place
Dodona
also: the Dodonaean oak
The sanctuary of Zeus in Epirus, home to the oldest Greek oracle, whose prophecies were read from the rustling of a sacred oak. Cicero jokes that Terentia's wooded estate rivals Epirus, lacking only the Dodonaean oak.
Reading notes
- Ad Atticum 2.4 §5 the Dodonaean oak
The sacred oak of Zeus at Dodona in Epirus, seat of the oldest Greek oracle, whose rustling leaves were read for prophecy. Cicero jokes that Terentia's wooded estate is so like Epirus that only the famous oak is missing.
- On Divination §1.76 an oracle from Jupiter of Dodona
Dodona in Epirus held the oldest Greek oracle of Zeus (Jupiter), where responses were sought by lot among other means. The pet monkey's disruption of the lots was itself read as the omen.