Oracles of Dionysos in Ancient Thrace

Abstract

Abstract : The focus of the article is the available information about the oracles of Dionysos in ancient Thrace. After a careful analysis of the currently know sources the author states that in the ancient Thracian lands there was not only one or two (as most modern scholars assume) but several oracles of Dionysos. The author proves this point by giving a special attention to some details in the ancient information, such as the localization of the different oracles, the features of the mantic session, the officials etc. In conclusion is summed up that although the provided by the ancient writers’ more or less detailed information, oracles of Dionysos in Thrace are not yet localized. Key words: Ancient divination, Dionysos, oracles, Thrace.Dionysos, the famous ancient Greek god of vines and wine, was strongly connected with the Thracian lands. 1 In the following lines is paid attention to only one aspect of this connection – the available information about his oracles by the Thracians. The essential sources on this issue are only a few passages in the ancient literature, presented below.