1. Despite their usual polytheism, the Greeks often spoke of ‘God’ in the singular as well, as if all the many gods were aspects of one God, or the divine, which is sometimes identified with Zeus.

2. Chaerephon was a devoted follower of Socrates. In his Apology of Socrates, Plato makes Apollo’s reply to Chaerephon the impetus for Socrates’ mission: he set out to test whether or not the god was right (and found that, in a sense, he was!).

3. Lycurgus’ dates are uncertain, and he seems to belong as much to legend as to history. For a longer version of the oracle, see Herodotus, 1.65.