§16.26.1ἐπεὶ δὲ τοῦ τρίποδος ἐμνήσθην, οὐκ ἄκαιρον προσαναλαβεῖν ἡγοῦμαι τὴν παλαιὰν περὶ αὐτοῦ παραδεδομένην ἱστορίαν.
Since I have mentioned the tripod, I think it is not inopportune to take up the ancient story handed down concerning it.
λέγεται γὰρ τὸ παλαιὸν αἶγας εὑρεῖν τὸ μαντεῖον· οὗ χάριν αἰξὶ μάλιστα χρηστηριάζονται μέχρι τοῦ νῦν οἱ Δελφοί.
For it is said that in ancient times goats discovered the oracle; for which reason the Delphians, even to this day, use goats especially for consulting the oracle.
§16.26.2τὸν δὲ τρόπον τῆς εὑρέσεως γενέσθαι φασὶ τοιοῦτον.
They say that the manner of its discovery was as follows.
ὄντος χάσματος ἐν τούτῳ τῷ τόπῳ, καθʼ ὅν ἐστι νῦν τοῦ ἱεροῦ τὸ καλούμενον ἄδυτον, καὶ περὶ τοῦτο νενομένων αἰγῶν διὰ τὸ μήπω κατοικεῖσθαι τοὺς Δελφοὺς αἰεὶ τὴν προσιοῦσαν τῷ χάσματι καὶ προσβλέψασαν αὐτῷ σκιρτᾶν θαυμαστῶς καὶ προΐεσθαι φωνὴν διάφορον ἢ πρότερον εἰώθει φθέγγεσθαι.
There being a chasm in this place, where now is the so-called adytum of the temple, and goats pasturing around it because Delphi was not yet inhabited, always the goat that approached the chasm and looked into it would leap about wonderfully and utter a voice different from what it was previously accustomed to emit.
§16.26.3τὸν δʼ ἐπιστατοῦντα ταῖς αἰξὶ θαυμάσαι τὸ παράδοξον καὶ προσελθόντα τῷ χάσματι καὶ κατιδόντα οἷόνπερ ἦν ταὐτὸ παθεῖν ταῖς αἰξίν· ἐκείνας τε γὰρ ὅμοια ποιεῖν τοῖς ἐνθουσιάζουσι καὶ τοῦτον προλέγειν τὰ μέλλοντα γίνεσθαι.
The one in charge of the goats wondered at the strange event, and having approached the chasm and seen what it was like, suffered the same thing as the goats; for they behaved like those possessed, and he foretold things that were going to happen.
μετὰ δὲ ταῦτα τῆς φήμης παρὰ τοῖς ἐγχωρίοις διαδοθείσης περὶ τοῦ πάθους τῶν προσιόντων τῷ χάσματι πλείους ἀπαντᾶν ἐπὶ τὸν τόπον· διὰ δὲ τὸ παράδοξον πάντων ἀποπειρωμένων τοὺς αἰεὶ πλησιάζοντας ἐνθουσιάζειν.
After this, when the report was spread among the locals concerning the experience of those who approached the chasm, more people flocked to the place; and because of the wonder of it, when all made trial, those who approached from time to time became possessed.
διʼ ἃς αἰτίας θαυμαστωθῆναί τε τὸ μαντεῖον καὶ νομισθῆναι τῆς Γῆς εἶναι τὸ χρηστήριον.
For which reasons the oracle became admired and the sanctuary was believed to belong to Earth.
§16.26.4καὶ χρόνον μέν τινα τοὺς βουλομένους μαντεύεσθαι προσιόντας τῷ χάσματι ποιεῖσθαι τὰς μαντείας ἀλλήλοις· μετὰ δὲ ταῦτα πολλῶν καθαλλομένων εἰς τὸ χάσμα διὰ τὸν ἐνθουσιασμὸν καὶ πάντων ἀφανιζομένων δόξαι τοῖς κατοικοῦσι περὶ τὸν τόπον, ἵνα μηδεὶς κινδυνεύῃ, προφῆτίν τε μίαν πᾶσι καταστῆσαι γυναῖκα καὶ διὰ ταύτης γίνεσθαι τὴν χρησμολογίαν.
And for a certain time, those wishing to obtain prophecies, approaching the chasm, made prophecies for one another; but after this, since many were leaping into the chasm because of their possession and all of them were disappearing, it seemed good to those dwelling around the place, in order that no one might be in danger, to appoint one woman as prophetess for all, and that through her the delivering of oracles should take place.
ταύτῃ δὲ κατασκευασθῆναι μηχανὴν, ἐφʼ ἣν ἀναβαίνουσαν ἀσφαλῶς ἐνθουσιάζειν καὶ μαντεύεσθαι τοῖς βουλομένοις.
And for her a device was constructed, mounting upon which she could safely become possessed and prophesy to those who wished.
§16.26.5εἶναι δὲ τὴν μηχανὴν τρεῖς ἔχουσαν βάσεις, ἀφʼ ὧν αὐτὴν τρίποδα κληθῆναι· σχεδὸν δὲ πάντας τούτου τοῦ κατασκευάσματος ἀπομιμήματα γίνεσθαι τοὺς ἔτι καὶ νῦν κατασκευαζομένους χαλκοῦς τρίποδας.
And they say that the device had three bases, from which it was called a tripod; and that almost all the bronze tripods that are still manufactured even now are imitations of this structure.
ὃν μὲν οὖν τρόπον εὑρέθη τὸ μαντεῖον καὶ διʼ ἃς αἰτίας ὁ τρίπους κατεσκευάσθη ἱκανῶς εἰρῆσθαι νομίζω.
Now, in what manner the oracle was discovered, and for what reasons the tripod was constructed, I think has been sufficiently told.
§16.26.6θεσπιῳδεῖν δὲ τὸ ἀρχαῖον λέγεται παρθένους διά τε τὸ τῆς φύσεως ἀδιάφθορον καὶ τὸ τῆς Ἀρτέμιδος ὁμογενές· ταύτας γὰρ εὐθετεῖν πρὸς τὸ τηρεῖν τὰ ἀπόρρητα τῶν χρησμῳδουμένων.
It is said that in ancient times virgins prophesied, both because of the incorruptibility of their nature and their kinship with Artemis; for they were well suited to guard the secrets of the oracles delivered.
ἐν δὲ τοῖς νεωτέροις χρόνοις φασὶν Ἐχεκράτη τὸν Θετταλὸν παραγενόμενον εἰς τὸ χρηστήριον καὶ θεασάμενον τὴν χρησμολογοῦσαν παρθένον ἐρασθῆναι διὰ τὸ κάλλος αὐτῆς καὶ συναρπάσαντα βιάσασθαι· τοὺς δὲ Δελφοὺς διὰ τὸ γεγενημένον πάθος εἰς τὸ λοιπὸν νομοθετῆσαι μηκέτι παρθένον χρηστηριάζειν, ἀλλὰ γυναῖκα πρεσβυτέραν πεντήκοντα ἐτῶν χρησμολογεῖν· κοσμεῖσθαι δʼ αὐτὴν παρθενικῇ σκευῇ, καθάπερ ὑπομνήματι τῆς παλαιᾶς προφήτιδος.
But in more recent times, they say that Echecrates the Thessalian, having arrived at the oracle and beheld the virgin who delivered the oracles, fell in love with her because of her beauty, and having carried her off, violated her; and that the Delphians, because of the misfortune that had occurred, legislated for the future that a virgin should no longer give oracles, but that an older woman of over fifty years should deliver them; but that she should be dressed in a maiden's attire, as a memorial of the ancient prophetess.
τὰ μὲν οὖν περὶ τῆς εὑρέσεως τοῦ μαντείου μυθολογούμενα τοιαῦτʼ ἐστίν· ἡμεῖς δʼ ἐπανήξομεν ἐπὶ τὰς Φιλομήλου πράξεις.
Such, then, are the legendary stories told about the discovery of the oracle; and we shall return to the deeds of Philomelus.