Pythia, more properly the Pythia, is also known as the Oracle of Delphi, who served from possibly as early as 1400 BCE until 395 AD, just after the Emperor Theodosius I shut down the pagan temples and allowed the destruction of the Temple of Apollo. (Boo, hiss.)

Until then, the Pythia enjoyed the most famous and respected Oracle status of the Greeks, and the religious and prophetic renown of the Temple was among the best recorded by history. According to myth, the site was originally a Temple of Gaia, and the Oracle was said to channel the wisdom of either the goddess Themis or Phoebe. Later the Temple was taken over by Poseidon, and finally Apollo took it over during the Greek Dark Ages.

The Pythia was selected after the death of her predecessor, and archaeologist John Hale says, "the Pythia was (on occasion) a noble of aristocratic family, sometimes a peasant, sometimes rich, sometimes poor, sometimes old, sometimes young, sometimes a very lettered and educated woman to whom somebody like the high priest and the philosopher Plutarch would dedicate essays, other times who could not write her own name. So it seems to have been aptitude rather than any ascribed status that made these women eligible to be Pythias and speak for the god."

Although debated, it has been theorized that the inspiration for the Pythia's prophesies were a result of gases issuing forth from beneath the Temple, which is on an active geological site. There are reports of a sickly sweet odor on the site, and a friend of mine who had the opportunity to tour the ruins of the Temple describes "definitely a heady and mind-altering atmosphere." For this reason, I knew that Natural Magick Shop's tribute to the Pythia should have a stiking, unusual sweet smell. Since the Temple was presided over by Apollo, you might also recognize the Bay Laurel scent favored by Apollo.

While some deities are fairly inscrutable, the Pythia is dedicated to serving her supplicants, and accordingly I found her to be very approachable as a Spirit Guide, and I hope you do as well.

Pythia is yet another formulation inspired by my Grecophile muse, Derrick Wilhelm! Her sweet oil is potioned on the Sunday immediately preceding the Full Moon.