ABSTRACT
The decline of Delphi is far more complicated than simply a cessation of oracular pronouncements. By the time of Plutarch's priesthood at Delphi, in the second century AD, the extant literary accounts seem to indicate a decadence of Delphi in terms of the quality, frequency, and significance of the responses. Plutarch's essays give a clear impression of oracular decline, but at the same time there are hints of a revival at Delphi. This chapter offers a solution to this apparent contradiction: the oracle may have been declining while the sanctuary itself still flourished in terms of visitors, dedications, and wealth. The nature of the sanctuary in the second and third centuries AD was explored through the various uses of sacred and profane space. The Pythian Games and other festivals, as well as the worship of several different gods at Delphi, allowed the sanctuary to continue despite a decline in oracular consultation.
