Despite the many genealogical and chronological uncertainties regarding the Orthagorid tyranny at Sicyon it is generally assumed that the Delphic oracle which forecast a 100-year long rule by this family was an ex eventu prediction. This explains why such a length has never, or at least almost never, been doubted. Here this view is challenged by arguing (1) that the 100-year length implies a generational reckoning and, consequently, the prophecy was meant to refer to a three generation period; (2) that the tyranny lasted more than three generations, so that the oracle was not fulfilled and was not, therefore, ex eventu; and (3) that the attitude of later traditions, particularly the genealogical inconsistencies among different stories on the Orthagorids, reflects the effort to restore authority to the oracle by constructing genealogies in accordance with the 100-year prophecy.
Salvare i cento anni. Il tema della durata della tirannide degli Ortagoridi in prospettiva generazionale
LUPI, Marcello
2008
Abstract
Despite the many genealogical and chronological uncertainties regarding the Orthagorid tyranny at Sicyon it is generally assumed that the Delphic oracle which forecast a 100-year long rule by this family was an ex eventu prediction. This explains why such a length has never, or at least almost never, been doubted. Here this view is challenged by arguing (1) that the 100-year length implies a generational reckoning and, consequently, the prophecy was meant to refer to a three generation period; (2) that the tyranny lasted more than three generations, so that the oracle was not fulfilled and was not, therefore, ex eventu; and (3) that the attitude of later traditions, particularly the genealogical inconsistencies among different stories on the Orthagorids, reflects the effort to restore authority to the oracle by constructing genealogies in accordance with the 100-year prophecy.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
