Gnothi Seauton

I am taking a class [in which] I have to read ancient Greek classics, so I guess the next few posts will most probably involve ancient Greec.

I finally took the time today to read the article on The Temple of Apollo at Delphi in Wikipedia. Delphi is a place in Greece and the temple was–according to Wikipedia–”the most important oracle in the classical Greek world.” The Oracle plays a central role in ancient Greece; people consulted the oracle for advice on all things, asking whether it is appropriate to initiate a war, or inquiring about the causes of a plague. A priestess is assigned the role as the god’s spokeperson, and the one at Delphi was known as the Pythia. More often than not, the oracle spoke in vague terms, and priests at the temple interpreted the statements. I suppose we can relate the riddles of the oracle to the Forer/Barnum effect?

What strikes me [the] most reading about the temple at Delphi are the inscriptions supposedly carved outside the temple:

• Know thyself (Gnothi Seauton)
• Nothing in excess
• Make a pledge and mischief is nigh

The first two, [as] I believe most [will] agree, are principles to live life with; the third, I am not sure what it means…