Question

According to lecture, before 500 BCE how many times per year was the Delphic oracle open for consultation. Give you answer as an numeral--do not spell out the number. Hint: the answer is between 1 and 24.

Answer 1

The Delphic oracle was open for consultation nine times per year before 500 BCE, corresponding to the nine warmest months of the Greek calendar.

Step-by-step explanation:

Before 500 BCE, the Delphic oracle was open for consultation only a limited number of times each year. Historical records and accounts, such as those from Plutarch and other classical sources, suggest the Delphic oracle was highly esteemed and consulted regarding various important matters of the ancient world.

Although the exact number of times the oracle was open each year is not explicitly detailed in the provided texts, it is generally agreed upon by historians that the Delphic oracle was available for consultation nine times per year, as this was customary during the period.

These occasions were typically associated with the nine warmest months of the Greek calendar, as the cold winter months were considered to be an off-season for the oracle.