The Meaning Of Oracles | Adeche Shorts

Are there any Oracles in your culture? We’d love to know!

Whenever we hear the word #oracle our mind instantly goes to #percyjackson 🤣 what about you?

Oracles have been the bridge between the human and the divine, offering guidance and insight. Here are some #oracles we know of:

🇬🇷 The Oracle of Delphi: The most famous oracle in ancient Greece was the Oracle of Apollo at #delphi . People from all over the ancient world would travel to consult the Pythia, the priestess of Apollo, who delivered prophecies while in a trance.

🇳🇬 Igbo Oracle Agbala: In Igbo culture, Agbala is not just a deity but also a title for the priestess who serves the god. Agbala, the Oracle of the Hills and Caves, plays a central role in Igbo religious life, guiding individuals and communities.

🇳🇬 Ifá Divination: In Yoruba culture, Ifá divination involves the use of sacred palm nuts and a divining chain called Opele. The #ifa priest, or Babalawo, interprets the patterns formed by the nuts or chain to provide guidance.

🇪🇬 Egyptian Oracles: Ancient #egyptians consulted oracles in many forms, including dreams. Temples had “incubation chambers” where people slept, hoping to receive divine messages in their dreams.

🇧🇯 Dahomean Vodun: In Dahomean Vodun, the Bokonon serves as a diviner who communicates with the spirits through intricate rituals and the use of a divination system involving cowrie shells or other sacred objects.

🇮🇸 Norse Seeresses: In #norsemythology , völvas were seeresses who used a form of divination called seiðr. They were highly respected and could predict the future, often traveling between communities to offer their services.

🇮🇹 The Sibyls: #romanmythology , Sibyls were prophetesses who could enter a trance and deliver divine messages. The most famous was the Cumaean Sibyl, who was said to live for a thousand years.

🇨🇳 Chinese Oracles: In ancient China, oracle bones were used for divination. Questions were inscribed on turtle shells or ox bones, which were then heated until they cracked. The patterns of the cracks were interpreted to provide answers.

Hope you learnt something new! 🫶🏾

#africanmythology #storytelling