Rare Ancient Panticapaeum Coin 5th Century B.C. Original The sacrificial tripod was a type of altar used by the ancient Greeks. The most famous was the Delphic tripod, on which the Pythian priestess sat to pronounce the prophecies of the gods. The seat was formed by a circular slab on top of the tripod, on which a branch of the laurel was placed when it was not occupied by the priestess. In this sense, by classical times, the tripod was sacred to Apollo. The myth of Hercules competing with Apollo for the tripod appears in vase painting, more ancient than the oldest written literature. Homer often mentioned the use of tripod in teoxenia rites, in praise, as a reward to the winners of athletic agonies. Hesiod testified about awarding the tripod to the winners of poetic agonies, reporting on his participation in the aed competition and receiving him a "eared tripod". In that era, tripods decorated and inscribed on them inscriptions dedicated to various gods.