Hello I am translating an 11th century Greek Church Father/Philosopher work by Michael Psellos. It is difficult but I have managed to translate most. This part I haven't quite figured out.

ἐπεὶ και ‘ή’ τοῦ Ἀπόλλωνος ‘προφῆτις, τῷ στομιῳ’ ὡς ὁ λογος ‘περικαθίσασα’ περὶ τὸν ‘τριποδικὸν λέβτα’, ἔχρα μὲν καὶ Πέρσαις...

Psellos is trying to explain how the Greek priestess would go in a frenzy and speak in other languages. He speaks more about this beyond this text and then compares it to the Apostles speaking in tongues.

The words ‘τριποδικὸν λέβτα’ is certainly an idiom and shouldn't be taken literally. Would anyone know what this is?

Any help on this difficult text would be appreciated.

Hi Charles!
This is not some idiom, τριποδικοὶ λέβητες refers to specific objects, a sort of boilers, with three legs (τρι-ποδικοί), used mainly as dedications to gods and as prizes in contests.

Thanks George.