Bouillot provides a lucid and thoughtful appraisal of the rationality behind ancient oracular responses regarding seismic phenomena. Analysis of both literary and documentary sources indicates that oracular centres are not so much credited with predicting earthquakes as with offering communities guidance on how to respond to seismic events as a sign from the gods. The oracles thus serve to assuage the anxiety experienced by affected communities and provide them with concrete actions to be undertaken to appease the gods.
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