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ESTHER EIDINOW

University of Bristol

In Herodotus’ Histories, the oracular sanctuary of APOLLO at Didyma, ten miles south of MILETUS on the Ionian coast, is called Branchidae; the only reference to “Didyma” occurs in the oracle from Delphi that foretells the sanctuary’s destruction by the Persians (6.19.2). The sanctuary was served by the priestly family of the Branchidae, said to be descended from a shepherd called Branchus, who had been granted the gift of DIVINATION. Herodotus describes the sanctuary as ancient (1.53.3); Pausanias (7.2.6) reports that the sanctuary of Apollo and the oracle had been there before the arrival of the IONIANS.

Three ORACLES (in prose) and one dedication survive from this period of its operation (Fontenrose 1988), and Morgan (1989) suggests that it was used largely for local civic business; one late inscription (Milet I.3.155) suggests its use to sanction COLONIZATION expeditions. However, Herodotus reports in passing that all the Ionians and AEOLIANS used to consult this sanctuary (1.157). He describes the Cymeans’ consultations when they are trying to decide whether or not to surrender the Lydian suppliant PACTYES to the Persians (1.157–59); it tells them to deliver him up and, when ARISTODICUS tests this instruction, appears to condemn the Cymeans for the impiety of even consulting on this matter.

According to Herodotus, consultants from further afield included NECOS II king of EGYPT who made DEDICATIONS there after his victory at MAGDOLUS (Megiddo), following a PROPHECY that he should stop building a canal linking the NILE River to the ERYTHRAEAN (Red) Sea (2.158–59). It is also one of the sanctuaries visited by the MESSENGERS of CROESUS when he tests the oracles (1.46), and although it is not listed as one that gave the correct answer, nevertheless, Herodotus reports that Croesus made offerings there that were equal to those he made at Delphi (1.92). These must have been ample: when Aristagoras was proposing the IONIAN REVOLT from the empire of DARIUS I, HECATAEUS is said to have recommended using these dedications to finance an Ionian fleet; but the plan was not approved (5.36.1–4).

The sanctuary was destroyed in 494 BCE (but later writers describe this happening under XERXES: see Hammond 1998) and the PRIESTS resettled in Sogdiana, at the northeastern extremity of the Persian Empire (Plin. HN 6.18). Cult activity may have continued in the sanctuary, but the oracle does not seem to have operated again until the 330s (pronouncing in favor of Alexander the Great: Strabo 17.1.43/C814); there are no historical oracle responses again until 228 BCE.

SEE ALSO: Cyme; Religion, Greek; Sogdians; Suppliants; Temples and Sanctuaries