a priest, in ancient Greece and Rome, through which gods were consulted for the answers to questions. The temple of one oracle was built over a cavern from which a peculiar, intoxicating vapor was believed to arise. The priestess would inhale the vapor, and her incoherent ravings were interpreted by a priest who wrote them down in verse. One oracle told the king of Greece, Croesus (d. 546 b.c.), that if he began a war he would destroy a great country. Croesus supposed that this meant he would overthrow the enemy's empire, and therefore went to war against Cyrus, but he instead destroyed his own country with the war. See also Cyruses in this glossary.—LCDH Approved Glossary