The opening to a well — part of a reputed oracle — considered as sacred by the ancient Athenians was recently uncovered during excavation work at the renowned Kerameikos archaeological site in central Athens, west of the Acropolis.

The well was accompanied by a carved inscription on marble beseeching the Olympian god Apollo to reveal to believers the true predictions for the future. The inscription in Greek reads:  ΕΛΘΕ ΜΟΙ Ω ΠΑΙΑΝ ΦΕΡΩΝ ΤΟ ΜΑΝΤΕΙΟΝ ΑΛΗΘΕC

According to initial estimates the unique, for ancient Athens,  oracle employed some form of ritualistic worship based on water, possibly dating to the earlier Roman period.

The excavation was carried out by the venerable German Archaeological Institute in Athens, which is responsible for much of the research and digging at the Kerameikos site.

The discovery followed the removal of a marble lekythos, a type of narrow neck Greek pottery used for storing cooking oils, from the opening of the well. The latter is located in the courtyard of a sanctuary to the south of the “burial road”, and is dedicated to either Artemis or Hekate.

According to the Greek culture ministry, 20 inscriptions with the same content point to the specific site as being the only oracle of Apollo in ancient Athens, a fact that confirms the worship of the mythical god in tandem with the deity the ancient Greeks considered as his sister, Artemis.

The excavation was conducted under the supervision of Dr. Jutta and the antiquities efophate of Athens.