Oracles on Faults: A Probable Location of a “Lost” Oracle of Apollo Near Oroviai (Northern Euboea Island, Greece) Viewed in Its Geological and Geomorphological Context

A newly discovered archaeological site at Aghios Taxiarches, Northern Euboea, Greece, may be the location of Apollo Selinountios' 'lost' oracle. This hypothesis is supported by inscriptions on two votive stelae found in 2001 alongside Hellenistic pottery and ancient wall ruins, along with its geographical context. The site's steep bedrock escarpment, hanging valley, waterfall, and cave are linked to an active fault zone, mirroring the geological features associated with Apollo's oracle at Delphi. This connection suggests a similar function for Aghios Taxiarches, though further archaeological and geoscientific studies are needed to confirm this. The research integrates geological, geomorphological, and historical evidence to propose a significant addition to ancient Greek religious sites.

Mariolakos, I., Nikolopoulos, V., Bantekas, I., & Palyvos, N. (2017). ORACLES ON FAULTS: A PROBABLE LOCATION OF A “LOST” ORACLE OF APOLLO NEAR OROVIAI (NORTHERN EUBOEA ISLAND, GREECE) VIEWED IN ITS GEOLOGICAL AND GEOMORPHOLOGICAL CONTEXT. Bulletin of the Geological Society of Greece, 43(2), 829. https://doi.org/10.12681/bgsg.11249