In the Archaic period a whole series of practices and rituals took shape that were connected with foreseeing the future, practising magic, and medicine. Most of these are already met with in Egypt, Babylon, Assyria and Scythia, from whence at first the Hellenes of Ionia and then those of Hellas proper borrowed elements in order to synthesize them with already existing local traditions.

The prophet families of historical times linked their descent with some mythical person. During these years there was a gradual transition from prophecy and magic towards healoing and medicine: but they were never made entirely separate. At the same time, oracles, and more particularly the Apollonian oracles, took on grearter significance and had a powerful influence upon society and politics. A unique case, both in point of power and extent of influence, was the Delphic Oracle.
Various methods of prophecy were put into practice, but towards the end of the Archaic period the one that mainly predominated was ecstatic prophecy.


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