Page "Pythia" Paragraph 31

There have been many attempts to find a scientific explanation for the Pythia's inspiration.

However, most commonly, these refer to an observation made by Plutarch, who presided as high priest at Delphi for several years, who stated that her oracular powers appeared to be associated with vapors from the Kerna spring waters that flowed under the temple.

It has often been suggested that these vapors may have been hallucinogenic gases.