Consulting the Delphic Oracle After 19th century painting. Priestess of temple of Apollo at Delphi (Delphos now Kastri), known as Pythia, most famous Ancient Greek oracle. Position held by celibate woman over 50 whose words were delivered to supplicant in often ambiguous verse by priests. Suppressed by Theodosius 4th century AD. Greeks considered Delphi at foot of Mount Parnassus to be navel of the world.