The Trojan War pitted the Trojans against the Mycenaeans. Today we visit Delphi, which has significance for both camps. Originally, Delphi housed the temple of Mother Earth, which was the god of the Mycenaeans. Mythologically, Apollo established his own temple and oracle in Delphi and thus started the cult of Apollo in Delphi around the 8th century before Christ.
A couple days ago, we had visited the ancient site of Mycenae where we saw the chamber tomb of Agamemnon,—king of Mycenae– a large cone-topped stone building built into the hillside with a massive door that had a triangular space above it. During traditional burial, the Mycenaeans would put valuable objects and offerings inside. In Christa Wolf’s book, “Cassandra: A Novel and Four Essaysâ€, Agamemnon becomes “the last in the series of men who have done her [Cassandra] violence†(150). Eventually he is killed by his wife Clytemnestra when he returns from war. Furthermore, we saw the Lion Gate in the wall of the city which Cassandra observes as she approaches the city as a slave of war. The book both begins and ends with these stone lions which seem to be watching her.
Delphi is traditionally known as the site of the ancient Pithian oracle of Apollo, which is referred to in so much of Greek mythology. The oracle was not only a prophecy, but it was a place. In the Apollo Temple, the priestesses would go and give prophecies to the people about once a month. People entering Delphi would pass through the entrance into the marketplace where thy might buy an offering to Apollo. Both individual citizens and city-states would make these offerings.  In general, even opposing city-states would be respectful of one another’s sacred space and objects because they all worshipped the same gods. In the Trojan War from Cassandra’s perspective though, Achilles of the Mycenaeans does desecrate the Apollo Temple in Troy by killing and raping people inside it. Before prophesying, the Pithia or priestess of Apollo would fast for days and then would enter the temple where she got drugged. Her prophecies would come out as broken words, shouts and ambiguous phrases which visitors had to interpret for themselves. This however does reflect the influence of women priestesses on all types of men throughout Greece.
In the context of the Trojan War, Cassandra would agree that people interpreted the oracles as they wanted. At one point she clearly states that the oracle was “made to order†by the royal family. Cassandra’s role in Troy seems to mirror the Pithia’s role in Delphi. Although it is not clear whether Cassandra gave oracles or official prophecies, it is certain, from the novel, that Cassandra has the gift of prophecy. However, she does not yield as much influence over men because Apollo has made it so that nobody believes her prophecies. Nevertheless, it is because of this role as prophetess of Apollo that makes Cassandra’s perspective of the Trojan War so interesting.
