Pythia. The priestess of Apollo and Delphi. She is represented as crowned with laurels and seated on a tripod similarly adorned and placed over a chasm whence arose a peculiar vapor. Whoever inhaled this intoxicating air was thrown into convulsive ravings, which were thought to be an evidence of divine inspiration. The prophetic influence was at first variously attributed to different gods, but was at length assigned to Apollo only. A priestess, called the Pythia, was appointed to inhale the hallowed air and utter inspired words, which were interpreted by the priests.
