The Lydians carefully wrote down the words spoken by the Pythoness, the priestess of Apollo, at the famous oracle of Delphi. She gave her prophecy while in a sacred trance. After recording her words, the Lydian messengers began their journey back to Sardis, the capital of Lydia. They were sent by King Croesus, who wished to test the truth and power of the oracles.
When all the messengers finally returned from different shrines, they brought with them the answers they had received. King Croesus ordered that the written responses be opened and read aloud. He examined each one closely, hoping to find proof that an oracle could truly see the future and know hidden things Gifts Sent by Croesus to the Oracles.
Croesus Tests the Oracles
Among all the answers, only one satisfied King Croesus. This was the message from the Delphic oracle. As soon as Croesus heard it, he was deeply moved. He immediately performed an act of worship and showed great respect. He declared that the oracle at Delphi was the only true oracle. In his opinion, it alone had proven its divine power by correctly describing what he was doing at a certain moment.
Before sending his messengers, Croesus had planned a secret test. He wanted to do something so unusual that no human could possibly guess it. He believed that only a god could know such an act. He waited for the agreed day and then carried out his plan exactly as he had decided.
The Strange Act of the King
On that chosen day, King Croesus took a tortoise and a lamb. Using his own hands, he cut both animals into pieces. He then placed them together in a bronze cauldron. The cauldron was also covered with a bronze lid. He boiled the two animals together, creating a scene so strange and unexpected that no one would imagine it.
The oracle at Delphi correctly described this action in its prophecy. This amazed Croesus and convinced him that the god Apollo truly spoke through the Delphic oracle. Because of this, he placed his full trust in Delphi and believed its words without doubt Private Tour Ephesus.
The Oracle of Amphiaraus
There was another oracle that Croesus had consulted, located at the shrine of Amphiaraus. The Lydians who went there performed all the required rituals and sacred customs. However, there is no written record of the answer they received from this oracle. Because of this, the exact words of the prophecy are unknown today.
Even though the response from the shrine of Amphiaraus was not recorded, Croesus believed that this oracle also spoke the truth. He accepted its message as reliable, even without written proof. Still, it was the Delphic oracle that stood above all others in his mind.
Croesus’ Belief in Divine Knowledge
This story shows how deeply King Croesus believed in divine wisdom. He trusted that the gods could see beyond human limits. The accurate message from Delphi strengthened his faith and guided his future decisions. For Croesus, the test proved that some oracles truly possessed divine knowledge, and Delphi was the greatest among them.
