THE GONG OF DODONA

Abstract

In Dodona, where one of the most ancient oracles of ancient Greece was located, various methods of divination were used. One of them was the use of gong in the form of bronze boilers. The use of bronze was not accidental: it was a symbol of purity and played an important role in purifying rituals. Originally the sanctuary had no walls, but was surrounded by a ring of tripods with boilers hanging on them. The sounds they emitted were treated as the message of Zeus himself. It is possible that the sound of the gong served also as a kind of protection against evil forces, being a shield of Zeus. This tradition was preserved in the Middle Ages, when the boiler was replaced with a bell. Despite the skepticism of a number of researchers, the presence of such boilers and a tripod is confirmed by the results of archaeological excavations conducted in Dodon. Currently, the remains of these boilers and a tripod are stored in the National Museum of Athens. The gong device itself, as can be concluded from sources, has been improved, as evidenced by the gift of Corfu inhabitants. Over time, the permanent sound of the Dodong gong came from the ancient Greeks in the proverb. The ancient Greek prophecy in Dodon, with the help of sound, was expressed in two phrases: the bronze of Dodona and the whip of Kerkyra.

Keywords

• sanctuary
• dodona
• gong
• tripod
• scourge
• divination