Synopses & Reviews
A gripping modern-day detective story about the scientific quest to understand the Oracle of Delphi Like Walking the Bible, this fascinating book turns a modern eye on an enduring legend. The Oracle of Delphi was one of the most influential figures in ancient Greece. Human mistress of the god Apollo, she had the power to enter into ecstatic communion with him and deliver his prophesies to men. Thousands of years later, Pulitzer Prizewinning journalist William J. Broad follows a crew of enterprising researchers as they sift through the evidence of history, geology, and archaeology to revealas far as science is ablethe source of her visions.
Review
Enlightening and compelling . . . Drawing on everything from Plutarch to petroleum research, [Broad] decrypts a fascinating story. (
The Dallas Morning News)
An absorbing historical tale. (Entertainment Weekly)
Review
An absorbing historical tale. (Entertainment Weekly)
Synopsis
An analysis of the life, influence, and mythical powers of the Oracle of Delphi draws on the accounts of her contemporaries as well as archaeological and geological findings from her ancient temple on Mount Parnassos, in an investigation that seeks to resolve missing evidence about the temple floor vapors attributed to the Oracle's abilities. Reprint. 35,000 first printing.
About the Author
William J. Broad is a senior writer at The New York Times and with colleagues there has twice won the Pulitzer Prize as well as an Emmy. For three decades, he has covered topics ranging from biology and geology to astronomy and nuclear arms. He is the author or coauthor of six books, most recently Germs: Biological Weapons and America's Secret War, a number-one New York Times bestseller. His books have been translated into more than a dozen languages and his work featured in The Best American Science Writing 2005. He holds a master's degree in the history of science from the University of Wisconsin and lives with his wife and three children in Larchmont, New York.