A day in the life of the oracle of Delphi - Mark Robinson

Prevodilac: Milenka Okuka Lektor: Ivana Korom

As the sun rises over Delphi in 500 BCE,

Dok se sunce rađa nad Delfima 500. g.p.n.e.,

Aristonike hurries to the temple of Apollo.

Aristonika žuri u Apolonov hram.

Like all Greeks, she's known the legend of Delphi since childhood.

Kao i svim Grcima, i njoj je poznata legenda o Delfima još od detinjstva.

Two eagles released by Zeus from opposite ends of the Earth

Dva orla koja je pustio Zevs sa različitih strana Zemlje

met on the slopes of Mount Parnassus,

sreli su se na padinama planine Parnas,

identifying Delphi as the center of the world.

određujući Delfe kao centar sveta.

Marking this spot was a mysterious stone guarded by a legendary serpent

Mesto je obeležavao tajanstveni kamen koga je čuvala mitska zmija

called the pytho.

koja se nazivala pito.

But when Apollo killed the pytho, he made Delphi his home—

Međutim, nakon što je Apolon ubio pito, Delfe je pretvorio u svoj dom -

establishing the city as the best place in the world

osnovao je grad na najboljem mestu na svetu

to seek guidance directly from the God of Prophecy.

na kom može da se direktno traži savet od boga proricanja.

Well, almost directly.

Pa, gotovo direktno.

At any given time, a single oracle known as the Pythia communicates Apollo’s will.

U bilo kom trenutku, proročica poznata kao Pitija je prenosila Apolonovu volju.

Reserved only for women, this is the most important job in the city—

Rezervisan samo za žene, ovo je najvažniji posao u gradu -

and one that Aristonike will soon have to take on as the current Pythia-in-training.

i Aristonika će uskoro morati da ga preuzme kao trenutna Pitija na obuci.

Despite serving in the Temple of Apollo for many years,

Iako je godinama služila u Apolonovom hramu,

Aristonike is still uncertain that she’s wise enough to fulfill this role.

Aristonika i dalje nije sigurna da je dovoljno mudra za datu ulogu.

But these doubts will have to wait.

Međutim, ove slutnje će morati da sačekaju.

Today she’ll be shadowed by officials from the city’s governing council.

Danas će njen rad da prate zvaničnici iz gradskog vladajućeg veća.

If her performance meets their standards,

Ukoliko njena izvedba dosegne njihove standarde,

this is the day she’ll become the new Oracle of Delphi.

danas će da postane nova delfska proročica.

In the heart of the temenos, or sacred enclosure,

U središtu temenosa ili svetog skrovišta,

Aristonike greets the current Oracle and the city officials.

Aristonika pozdravlja trenutnu proročicu i gradske zvaničnike.

The group joins the procession to the Castilian Spring,

Grupa se pridružuje povorci do Kastalijskih izvora

where the Pythia performs a purification ceremony

gde Pitija izvodi ceremoniju pročišćenja

to prepare for a day of prophecy.

da bi se pripremila za dan proricanja.

To establish whether Apollo is willing to be consulted,

Kako bi utvrdila da li je Apolon raspoložen za savetovanje,

Aristonike brings water from the spring to the temple priests,

Aristonika donosi vodu sa izvora sveštenicima u hramu,

who sprinkle it on a goat.

koji je posipaju po kozi.

If the goat shudders, it will be a prophecy day.

Ukoliko se koza strese, biće dan za proricanje.

If not, travelers from as far away as modern day Sicily, Egypt, and Afghanistan

U suprotnom, putnici skroz iz današnje Sicilije, Egipta i Avganistana

will have to wait an entire month to consult the Oracle again.

će morati da čekaju čitav mesec dana da se ponovo konsultuju sa proročištem.

Fortunately, Apollo is in a communicative mood.

Srećom, Apolon je raspoložen za razgovor.

Delphians are first in line, most seeking advice about business or marriage.

Prvi u redu su Delfinjani, koji uglavnom traže poslovne i bračne savete.

Following the locals are other Greeks and then non-Greeks,

Nakon lokalaca slede ostali Grci, a potom stranci,

including ambassadors from great cities who plan to ask

uključujući zastupnike velikih gradova koji planiraju da pitaju

about whether to go to war, or where they should found new colonies.

da li da idu u rat ili gde da osnuju nove kolonije.

Most supplicants bring two options for the Pythia to choose between,

Molitelji uglavnom donose dve opcije između kojih Pitija treba da odabere,

alongside the obligatory sacrificial cake.

pored obaveznog žrtvenog kolača.

Aristonike reports back to the Pythia,

Aristonika izveštava nazad Pitiji,

pointing out important figures and sharing some of their concerns—

ukazujući na važne ljude i deleći neke od njihovih strahova -

all while the city counselor takes notes on her performance.

a sve vreme gradski savetnik beleži njen rad.

Then the Pythia disappears into her oracular chamber known as the adyton.

Potom Pitija nestaje u svojoj odaji za proricanja poznatoj kao aditon.

Inside, she’ll channel the inspiration of Apollo,

Unutra će da kanališe Apolonovu inspiraciju,

uttering ambiguous prophecies the questioners must interpret.

izgovarajući ambivalentna proročanstva koja molitelji moraju da rastumače.

The adyton is the one place in the temple Aristonike isn’t allowed to go.

Aditon je jedino mesto u hramu u koje Aristonika ne sme da uđe.

So while consultations continue,

Dok su konsultacije u toku,

the Oracle-in-training sets off to collect wood for the temple’s eternal flame.

proročica na obuci odlazi da sakupi drva za večni plamen u hramu.

While gathering branches from the sacred laurel trees,

Dok sakuplja grane lokalnog svetog lovorovog drveta,

Aristonike spies wealthy Greeks training for the upcoming Pythian Games.

Aristonika špijunira imućne Grke koji treniraju za predstojeće pitijske igre.

Second in importance only to the Olympics,

Druge po važnosti nakon Olimpijade,

these games bring great riches and attention to Delphi.

ove igre donose veliko bogatstvo i pažnju u Delfe.

Typically, Aristonike would pause to admire the athletes,

Obično bi Aristonika zastala i divila se atletama,

but today she’s more focused on impressing her observer.

ali danas je usredsređenija da impresionira svog posmatrača.

Taking the exact amount of branches necessary,

Sakupivši tačnu količinu potrebnih grana,

she hurries back to the temple for her long awaited evaluation.

žuri nazad u hram na dugoiščekivanu procenu.

The counselor who shadowed her shares his notes with the other officials,

Posmatrač koji ju je nadgledao deli svoje zabeleške sa drugim zvaničnicima

and after a brief discussion, their leader nods.

i nakon kratke rasprave, njihove vođe klimaju glavama.

He endorses Aristonike as the new Oracle—

Odobrava Aristoniku za novu proročicu -

and the Pythia offers Apollo’s blessing on their verdict.

a Pitija nudi Apolonov blagoslov na njihovu presudu.

Approaching Aristonike beside the sacred hearth,

Pristupivši Aristoniki pored svetog ognjišta,

the Pythia finally unveils the secrets of her trade.

Pitija konačno otkriva tajne svog zanata.

Passed directly from one Oracle to the next,

Kako su se prenosile direktno od jedne proročice do druge,

no history book will ever record these details.

nijedna istorijska knjiga nikad nije zabeležila njihove detalje.

But the Pythia’s insights will guide all of Aristonike’s future prophecies—

Međutim, Pitijina zapažanja će da utiču na sva Aristonikina buduća proročanstva -

shaping wars, politics, and relationships for years to come,

oblikujući ratove, politiku i odnose u godinama koje slede,

and making Aristonike one of the most powerful women in the ancient world.

zbog čega će Aristonika da bude jedna od najmoćnijih žena antičkog sveta.

As the Pythia concludes her final lesson,

Dok Pitija zaključuje poslednju lekciju,

she points to two inscriptions on the temple walls:

ukazuje na dva zapisa na zidovima hrama:

“know yourself” and “nothing in excess.”

„spoznaj sebe” i „ničega previše”.

Left alone to ponder these ideas,

Ostavljena nasamo da razmišlja o ovim idejama,

Aristonike feels the first touch of Apollo’s inspiration—

Aristonika oseća prvi dodir Apolonove inspiracije -

the insight that keeping an open mind may be more important

otkrovenje da je imati otvoren um možda važnije

than finding a single answer.

od pronalaženja jedinstvenog odgovora.