The priests would interpret the rustling leaves for a certain cost, and the outcome of this prediction improved with an increased fare (Ewegen).
[2] Furthermore, Dodona served as both a political center as well as a religious sanctuary, although it was second to the oracles of Apollo in Delphi.
And perhaps the much talked of Peleiades were not birds, but three old women who busied themselves about the temple.The earliest mention of Dodona in Greek literature was in Homer's Iliad, which describes the priests (Selloi) as having unwashed feet who slept on the ground.
And there upon its border is built a city, Dodona; and Zeus loved it and appointed it to be his oracle, reverenced by men .
From them men of earth carry away all kinds of prophecy, whosoever fares to that spot and questions the deathless god, and comes bringing gifts with good omens."
Herodotus notes he learned through a local legend that an Egyptian priestess who had been taken away by the Phoenicians founded the oracles.
Strabo notes that the same geographer believes that the doves “are observed for the purposes of augury, just as there were some seers who divined from ravens.
"[8] A legend regarding Dodona depicts the ship sailed by Jason and the Argonauts (the Argo) had the “gift of prophecy” because it had a piece of the sacred oak from Dodona ("Ancient/ Classical History") Sent to fetch the fleece, Jason called in the help of Argus, son of Phrixus; and Argus, by Athena's advice, built a ship of fifty oars named Argo after its builder; and at the prow Athena fitted in a speaking timber from the oak of Dodona.
When the ship was built, and he inquired of the oracle, the god gave him leave to assemble the nobles of Greece and sail away.
[9] In recent times, archaeologists have discovered ancient buildings dating to the 4th century BCE, during King Pyrrhus’ rule.
Although King Philip V of Macedon assisted the Epirotes in rebuilding the oracle, leaving behind more extravagant temples and, in addition, a stadium.