In this film, you, the audience, play the role of the Traveller, accompanying Dionysios, a wealthy man, and Kittos, his slave, on the way to the oracle of Zeus at Dodona.
When you reach the oracle you will meet: Archephon, a farmer; and, of course, two of the priestesses at Dodona.
For an immersive experience follow these viewing instructions. Below you’ll find some more information about the historical background of the scene.
Archephon’s oracle question is based on a real question asked by a real man called Archephon. He wrote it on a lead tablet when he visited the oracle some time in the first half of the third century BCE:
Zeus and Themis and Zeus Naios, I, Archephon have the ship in place, built according
to the order of Apollo. Will there be safety for me and the ship, and will I pay back
what is needed?
Discussion Questions:
- Archephon’s question includes information about a previous consultation: what is it and what does it reveal about his use of oracles?
- Archephon’s question is about travel: about what other areas of life did people and communities consult oracles? Were there differences between the questions asked by communities and the questions about by individuals?
Film Credits:
Dionysios: David Jones
Kittos: Talhah Nesar
Archephon: Henry Fuller
Priestess 1: Aniqah Rawat
Priestess 2: Eleanor Fulford
Scripted by: Riley Nicholas with Esther Eidinow
Directed by: Jimmy Hay
Filmed and edited by: Daisy Dai, Liping Pan (Orange Vision Productions)
Produced by: Kirsten Cater, Esther Eidinow, Jimmy Hay,, David Jones, Talhah Nesar
From an idea by Esther Eidinow. Funded by The Leverhulme Trust.
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