person
the Pythia
also: Pythia, Pythiae, Pythiam
The prophetic priestess of Apollo at Delphi, roused (Cicero says) by an exhalation from the earth; she utters the responses, including the prophecy against Brennus's Gauls (De Divinatione 1.38, 1.79, 1.81).
Reading notes
- On Divination §1.38 the mind of the Pythia
The Pythia was Apollo's priestess at Delphi, who delivered his oracles in a state of inspired trance that Cicero attributes to an exhalation from the earth.