The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-06-07
EIES At DEPH|
ARE CELEBRATED
French Turn Over Site to the
Greeks
REVIEW OF ITS HISTORY
StrabO'S Comparison of 1t to
a Theatre
REVIEW OF ITS HISTORY

Athens. June 6.-The termination Of the
ten-years' excavations upon the site OF
Delphi, by the French Archaeological
School at Athens. and the ceremony OF
the Official, handing over OF the site to
the Greek government and Of the in
auguration of the new museum there,
We're the occasion Of a brilliant fete al
the famous sanctuary yesterday. The oc-
casion was indeed one which merited a
fitting celebration. The renown in an
tiquity Of the great Delphic sanctuary of
Apollo the interest with which, for the
last ten years. the whole civilized world
has been following the labors of the
French excavatOrs, the brilliant discover
les which have crowned their efforts, the
large sums of money expended in this
truly disinterested work 10y the French
government. the assembly of scholars and
notable personages from many lands to
witness the final celebration-all served
to render the occasion an impressive one,
while the stUpendous scenery of Delphi.
and perfect weather lent enchantment TO
the drrmatic scene for which Delphi is
u.
10 a theatre has often been quoted, yet
his phrase, though accurate, gives no
conception Of the real setting, the ire
mendous twin-cliffs which tower over the
sacred precinct. the majestic snow-topped
mass Of Parnassus rising behind them
more than 5000 feet into the clOudless air.
the deep glen of the Pleistos beneath,
through which the torrent rushes. the
precipitous rocky slopes of Mt. Kirphis
opposite the broad Crisaean plain spread
out far below with its olive groves and
bounded on the south by the blue waters
of the Gulf of Corinth and the long noun
tain ranges Of the Peloponnesus with their
snowy peaks. 1t is a picture which no one
would attempt to describe. but without
a reference to which no account of Delphi,
however slight. would be possible. for it
was this extraordinary combination Of
natural features. striking awe and wonder
TO the beholder's mind, which caused it of
old to be regarded as in very truth the
seat of a Diety.
\ brief review of its history may not
be amiss here. Tradition connects the
name of Delphi with the legenG of Apol-
ing and guiding the ship which brought
Cretan settlers to this shore; and the
abundant traces of Mycenaean remains
found in the course of the excavations
seem to confirm this early connection with
Crete Homer calls it Pytho. and this
name connects with a still earlier time.
when the first dieties of the place were
dispossessed by Apollo who slew the
guardian dragon Python. But. from the
ninth century Is. g. the fame uf the Ora
Gle of Delphic Apollo was fully estab-
lished. and continued until its abolition
by Theodisius. circa 3S5 \ D.. though
its influence had greatly declined some
centuries before. Its rich treasures al
ways exposed Delphi to the attacks of
enemies. Thus. cNrNes attempted to in
wade il i'm $50 10. g. but was repulsed. as
Herodotus tells us. by the god himself
who manifested himself in thunder. while
a. the same time enormous boulders from
the cliff came crashing down upon the
pass routing the Persians utterly. The
same thing happened again two centuries
later. when. i'm 379 b. c.. Bronnus and his
Gauls attempted to enter Delphi by the
y
r G.. the great Temple Of Apollo was
destroyed Ivy an earthquake. and was
rebuilt by the Almaeonidae of Athens.
1t was destroyed aeain In the fourth
century Is. G.. and rebuilt by general
subscription from all the states Of Greece.
lis was the temple seen by Pausanias.
the foundations OF which are still stand
ing. II was plunoered several times by
The Phocians i'm S56 r. G.. 10y Sulla in So
3. c.. and again by Nero. in d hit of rage
Al the 0raclos disapprovaI of his matri-
eide. Constantine the Great carried of
several of its treasures to Ryzantium
and the bronze pedestal Of the Plataean
trophy may he seen in Constautinople to-
day.
Thus the work Of the French excavators
was one or faith. not knowing to what
extent their great outlay of money. time.
and labor would be repaid 10y the results.
or how much of the famous sanctuary
would still be wound TO exist. The eNca-
vations have. moreover, amply rewarded
them. The wealth of inscriptions monu-
ments, and sculptures brought to light
has proved beyond the highest oXpccta-
tons To describe in detail even the more
important hnds would exceed the limits
and scope Of this article. suffice it is to
say that they comprise offerings 10 the
oracle from every part Of the ancient
world. from phyeia and the Scythian
s-0urr- On The Gates of Hercules and the
lfH.s and from private iudi
Hl....- 40 .t.r Greece. magnificent build
iugS. statues. columns. and affairs. erected
hy great princes and states. side by side
. with the thousands NJ rude votive images
and Inscriptions dedicated bv the poor
est and the humblesJ: an exhaustive cpl
tome of the life Of antiquity. with its
ambitions. its Qusrrels its hopes and
fears. through more than fifteen centuries.
From the earliest mythical times down TO
the days Of Julian the Apostate human
ity sought enlightenment. consolation. and
help from the lips OF the Pythian prophet
ess Of Apollo. and throughout this long
period her commands were obeyed and
her priests welded a political power sim
liar TO that exercised ny the Church Of
Rome over Catholic Europe in the Mid
ole Ages
EAe results Of the excavations are brief
~ as follows: The sacred precinct has
been laid bare. a large irregular quad
ransle lying upon the steep hillside. with
gates at intervals in its walls. the main
entrance being at the southeast corner.
opposite the Castlian Spring From this
gate "a sacred Way. paved and lined on
either side by motive buildings. statues
etc. leads up in winding curves 10 the
great Temple Of Apollo. q which only
tho suhsJructions now remain. revealing
The sdyton or subterranean chamber