Histories

When I asked them how it was that they could speak with such certain knowledge, they said in reply that their people had sought diligently for these women, and had never been able to find them, but had learned later the story which they were telling me.

That, then, I heard from the Theban priests; and what follows, the prophetesses of Dodona [20.8,39.55] (Perseus)Dodona say: that two black doves had come flying from Thebes [32.666,25.683] (deserted settlement), Qina, Upper Egypt, Egypt, AfricaThebes in Egypt [30,27] (nation), Africa Egypt, one to Libya [17,25] (nation), AfricaLibya and one to Dodona [20.8,39.55] (Perseus)Dodona;

the latter settled on an oak tree, and there uttered human speech, declaring that a place of divination from Zeus must be made there; the people of Dodona [20.8,39.55] (Perseus)Dodona understood that the message was divine, and therefore established the oracular shrine.

The dove which came to Libya [17,25] (nation), AfricaLibya told the Libyans (they say) to make an oracle of Ammon; this also is sacred to Zeus. Such was the story told by the Dodonaean priestesses, the eldest of whom was Promeneia and the next Timarete and the youngest Nicandra; and the rest of the servants of the temple at Dodona [20.8,39.55] (Perseus)Dodona similarly held it true.