The Sibylian Oracles: A Mysterious and Complex Collection

The Sibylian Oracles is a collection of books, believed to have been redacted in the 6th or 7th century, that contains various prophecies and oracular texts. The manuscripts of the Sibylian Oracles are a mess, with different versions and conflicting numbering systems. The collection is a compilation of pre-existing oracles, often from different geographic locations, such as Babylon, Persia, and Egypt. Early Christian writers, like lactantius, embraced the Sibylian Oracles as evidence of the correctness of Christian tradition and the fulfillment of prophecies about Christ. The Sibylian Oracles became popular in Roman literature, featuring in works like the Aeneid and Petronius' Satyricon. The Sibylian Oracles have a dark and foreboding tone, making them distinct from other revelatory sources. The collection was of particular interest during the Renaissance and post-Renaissance periods, as it was seen as an esoteric and prophetic source of wisdom, often associated with the Chaldean oracles of Zoroaster.