SIBYL (Lat. sibylla, from Gk. aff3eXXa, sibyl; connected with Lat. per-sibus, wise). The name in Greek legend of women inspired by Apollo with prophetic power. The early authorities men tion but one, probably the Erythra'an llerophile. Later poets or local legends increased the num ber, and finally we hear of ten, the the Saurian, the Trojan or Hellespontine, the Phry gian, the Cimmerian, the Delphian, the Cunnean, the Libyan, the Babylonian, and the Tiburtine, most of whom, however, enjoyed only local fame. Verses of vague import were current which were attributed to them. In Roman religions history these oracles played an important part. Accord ing to the story an aged woman (the Cumcean Sibyl) appeared before Tarquin the Proud, and biro nine books at a high price. When he refused her demand, she went away, destroyed three books, and offered the remaining six at the original price; again refused, she presently returned with but three, and these were finally purchased by the King at the price demanded for the nine. These were placed in the cellar of the Temple of Jupiter on the Capitol, and there re mained until they perished in the burning of the temple, B.C. 83. A new collection was made by a special commission, which visited all places where Sibyls had prophesied, and brought hack about 1000 verses. Later, Augustus caused the col
lection to he carefully sifted, as much spurious material was thought to be present, and the whole to be deposited in a room in the Temple of Apollo on the Palatine. Shortly after A.D. 400 they were burned by Stilicho. For the care and consultation of the books were appointed at first the Duoriri saeris faciundis, whose number was raised in B.C. 367 to ten, five 'patricians and five plebeians, and by Sulla to fifteen. The consulta tion could only occur by express vote of the eliate, and the result was reported to that body in a formal document. The consultation seems to have been ordered in general when prodigies showed special need of conciliating the gods. and the established rites seemed inadequate. Natu rally these Greek hooks were interpreted as ordering the introduction of Greek cults, and they thus contributed largely to the Hellenization of the old Roman religion. Consult: E. Maass, De ?tiibyllarunt Indieibus (Greifswald, 1879) ; Diels, Sibyllinische Blatter (Berlin, 1890) ; K. Schulters, Die Siltyllinisehen Bucher in Root (Hamburg, 1895) ; also the handbooks mentioned under Romax RELIGION. For the subject of Christian Sibyllists, see SIBYLLINE ORACLES.