Themis, a study of the social origins of Greek ... - Warburg Institute

ix] Prologue to the Eumenides 385
with the old sanctities of Earth and her daimones at Delphi,
where
Phoibos, on Earth's mid navel o'er the world
Enthroned, weaveth in eternal song
The sooth of all that is or is to be 1 .
The Sequence of Cults at Delphi from Gaia to Apollo.
It happens that, as to the cults of Delphi, we have a document
of quite singular interest, no less a thing than an official statement
from the mouth of the local priestess of the various
divinities worshipped at Delphi, and—a matter of supreme
importance—the traditional order of their succession. Delphi
was the acknowledged religious centre of Greece, and nowhere
else have we anything at all comparable in definiteness to this
statement. Thrice familiar though the passage is, it has not
I think been quite fully understood. It must therefore be
examined somewhat in detail. The prologue of the Eumenides
spoken by the priestess of Apollo opens thus
First in my prayer before all other gods
I call on Earth, primaeval prophetess.
Next Themis on her mother's mantic throne
Sat, so men say. Third by unforced consent
Another Titan, daughter too of earth,
Phoibe possessed it. She for birthday gift
Gave it to Phoibos, and he took her name.
With divination Zeus inspired his soul,
And stablished him as seer, the fourth in time,
But Loxias speaks the mind of Zeus his sire 2 .
Such are the opening words of the prologue to the Eumenides,
and they are more truly of prologue 3 character than perhaps at
first appears. They set forth or rather conceal the real agon of
1 Eur. Ion, 5.
2 Msch. Eum. 1—8 and 17—19
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