3.1 The oracle at Delphi
After describing the transfer of power from Candaules to Gyges, Herodotus turns to an oracle to underline the importance of this opening episode for thinking about Croesus. This is the oracle at Delphi, which once prophesied, according to Herodotus, that ‘vengeance would come to the Heraklidai [the sons of Heracles and ancestors of Candaules] in the fifth generation after Gyges. Yet, as Herodotus adds, ‘This utterance the Lydians and their kings took no notice of (poieōlogon oudena), until it was fulfilled’ (1.13.2). In his sideways manner, Herodotus sets up Croesus’ downfall from the start: it is because his ancestor, Gyges, was a usurper to the throne of Lydia that he, Croesus, will in turn be overthrown.
It is significant that Herodotus uses an oracle to make the connection. Oracles were a kind of intelligence community for the ancient world that provided assistance in making plans for the future. Typically, they are associated with Apollo who, among other things, was considered the god of prophecy. One such oracle was this one at Delphi, where the chief priestess of Apollo (who was sometimes known as the Pythia) would answer questions about the future, as if the god himself could speak through her. References to, and representations of, people consulting the oracle at Delphi occur consistently through the Histories. Why that should be so, and how these oracles function within the Histories, you are going to explore by accompanying Croesus on his consultations at Delphi.
