PaineMan - 05 November 2007 06:20 AM

I don’t have the time to look it up right now, but I read once about a ruler back in the days of the Hittites and Babylonians who consulted an Oracle prior to his attack on a neighboring kingdom.  The Oracle told him something on the order of “If you attack, a great kingdom will fall”.  He attacked, lost, and his own kingdom fell as a result.

Yup, the Oracle would have been correct either way of course. One of the kingdoms were bound to fall during such a dispute.

the Oracle would have been correct either way of course.

That’s the trick to being a great Oracle.

PaineMan - 05 November 2007 06:20 AM

I don’t have the time to look it up right now, but I read once about a ruler back in the days of the Hittites and Babylonians who consulted an Oracle prior to his attack on a neighboring kingdom.  The Oracle told him something on the order of “If you attack, a great kingdom will fall”.  He attacked, lost, and his own kingdom fell as a result.

“Croesus of Lydia consulted Delphi before attacking Persia, and according to Herodotus was told, “If you cross the river, you will destroy a great empire.” Believing the response favorable, Croesus attacked, but it was his own empire that ultimately was destroyed by the Persians.”

Croesus of Lydia consulted Delphi before attacking Persia

That’s it! Thanks, Dave.

PaineMan - 05 November 2007 04:47 PM

Croesus of Lydia consulted Delphi before attacking Persia

That’s it! Thanks, Dave.

no problem

morgantj - 28 October 2007 08:43 PM

Do you believe Nostradamus’s predictions were accurate and true and written with the same relations intended that people have applied to them. Or do you think they are nothing more then classic fortune telling techniques that take advantage of self-fulfilling prophecy and confirmation bias?

I vote A

davidmabus - 07 November 2007 09:26 AM

morgantj - 28 October 2007 08:43 PM

Do you believe Nostradamus’s predictions were accurate and true and written with the same relations intended that people have applied to them. Or do you think they are nothing more then classic fortune telling techniques that take advantage of self-fulfilling prophecy and confirmation bias?

I vote A

I’m sorry.