Euxenippos at Oropos

In mid-fourth-century Athens, the democracy used dream incubation as a form of divination to inform political decision-making. A delegation including Euxenippos consulted the hero Amphiaraos, as recorded in a speech by Isaios. The chapter draws on modern dream studies to examine practical aspects of incubation, such as recording dreams upon waking and training to improve recall. It argues that men like Euxenippos served as 'expert dreamers' expected to produce dreams on demand, supported by assistants and witnesses. Dream divination was taken seriously, giving expert dreamers potentially great influence on policy and making them participants in the political process.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Abstract The chapter explores how divination through dream incubation was involved in the decision-making processes of the Athenian democracy. It focuses on the consultation of Amphiaraos in the mid-fourth century by a delegation including Euxenippos, which we know about from a speech of Isaios. It explores the wider evidence about the practical aspects of dream incubation, and draws on modern studies of dreaming, looking at the practice of recording dreams in writing at the moment of waking, and self-training to improve dreaming and dream recall. The chapter argues that, as in other forms of divination, Athens employed men like Euxenippos as ‘expert dreamers’, who were expected to have dreams when required, and who were supported by other Athenians, who acted as assistants and witnesses of the process. It further argues that divination by dreaming was taken seriously by the democracy, with expert dreamers having potentially great influence on decision-making, and becoming themselves inevitably part of the political process.