The most famous temple dedicated to Apollo was the temple at Delphi. That temple was the home of Apollo's special oracle. But it was not the only temple built in his honor. And she was not the only oracle in ancient Greece.
Each temple was dedicated to only one god. Because the Greeks worshiped many gods, there were many temples in ancient Greece. Every town had one or two or ten of them, perhaps even more in the larger cities. Apollo enjoyed visiting all the temples built in his honor.
Apollo had heard that the people in the city of Troy had honored him by building an especially splendid temple. He decided to swing by and take a look for himself.
As the story goes …
Cassandra was not an oracle. She could not see into the future. She was a beautiful young priestess, with great ambition.
When Apollo swung by personally to take a look at his temple, all Cassandra saw was his beauty and his power. She gave him a saucy grin.
Apollo was delighted. Like all the gods, Apollo was very fond of making deals. He offered a deal to Cassandra. If she would give a kiss, he would give her the gift of prophecy so she could see into the future.
Cassandra did not hesitate. She took the deal. As soon as she was able, she looked eagerly into the future. What she saw made her gasp. She saw Apollo helping to destroy her beloved city of Troy. She spit in his face. Apollo could not take away his gift. But he could add to it. That's how it worked.
From that time on, Cassandra could see the future, but no one believed a thing she said. That's what Apollo had added.
When Cassandra warned her people that the Trojan horse was a trap, no one paid the slightest attention. They did what they always did. They laughed at her. For whatever reason, but perhaps because Cassandra warned them, and whatever she said was never believed, no one in Troy wondered why the Greeks would give them such a splendid gift, the gift of the Trojan horse, the gift that cost nearly everyone in the city of Troy their life.
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