New evidence for the geological origins of the ancient Delphic oracle (Greece)

Ancient tradition linked the Delphic oracle in Greece to specific geologica l phenomena, including a fissure in the bedrock, intoxicating gaseous emiss ions, and a spring. Despite testimony by ancient authors, many modern schol ars have dismissed these traditional accounts as mistaken or fraudulent. Th is paper presents the results of an interdisciplinary study that has succee ded in locating young faults at the oracle site and has also identified the prophetic vapor as an emission of light hydrocarbon gases generated in the underlying strata of bituminous limestone.