DODONA, a town of Thesprotia in Epirus, or (according to others) in Thessaly. There was in its neighbourhood a celebrated oracle of Jupiter. The town and temple of the god were first built by Deucalion, after the universal deluge. It was supposed to be the most ancient oracle of all Greece; and according to the traditions of the Egyptians mentioned by Herodotus, it was founded by a dove. Two black doves, as he relates, took their flight from the city of Thebes in Egypt; one of which flew to the temple of Jupiter Ammon, and the other to Dodona, where with a human voice they acquainted the inhabitants of the country that Jupiter had consecrated the ground, which in future would give oracles. The extensive grove which surrounded Jupiter's temple was endowed with the gift of prophecy; and oracles were frequently delivered by the sacred oaks and the doves which inhabited the place. This fabulous tradition of the oracular power of the doves is explained by Herodotus, who observes that some Phoenicians carried away two priestesses from Egypt, one of which went to fix her residence at Dodona, where the oracle was established. It may farther be observed, that the fable might have been founded upon the double meaning of the word πλουσι, which signifies doves in most parts of Greece, while in the dialect of the Epirots it implies old women. In ancient times the oracles were delivered by the murmuring of a neighbouring fountain; but the custom was afterwards changed. Large kettles were suspended in the air near a brazen statue, which held a lash in its hand. When the wind blew strong, the statue
statue was agitated and struck against one of the ket-
tles, which communicated the motion to all the rest,
and raised that clattering and discordant din, which
continued for a while, and from which the artifice of
the priests drew the predictions. Some suppose that
the noise was occasioned by the shaking of the leaves
and boughs of an old oak, which the superstition of
the people frequently consulted, and from which they
pretended to receive oracles. It may be observed,
with more probability, that the oracles were delivered
by the priests, who, by artfully concealing themselves
behind the oaks, gave occasion to the superstitious
multitude to believe that the trees were endowed
with the power of prophecy. As the ship Argo was
built with some of the oaks of the forest of Dodona,
there were some beams which gave oracles to the Argo-
nauts, and warned them against the approach of
calamity. Within the forest of Dodona there was a
stream and a fountain of cool water which had the
power of lighting a torch as soon as it touched it.
This fountain was totally dry at noon day, and was re-
stored to its full course at midnight, from which time
till the following noon it began to decrease, and at
the usual hour was again deprived of its waters. The
oracles of Dodona were generally delivered by women.