Finished the book ‘The Oracle; the lost secrets and hidden message of ancient Delphi’ by William J. Broad.
A slow starter, that’s true, but a fascinating look into the cooperation of different sciences to shed light on ancient mystery (history, archaeology, geology, chemistry).
I could have done without the philosophic conclusion, but that’s me.
I do recommend it.
hi, what did it say caused the hallucinations? i saw a doco a few years ago by some geologists on delphi, and they thought they finally found what caused them, some sort of build up on the walls of the channel where the water flowed underneath, but i forget what, i’m not very sciency, thanks 
In the book it says it must have been ethylene (which would explain the sweet smell ancient sources describe). There’s some debate on it recently, but the book had some convincing arguments.
hi thanks, yeah there was a doco on it a few years ago. googling “delphi ethylene” shows some 2006 science articles contesting it though, all v interesting, cheers
It recalls me another interesting book, Oracle Bones by Peter Hessler, though no connection with Delphi. 