It really isn't kbnown who the poem was by, Rob. It is often ascribed to the
Oracle at Delphi, given variously to Julian the Apostate, an envoy of his,
or Theodosius I (34 years later)
Here's E.A.Thompson from 'The Classical Quarterly'(1946) 40: 35-36
"It is, I think, generally believed that the last oracle delivered at Delphi
was that given to Oreibasios announcing the inability of Apollo to prophesy
there again. This oracle begins with the line: ε[image: xs1F34]πατε τ[image:
xs1FF7] βασιλ[image: xs22EF]ϊ· χαμα[image: xs22EF] π[image: xs22EF]σε δα[image:
xs22EF]δαλος α[image: xs1F50]λ[image: xs22EF] and has been translated by
Swinburne as *The Last Oracle*. Of it Myers wrote: ‘(It is) the last
fragment of Greek poetry which has moved the hearts of men, the last Greek
hexameters which retain the ancient cadence, the majestic melancholy flow.’
But there is evidence which suggests that this was, in fact, not the last
prophetic utterance of the Pythian god, and no ancient authority implies
that it was. "
And that, I am afraid, is about as good as it gets. The decline of the
Oracle at Delphi (The Dolphin Oracle of the Rotting Snake!) was a protracted
affair, literally taking centuries. This was a slow dying god. Here's
Wikipedia:
"Invading barbarian invasions burned the Temple, which had been severely
damaged by an earthquake in 83 BC. Thus the Oracle fell in decay and the
surrounding area became impoverished. The sparse local population led to
difficulties in filling the posts required. The Oracle's credibility waned
due to doubtful predictions. When Nero
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nero>came to Greece in AD 66, he took
away over 500 of the best statues from
Delphi to Rome. Subsequent Roman emperors of the Flavian
dynasty<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flavian_dynasty>contributed
significantly towards its restoration.
Hadrian <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hadrian> offered complete autonomy.
Also Plutarch <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plutarch> was a significant
factor by his presence as a chief priest. However barbarian raids during the
reign of Marcus Aurelius <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcus_Aurelius> and
removal of statues and other riches (in effect looting) by Constantine
I<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constantine_I>caused it to decay. The
short reign of
Julian <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julian> could not improve matters.
However the Oracle continued until it was closed by emperor Theodosius
I<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theodosius_I>in AD 395. The site was
abandoned for almost 100 years, until Christians
started to settle permanently in the area: they established the small town
of Kastri in about AD 600."
Your excuse is, of course, accepted!
Best
Dave
On 25 April 2011 00:14, Robin Hamilton <[log in to unmask]>wrote:
> Actually, dave, this occurred to me within seconds of sending off the post,
> that the idea that you didn't know this already was highly unlikely, and I
> said as much to Judy, who can confirm this. :-)
>
> No, I don't know the poem -- is it from the Greek anthology? I think I
> reacted a little against it as the original wording in Plutarch is so spare
> and to the point that you could extract it and present it as a found poem.
>
> My only excuse is that we are currently on Our Third Drip here since we got
> back from the States, this one dropping gently from the dining room ceiling,
> and due to be fixed on Tuesday.
>
> Best,
>
>
> R.
>
> -----Original Message----- From: David Bircumshaw
> Sent: Sunday, April 24, 2011 5:36 PM
>
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Dr Who?
>
> Rob
>
> I didn't indicate the idea was new to me: I meant the poem was, as in 'I
> hadn't seen this poem before'
> Had you?
> Sent from my BlackBerry smartphone from Virgin Media
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Robin Hamilton <[log in to unmask]>
> Sender: "Poetryetc: poetry and poetics" <[log in to unmask]>
> Date: Sun, 24 Apr 2011 16:14:43
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Reply-To: "Poetryetc: poetry and poetics" <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: Re: Dr Who?
>
> Sounds like a variant of something found in Plutarch, dave, where a voice
> calls to sailors on a ship, "Go tell them in Thrace, Great Pan is Dead!"
> In
> 'On the Decline of Oracles" or thereabouts, I think.
>
> Taken by Xstn writers as an announcement that at the birth of Christ, all
> oracles ceased forthwith.
>
> As you will of course already know from your memories of J. Milton's "On
> the
> Morning of Christ's Nativity."
>
> :-)
>
> R.
>
>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> -----Original Message----- From: David Bircumshaw
> Sent: Sunday, April 24, 2011 9:43 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Dr Who?
>
> I should have mentioned that too the Doctor 'died' last night, murdered,
> shot while regenerating, and was even cremated.
>
> On a different, but not entirely dissimilar note, I hadn't come across this
> beautiful little 4th century (A.D.) Greek poem before. It's a lament for
> the
> passing of the Classical gods. The translation is by Andrew Foreman.
>
>
> *Non habebis deos alienos*
>
> Εἴπατε τῷ βασιλῆι·
> χαμαὶ πέσε δαίδαλος αὐλά·
> οὐκέτι Φοῖβος ἔχει
> καλύβαν, ὀυ μάντιδα δάφνην,
> οὐ παγὰν λαλέουσαν·
> ἀπέσβετο καὶ λάλον ὕδωρ.
>
> The Old Gods are Dead (anon)
>
> Go break the news to the King:
> The high court is fallen, its plumage melted.
> No dwelling left for Apollo,
> No prophecy left in his darling Laurel
> No heathenly prattle of fountains
> For even the chattering waters have been dumbed dry.
>
--
David Joseph Bircumshaw
Website and A Chide's Alphabet
http://www.staplednapkin.org.uk
The Animal Subsides http://www.arrowheadpress.co.uk/books/animal.html
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/david.bircumshaw
twitter: http://twitter.com/bucketshave
blog: http://groggydays.blogspot.com/
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