priestesses.