Delphi - Ancient History Encyclopedia Delphi by Mark Cartwright published on 22 February 2013 Delphi was an important ancient Greek religious sanctuary sacred to the god Apollo . Located on Mt. Parnassus near the Gulf of Corinth , the sanctuary was home to the famous oracle of Apollo which gave cryptic predictions and guidance to both city -states and individuals. In addition, Delphi was also home to the panhellenic Pythian Games. Mythology & Origins The site was first settled in Mycenaean times in the late Bronze Age (1500-1100 BCE) but took on its religious significance from around 800 BCE. The original name of the sanctuary was Pytho after the snake which Apollo was believed to have killed there. Votive offerings at the site from this period include small clay statues (the earliest), bronze figurines, and richly decorated bronze tripods. Advertisement For the Greeks Delphi was considered the centre of the world. Delphi was also considered the centre of the world, for in Greek mythology Zeus released two eagles, one to the east and another to the west, and Delphi was the point at which they met after encircling the world.

This fact was represented by the omphalos (or navel), a dome-shaped stone which stood outside Apollo’s temple and which also marked the spot where Apollo killed the Python. Apollo's Oracle The oracle of Apollo at Delphi was famed throughout the Greek world and even beyond. The oracle - the Pythia or priestess - would answer questions put to her by visitors wishing to be guided in their future actions. The whole process was a lengthy one, usually taking up a whole day and only carried out on specific days of the year. First the priestess would perform various actions of purification such as washing in the nearby Castalian Spring, burning laurel leaves, and drinking holy water. Next an animal - usually a goat - was sacrificed. The party seeking advice would then offer a pelanos - a sort of pie - before being allowed into the inner temple where the priestess resided and gave her pronouncements, possibly in a drug or natural gas-induced state of ecstasy. Perhaps the most famous consultant of the Delphic oracle was Croesus , the fabulously rich King of Lydia who, faced with a war against the Persians, asked the oracle’s advice. The oracle stated that if Croesus went to war then a great empire would surely fall.

Reassured by this, the Lydian king took on the mighty Cyrus . However, the Lydians were routed at Sardis and it was the Lydian empire which fell, a lesson that the oracle could easily be misinterpreted by the unwise or over-confident. Advertisement Panhellenic Games Delphi, as with the other major religious sites of Olympia , Nemea , and Isthmia , held games to honour various gods of the Greek religion . The Pythian Games of Delphi began sometime between 591 and 585 BCE and were initially held every eight years, with the only event being a musical competition where solo singers accompanied themselves on a kithara to sing a hymn to Apollo. Later, more musical contests and athletic events were added to the programme, and the games were held every four years with only the Olympic Games being more important. The principal prize for victors in the Games was a crown of laurel or bay leaves.

The site and games were managed by the independent Delphic amphictiony - a council with representatives from various nearby city-states - which levied taxes, collected offerings, invested in construction programmes, and even organised military campaigns in the Four Sacred Wars, fought to redress sacrilegious acts against Apollo perpetrated by the states of Crisa, Phocis, and Amphissa. Architecture The first temple in the area was built in the 7th century BCE and was itself a replacement for less substantial buildings of worship which had stood before it. The focal point of the sanctuary, the Doric temple of Apollo, was unfortunately destroyed by fire in 548 BCE. A second temple, again Doric in style, was completed in c. 510 BCE with the help of the exiled Athenian family, the Alcmeonids. Measuring some 60 by 24 metres, the facade had six columns whilst the sides had 15. This temple was destroyed by earthquake in 373 BCE and was replaced by a similarly proportioned temple in 330 BCE. This was constructed with poros stone coated in stucco.

Marble sculpture was also added as decoration along with Persian shields taken at the Battle of Marathon . This is the temple which survives, albeit only partially, today. Delphi Delphi Delphi. Apollo squinted in the bright sunlight and calmly tensed his muscles as he pulled his bow. He released his arrows one after the other until Python's blood was spilled and his life escaped in the thin air. Python-dragon,the faithful guardian of Ge's sacred ground, had guarded the hill for hundreds of years until his encounter with "far-reaching" Apollo. The new god despite his serene nature, or perhaps because of it, was triumphant in the epic battle, and with his victory he gained the right to call the rolling slopes of Delphi his sanctuary. Oracle at Delphi Delphi was inhabited since Mycenaean times (14th - 11th c. B.C.) by small settlements who were dedicated to the Mother Earth deity. The worship of Apollo as the god of light, harmony, and order was established between the 11th and 9th centuries. Slowly over the next five centuries the sanctuary grew in size and importance. During the 8th c. B.C.

Delphi became internationally known for the Oracular powers of Pythia--the priestess who sat on a tripod, inhaled ethylene gasses, and muttered incomprehensible words that foretold the future. The ancient people of the Mediterranean had such faith in Pythia's view of the future that no major decision was made without consulting the Oracle of Delphi first. Greek and foreign dignitaries, heads of state, and common folk made the pilgrimage to the Delphi sanctuary, and paid great sums for Pythia's oracles. Since the sanctuary only served the public a few days over nine months out of the year, great sums were paid by the more affluent ones in order to bypass the long line of pilgrims. Plutarch served as a priest at Delphi, and in his histories he has left many details about the inner workings of the sanctuary. Pythia entered the inner chamber of the temple ("Adyton"), sat on a tripod and inhaled the light hydrocarbon gasses that escaped from a chasm on the porous earth. After falling into a trance, she muttered words incomprehensible to mere mortals.

The priests of the sanctuary then interpreted her oracles in a common language and delivered them to those who had requested them. Even so, the oracles were always open to interpretation and often signified dual and opposing meanings. "You will go you will return not in the battle you will perish" was an example of this duality of meaning. The above sentence can be interpreted two different ways depending where the comma can be placed. If a comma is placed after the word "not" the message is discouraging for him who is about to depart for war. If on the other hand the comma is placed before the word "not", then the warrior is to return alive. Delphi Sanctuary Such was the importance of the Oracle at Delphi that the ancients believed it to be the center ("Omphalos") of the world. The oracle advised the great Persian Kings of the time, and when the Persians were poised to sack Athens, Themistokles turned the advice of the Oracle to a winning strategy that led to the Greeks' victory in the naval battle of Salamina. The Oracle had simply advised that "wooden walls" would aid to victory, and Themistokles interpreted walls to mean the wooden ships of the Athenian fleet.

To commemorate the triumph of Apollo over Python the sanctuary organized the Pythian Games every four years which were athletic events much like the Olympics. In the 20th century Angelos Sikelianos organized a modern version of the Delphic games . From the 7th c. B.C. and at least until the 4th c., the sanctuary of Delphi was part of the Amphictyonia . The Amphictyonia alliance protected the site from many invaders, and above all it prevented the Phocians who lived in the surrounding land from controlling it. In 356 B.C. the Phocians allied with the Athenians and the Spartans captured the sanctuary of Delphi, and in desperate need to finance their war they stripped the temples from the precious offerings. They held control of the grounds only for a short time until king Philip of Macedon liberated the sanctuary. In 339 B.C. Philip interfered once again against the Amphictyonic alliance when the Krissans trespassed on Apollo's sacred grounds. Philip punished the Krissans, and consequently in 338 c. B.C.

defeated the combined armies of the Athenians and the Spartans, thus becoming the dominant force in Greek affairs. The sanctuary of Delphi fell into Roman hands in 191 B.C, and was stripped of its treasures by General Sylla in 86 B.C. in order to finance his siege of Athens, and three years later Delphi was razed by the Thracian Maedi who -legend has it- extinguished the sacred fire which had been burning uninterrupted for centuries. Despite some building revivals by the Romans, the Oracle of Delphi lost its influence over the next few centuries, and its spiritual fire was gradually extinguished as Apollo's worship was replaced by a new religion imported from the East: Christianity. More: Delphi Archaeological Site and photos Photo Gallery A beautifully rendered mural in the Delphi museum (left) and a well crafted maquette (right), show what the oracle looked and felt like in ancient times. Ancient Greece Delphi & the Oracle of Apollo - YouTube Ancient Greece Delphi & the Oracle of Apollo Want to watch this again later? Sign in to add this video to a playlist. Need to report the video? Sign in to report inappropriate content. The interactive transcript could not be loaded. Loading...

Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later. Published on Jun 14, 2014 Nearly 2800 years ago, a group of Greek settlers landed on the coast of Italy. That event marked the start the process which created Magna Graecia, named after the motherland. Join us as we walk through the streets of Cumae, Pasteum, Puteoli, and Neapolis, reconstructed using the most advanced computer graphics. Magna Graecia (Latin meaning "Great Greece", Greek: Μεγάλη Ἑλλάς, Megáli Hellás) is the name of the coastal areas of Southern Italy on the Tarentine Gulf that were extensively colonized by Greek settlers; particularly the Achaean colonies of Tarentum, Croton, and Sybaris, but also, more loosely, the cities of Cumae and Neapolis to the north. The colonists, who began arriving in the 8th century BC, brought with them their Hellenic civilization, which was to leave a lasting imprint in Italy, particularly on the culture of ancient Rome.

In the 8th and 7th centuries BC, for various reasons, including demographic crisis (famine, overcrowding, etc.), the search for new commercial outlets and ports, and expulsion from their homeland, Greeks began to settle in southern Italy (Cerchiai, pp. 14--18). Also during this period, Greek colonies were established in places as widely separated as the eastern coast of the Black Sea, Eastern Libya and Massalia (Marseille). They included settlements in Sicily and the southern part of the Italian Peninsula. The Romans called the area of Sicily and the foot of Italy Magna Graecia (Latin, "Great Greece"), since it was so densely inhabited by the Greeks. The ancient geographers differed on whether the term included Sicily or merely Apulia and Calabria — Strabo being the most prominent advocate of the wider definitions. With this colonization, Greek culture was exported to Italy, in its dialects of the Ancient Greek language, its religious rites and its traditions of the independent polis. An original Hellenic civilization soon developed, later interacting with the native Italic civilisations.

The most important cultural transplant was the Chalcidean/Cumaean variety of the Greek alphabet, which was adopted by the Etruscans; the Old Italic alphabet subsequently evolved into the Latin alphabet, which became the most widely used alphabet in the world. Many of the new Hellenic cities became very rich and powerful, like Neapolis (Νεάπολις, Naples, "New City"), Syracuse, Acragas, and Sybaris (Σύβαρις). Other cities in Magna Graecia included Tarentum (Τάρας), Epizephyrian Locri (Λοκροί Ἐπιζεφύριοι), Rhegium (Ῥήγιον), Croton (Κρότων), Thurii (Θούριοι), Elea (Ἐλέα), Nola (Νῶλα), Ancona (Ἀγκών), Syessa (Σύεσσα), Bari (Βάριον), and others. Following the Pyrrhic War in the 3rd century BC, Magna Graecia was absorbed into the Roman Republic.

Category Delphi Greece Delphi Greece Arachova Getting to Delphi By car, to reach Delphi from Athens it takes about one hour and thirty minutes. Drive north on E75, and then east through Livadia towards Itea. While the drive in the first hour is boring and uneventful, it becomes a bit more spectacular as the road climbs Mt. Parnasos and passes through the winter resort of Arachova. Arachova village located 12 km from Delphi The famous village of Arachova in the Parnassos region of Central Greece is an extremely beautiful and traditional town, and one filled with stunning views, quaint houses, small cobble-stoned roads, and a very friendly and warm atmosphere. With the famous ski centre of Parnassos located very close, as well as some of the beautiful coastal regions, Arachova is a wonderful place to visit, any time of the year. - The women of Arachova ( Arahova ) are very dedicated and talented workers, and specialise in the creation of carpets and woven materials. They were creating their own clothes, and the products that they made became famous all over Greece.

- One of the big bonuses for the economy of Arachova ( Arahova ) is tourism. The near-by ski centre of Parnassos attracts thousands of visitors every year during the winter season. There are also other sports and activities besides skiing such as trekking, cycling, hiking and parasailing from one of the hills, camping in the forest, and generally other close experiences with the beautiful nature of Parnassos. Athens Greece 2010 all the informations about hotels history taxi transfers tours and more........ Delphi Delphi (Greece) is one of the most important archaeological sites of Greece, and accordingly, it seems to appear in the itinerary of every traveler who is attracted to the oracle that influenced affairs in the known world for over a thousand years. History: At the foot of Mount Parnassos, within the angle formed by the twin rocks of the Phaedriades, lies the Pan-Hellenic sanctuary of Delphi, which had the most famous oracle of ancient Greece. Delphi was regarded as the centre of the world. According to mythology, it is here that the two eagles sent out by Zeus from the ends of the universe to find the navel of the world met.

The sanctuary of Delphi, set within a most spectacular landscape, was for many centuries the cultural and religious centre and symbol of unity for the Hellenic world. The history of Delphi begins in prehistory and in the myths of the ancient Greeks. In the beginning the site was sacred to Mother Earth and was guarded by the terrible serpent Python, who was later killed by Apollo. Apollo's sanctuary was built here by Cretans who arrived at Kirrha, the port of Delphi, accompanied by the god in the form of a dolphin. This myth survived in plays presented during the various Delphic festivals, such as the Septerion, the Delphinia, the Thargelia, the Theophania and, of course. the famous Pythia, which celebrated the death of Python and comprised musical and athletic competitions. The earliest finds in the area of Delphi, which date to the Neolithic period (4000 BC), come from the Korykeion Andron, a cave on Parnassos, where the first rituals took place.

The remains of a Mycenaean settlement and cemetery were discovered within the sanctuary, but traces of occupation are rare and very fragmentary until the eighth century BC, when the cult of Apollo was established and the development of the sanctuary and the oracle began. The first stone temples of Apollo and Athena, who was also officially venerated under the name of ï¿½Pronaiaï¿½ or ï¿½Pronoiaï¿½ and had her own sanctuary, were built towards the end of the seventh century BC. According to literary and archaeological evidence other gods were associated with the sanctuary; these included Artemis, Poseidon, Dionysus, Hermes, Zeus Polieus, Hygeia and Eileithyia. The sanctuary was the centre of the Amphictyonic League, an association of twelve tribes of Thessaly and the Sterea (south-central Greece), with religious and later political significance. The Amphictyonic League controlled the operation and finances of the sanctuary, as it designated its priests and other officials chosen from among the inhabitants of Delphi.

In the sixth century BC, under the League's protection and administration, the sanctuary was made autonomous (First Sacred War), it increased its territory and political and religious influence throughout Greece, and reorganised the Pythian Games, the second most important games in Greece after the Olympics, which were held every four years. Between the sixth and fourth centuries BC, the Delphic oracle, which was regarded as the most trustworthy, was at its peak. It was delivered by the Pythia, the priestess, and interpreted by the priests of Apollo. Cities, rulers and ordinary individuals alike consulted the oracle, expressing their gratitude with great gifts and spreading its fame around the world. The oracle was thought to have existed since the dawn of time. Indeed, it was believed to have successfully predicted events related to the cataclysm of Deukalion, the Argonaut's expedition and the Trojan War; more certain are the consultations over the founding of the Greek colonies. It was the oracle's fame and prestige that caused two Sacred Wars in the middle of the fifth and fourth centuries BC. In the third century BC, the sanctuary was conquered by the Aetolians, who were driven out by the Romans in 191 BC.

In Roman times, the sanctuary was favoured by some emperors and plundered by others, including Sulla in 86 BC. The rise of the Rationalist movement in philosophy in the third century BC, damaged the oracle's authority, yet its rituals continued unchanged into the second century AD, when it was consulted by Hadrian and visited by Pausanias. The latter's detailed description of the buildings and more than three hundred statues has greatly contributed to our reconstruction of the area. The Byzantine emperor Theodosius finally abolished the oracle and the Slavs destroyed the precinct in 394 BC. With the advent of Christianity, Delphi became an episcopal see, but was abandoned in the sixth-seventh centuries AD. Soon after, in the seventh century AD, a new village, Kastri, grew over the ruins of the ancient sanctuary, attracting in modern times several travellers interested in antiquities. Archaeological research in Delphi began in 1860 by Germans. In 1891, the Greek government granted the French School at Athens permission for long-term excavations on the site.

It is then that the village of Kastri was removed to allow for the so-called ï¿½Great Excavation' to take place. The Great Excavation uncovered spectacular remains, including about three thousand inscriptions of great importance for our knowledge of public life in ancient Greece. Today, the Greek Archaeological Service and the French School at Athens continue to research, excavate and conserve the two Delphic sanctuaries. Of all the monuments, only the Treasury of the Athenians had enough of its original building material preserved to allow for its almost complete reconstruction. The project was financed by the City of Athens and carried through by the French School in 1903-1906. The Chiot altar, the temple of Apollo and the Tholos were also partially restored. In 1927 and 1930, the poet Angelos Sikelianos and his wife, Eva, attempted to revive the Delphic idea and make of Delphi a new cultural centre of the earth, through a series of events that included performances of ancient theatre. Look for the best Greece holidays and spend your vacation in this wonderful country together wil the people that you love the most.

Greece is one of the most popular destinations for people seeking a fantastic European getaway. This country is home to various world-class tourist attractions that will surely give you and your loved ones a fun and exciting time. Make sure to visit Delphi to know more about the rich history and culture of this place. Travel Agents & Private tours to Delphi from Athens Greece Tailor Made Tours Athens to Delphi Tours with an accessible Minibus, .A tour to Delphi is a very special experience that should not be missed during your visit to Greece. Leaving Athens you will travel through the fertile lands of Viotia... Delphi Delphi Greece Delphi, the most important religious site in ancient Greece Delphi sits on the south-western slope of mount Parnassus, about a one and a half hour drive from Athens . Delphi was once the most important religious site in ancient Greece , and is now one of the most important archaeological sites in Greece . Delphi's location in the mountains is also breathtaking, you can understand why Delphi was so special. After the Acropolis in Athens , Delphi is easily the next most popular ancient site in Greece with hundreds of visitors coming daily on day trips from the Greek capital.

Delphi was so important that it was one of the few places that all the Greek city states shared, the oracle of Delphi was so famous that even non Greeks from as far off as Egypt and even Etruscans from the Italian peninsula visited the sanctuary for guidance from the Oracle of Delphi. Delphi was fist excavated in 1892 and the actual site is a lot larger than can be seen today. The two sanctuaries of Delphi The sanctuary is basically split in to two areas the Sanctuary of Athena Pronaia and the sanctuary of Apollo which coincidently is also split by the modern main road - Apollo is above the road and Athena below. The site is most famously known for the Oracle who had premonitions of the future and was consulted by ancient Greeks on everything from where to set up colonies, go to war or even who they should marry. People from all over the Greek world visited Delphi to ask a question from the Oracle. Supposedly the god Apollo spoke through the Oracle.

The Pythian Games Delphi was also the setting for the Pythian games which took place every four years in the sanctuary of Apollo and was one of the four pan-Hellenic games the others being the Olympic Games, the Nemean Games and the Isthmian Games. The games lasted 6 to 8 days and included sports and chariot racing but also musical and drama contests. During the games all the Greek city states had a truce and ceasefire so people from all over the Greek world could travel freely to Delphi. The Mythology of Delphi According to Mythology Zeus released two eagles from either side of the world and where they crossed would be the "navel of the earth", it was at Delphi where these birds crossed.The site was used for the worship of the god Apollo, as it was at Delphi where he slew a giant serpent 'pythia' guarding the navel of the earth, throughout history the oracle was known as the pythia. It is now almost certain that the site was used long before classical Greece for the worship of a mother Goddess, Gaia, and that this was originally where the sanctuary of Athena is, she was replaced by the worship of Apollo and Athena.

Gaia or earth mother was worshiped in Greece before the Olympian Gods and her importance and Delphi was still seen in that the oracles could only be women. There are two stories that tell of how Delphi got its name the first is that it comes from the ancient Greek word for womb 'delphis' which is connected to the mother goddess and the other is that Apollo arrived at Delphi from Crete on the back of a Dolphin 'delphini' in Greek. The History of Delphi The site of Delphi has been used since neolithic times some 5000 years ago and inhabited since the Mycenaean period (1500 BC to 1100 BC). Originally the earth goddess was worshiped at the site but during the periods between 1100 BC and 900 BC the site of Delphi slowly began to be used for the worship of Apollo, the god of light. During the classical Greek period Delphi became the most important religious site in the Greek world, where everything from war to colonization had to be put to the oracle.

During the Roman period Delphi still kept its importance, at least with some Emperors, others such as the general Sulla raided and stole many of the treasures of Delphi. With the coming of Christianity Delphi lost its importance and was even banned by some Emperors as with many pagan sites. The site was sacked, robbed and destroyed in 394 by the Slavs and basically fell into ruin and forgotten about until the 19th century when archaeologists began to excavate the site. The Monuments at the Delphi site The Sacred Way The Sacred Way is the main road through the town that winds its way up to the Temple of Apollo from the entrance and has 3,000 statues and treasuries along the path. The sacred way goes way back to ancient times, but the paved path that you now walk on when visiting Delphi dates back to Roman times and zig zags the identical route that pilgrims would have taken thousands of years ago past all the monuments. The Temple of Apollo The temple of Apollo is dedicated to the worship of the god Apollo and is one of the main features at Delphi.

The temple you can see today was built in the 4th century BC but sits on the remains of two much older temples from the 6th and 7th centuries BC. The Temple of Apollo was where the Delphic oracle sat and prophesized. The original temple was built during the end of the 7th century and built by the legendary architects Trophonios and Agamedes, this was destroyed by fire in 548 BC, the cause of the fire is unknown. The next temple to be built was known as the Alcmaeonid Temple in honour of a noble Athenian family who oversaw the construction and funding of the temple. The funding came from all over the Greek world and further a field with Amasis of Egypt and Croesus of Lydia donating to the project. The temple was completed in 505 BC but unfortunately destroyed by an earthquake in 373 BC. The third and final temple, the remains of what we see today, was built pretty much to the same design as the previous temple, a doric style with a 6 by 15 column ratio. This temple was eventually destroyed by the Christian Emperor Theodosius I trying to eradicate any any traces of paganism.

The Treasuries From the entrance, all the way up to the Temple of Apollo are treasuries built by various Greek states to commemorate victories and thank the Oracle. The treasuries held the offerings to the god Apollo and usually a percentage of the spoils of battle. With the decline of Greek power the treasuries were plundered, first by Philip of Macedon and later the Celts, until finally by the Romans. The Treasury of the Athenians The most impressive of the treasuries is that of the Athenians, this was built to commemorate the victory at Marathon over the Persians. It is a small Doric building made out of Parian marble and was re-erected by archaeologists in 1903 using the original material. The treasury was used to store offering to the God Apollo and the oracle from many of the wars and battles of Athens, one of the most famous is that of Salamis.The Oracle told the Athenians "have faith in their wooden walls" which the Athenians believed was their ships - hence the battle of Salamis. The Theatre Up from the Temple of Apollo is the Theatre, built in the 4th century BC.

The theatre has 35 rows and could hold up to 5000 spectators. As well as having a view of the stage the spectators had a full view of the town below and it's amazing back drop. The theatre at Delphi is in immaculate condition and is second only to the theatre in Epidaurus. The Stadium The Stadium is above the theatre at the top of the site behind a small pine forest and is the best preserved stadium in Greece (the Kalimarmaro stadium was re-built in the modern era). The stadium was used for track events during the Phithian games every four years. The track was 177m long and 25.5m wide and could hold between 6,500 and 7,000 spectators. The original stadium was built in the 5th century BC and was added too by Herodes Atticus in the 2nd century AD. The Tholos The Tholos is in the Sanctuary of Athena Nike and is a kind of temple with 20 columns in a circle with a diameter of 14.76m and has 10 columns in the interior.

Some of the columns have been stood up and put in the original position to give visitors an idea of how it looked. The Tholos is one of Delphi's most popular monuments, but the function and purpose of the Tholos is still unknown. The Castalian Spring This sacred spring was thought to hold magical powers and used by athletes to bathe themselves, all visitors to the sanctuary had to purify themselves in the Castalian spring before entering. The Oracle also bathed in the water before giving her premonitions. The Gymnasium The Gymnasium is also in the Sanctuary of Athena Nike. The Gymnasium had pools and baths used by the athletes, the pools were filled from the Casalian spring that ran to the area. East of the baths was the Palaestra (training ground). This had everything needed for the athletes to train including a running track and changing rooms. The Stoa of the Athenians The Stoa of the Athenians is in front of the Polygonal wall and was built by Perikles as part of his building program in 478 BC after the Athenians had destroyed the pontoon bridge the Persians used to cross the Hellespont.

The Stoa was then used to store the spoils battles mainly naval ones. The Polygonal Wall The Polygonal Wall supports the platform that holds the Temple of Apollo and dates back to the 6th century BC. The wall is built with interlocking blocks and curved joints (polygonal Lesbian-style masonry). The Museum The museum at Delphi is near the entrance to the sanctuary of Apollo and has thousands of exhibits found at Delphi including the Navel stone, although a lot will be at the National archaeological Museum in Athens. The Information about Delphi Location - Delphi is in central Greece, a few Kilometres from the Corinthian Gulf and West of Thebes. The nearest town to Delphi is Arachova which is a Greek ski resort. Getting to Delphi: Delphi is about an hour and a half drive from Athens into the mountains. There are many day trips arranged from Athens most of these will probably visit Arachova as well. The nearest major airport is Athens. Entrance fee: The entrance fee is 9 Euros and 5 Euros reduced Opening hours: (summer)08:00 - 19:00. (Winter) 08:30 - 15:00.

Closed on all public holidays. Tips: Delphi is in the mountains so avoid going in the middle of winter. Make a day of it visiting Delphi have a look around the town of Arachova, it is more like an Alpine town than a Greek. Visit Greece | Delphi History At the foot of Mount Parnassos, within the angle formed by the twin rocks of the Phaedriades, lies the Pan-Hellenic sanctuary of Delphi, which had the most famous oracle of ancient Greece. Delphi was regarded as the centre of the world. According to mythology, it is here that the two eagles sent out by Zeus from the ends of the universe to find the navel of the world met. The sanctuary of Delphi, set within a most spectacular landscape, was for many centuries the cultural and religious centre and symbol of unity for the Hellenic world. The history of Delphi begins in prehistory and in the myths of the ancient Greeks. In the beginning the site was sacred to Mother Earth and was guarded by the terrible serpent Python, who was later killed by Apollo.

Apollo's sanctuary was built here by Cretans who arrived at Kirrha, the port of Delphi, accompanied by the god in the form of a dolphin. This myth survived in plays presented during the various Delphic festivals, such as the Septerion, the Delphinia, the Thargelia, the Theophania and, of course. the famous Pythia, which celebrated the death of Python and comprised musical and athletic competitions. The earliest finds in the area of Delphi, which date to the Neolithic period (4000 BC), come from the Korykeion Andron, a cave on Parnassos, where the first rituals took place. The remains of a Mycenaean settlement and cemetery were discovered within the sanctuary, but traces of occupation are rare and very fragmentary until the eighth century BC, when the cult of Apollo was established and the development of the sanctuary and the oracle began. The first stone temples of Apollo and Athena, who was also officially venerated under the name of “Pronaia” or “Pronoia” and had her own sanctuary, were built towards the end of the seventh century BC.

According to literary and archaeological evidence other gods were associated with the sanctuary; these included Artemis, Poseidon, Dionysus, Hermes, Zeus Polieus, Hygeia and Eileithyia. The sanctuary was the centre of the Amphictyonic League, an association of twelve tribes of Thessaly and the Sterea (south-central Greece), with religious and later political significance. The Amphictyonic League controlled the operation and finances of the sanctuary, as it designated its priests and other officials chosen from among the inhabitants of Delphi. In the sixth century BC, under the League's protection and administration, the sanctuary was made autonomous (First Sacred War), it increased its territory and political and religious influence throughout Greece, and reorganised the Pythian Games, the second most important games in Greece after the Olympics, which were held every four years. Between the sixth and fourth centuries BC, the Delphic oracle, which was regarded as the most trustworthy, was at its peak. It was delivered by the Pythia, the priestess, and interpreted by the priests of Apollo. Cities, rulers and ordinary individuals alike consulted the oracle, expressing their gratitude with great gifts and spreading its fame around the world.

The oracle was thought to have existed since the dawn of time. Indeed, it was believed to have successfully predicted events related to the cataclysm of Deukalion, the Argonaut's expedition and the Trojan War; more certain are the consultations over the founding of the Greek colonies. It was the oracle's fame and prestige that caused two Sacred Wars in the middle of the fifth and fourth centuries BC. In the third century BC, the sanctuary was conquered by the Aetolians, who were driven out by the Romans in 191 BC. In Roman times, the sanctuary was favoured by some emperors and plundered by others, including Sulla in 86 BC. The rise of the Rationalist movement in philosophy in the third century BC, damaged the oracle's authority, yet its rituals continued unchanged into the second century AD, when it was consulted by Hadrian and visited by Pausanias. The latter's detailed description of the buildings and more than three hundred statues has greatly contributed to our reconstruction of the area. The Byzantine emperor Theodosius finally abolished the oracle and the Slavs destroyed the precinct in 394 BC.

With the advent of Christianity, Delphi became an episcopal see, but was abandoned in the sixth-seventh centuries AD. Soon after, in the seventh century AD, a new village, Kastri, grew over the ruins of the ancient sanctuary, attracting in modern times several travellers interested in antiquities. Archaeological research in Delphi began in 1860 by Germans. In 1891, the Greek government granted the French School at Athens permission for long-term excavations on the site. It is then that the village of Kastri was removed to allow for the so-called “Great Excavation' to take place. The Great Excavation uncovered spectacular remains, including about three thousand inscriptions of great importance for our knowledge of public life in ancient Greece. Today, the Greek Archaeological Service and the French School at Athens continue to research, excavate and conserve the two Delphic sanctuaries. Of all the monuments, only the Treasury of the Athenians had enough of its original building material preserved to allow for its almost complete reconstruction. The project was financed by the City of Athens and carried through by the French School in 1903-1906.

The Chiot altar, the Temple of Apollo and the Tholos were also partially restored. In 1927 and 1930, the poet Angelos Sikelianos and his wife, Eva, attempted to revive the Delphic idea and make of Delphi a new cultural centre of the earth, through a series of events that included performances of ancient theatre. Description The archaeological site of Delphi includes two sanctuaries, dedicated to Apollo and Athena, and other buildings, mostly intended for sports. Visitors arriving from Athens first encountered the sanctuary of Athena Pronaia - that is, Athena who is before the temple of Apollo. Outside its walls spread the settlement of Delphi. Within the walls were the famous Tholos, the symbol of Delphi today, and the remains of three temples dedicated to the goddess. The two earlier temples were built of tufa on the same location. These date to the middle of the seventh century and to c. 500 BC. The third temple, made of limestone, was built at the west end of the sanctuary after the earthquake of 373 BC.

This sanctuary also includes the altars of Zeus Polieus, Athena Ergane, Athena Zosteria, Eileithyia and Hygeia, the remains of two buildings dedicated to the cult of the local heroes Phylakos and Autonos, who routed the Persians from Delphi, and two treasuries with marble roofs, one Doric and the other Aeolian. The Aeolian Treasury of Massalia preserves a characteristic palm-leaf capital. Finally, the sanctuary included a memorial to the routing of the Persians, a statue of Emperor Hadrian, and a building known as the "house of the priests". To the northwest of the sanctuary of Athena Pronaia lay the gymnasium, a place for exercise and learning, the palaestra and the baths. Further up the slope was the Castalian spring , the sacred spring of Delphi, were travellers quenched their thirst after a long voyage and purified themselves before consulting the oracle. The central, most important part of the site was the sanctuary of Apollo, which was surrounded by the usual peribolos, or enclosure wall, with a main gate at its southeast corner.

From here visitors entered the Sacred Way, the street that led to the temple of Apollo with its famous adyton, where Pythia delivered her oracles. With the temple and the Sacred Way as its centre, the sanctuary grew larger, spreading over artificial terraces supported by monumental walls, bordered by porticoes (of Attalus, of the Aetolians, of the Athenians) and accessed through corresponding gates in the enclosure wall. Scattered among these buildings and along the Sacred Way were numerous votive monuments dedicated by Greek cities or wealthy individuals on the occasion of socio-political events, or simply to express gratitude to the god and his oracle. These monuments are representative of artistic achievement from the East to the coasts of the Mediterranean and indicate the wealth of their patrons. They vary from bronze and silver tripods (one of the oracle's symbols) to complex groups of sculptures in bronze or marble. The luxurious and impressive, however small, votive buildings known as treasuries were used for storing smaller votive offerings, but above all for displaying the art and splendour of the city which commissioned them. The imposing temple of Apollo dominated the sanctuary from atop a large terrace supported by a remarkable polygonal wall.

In front of its entrance visitors could admire a series of impressive votive monuments dedicated mostly by wealthy individuals. Above the temple is the theatre where the theatrical and musical contests of the Pythian Games took place, while even higher up the slope, beyond the sacred enclosure, lies the stadium where the athletic contests were held. Outside and around the two sanctuaries are the remains of the settlement and cemeteries of Delphi, which developed mainly in the Classical and Roman period. connect and experience What was the Delphic Oracle? - Apollo at Delphi - Quatr.us UNDERWORLD Why was Delphi so sacred? According to the archaeologist John Hale, because it had a methane gas leak, and if you breathed enough of this methane gas, it would intoxicate you (like being drunk or high) and you would say mysterious things. There was a story around Delphi that the "crack in the earth" was first discovered by goatherds , who saw that whenever their goats got near this place, they started acting funny. Then the little goatherds tried it themselves, until the grownups interfered.

Pythia at Delphi, with Aegeus People built the temple of Apollo at Delphi right over this crack in the earth, and when you wanted to ask the god a question, the priestess went right down into the basement where the crack was, breathed in the gas, and answered your question. Nobody knows exactly when this started, but certainly before about 700 BC . And the oracle continued to answer questions right up until 390 AD , for more than a thousand years. Most of the time, people were pretty happy with the prophecies. But it is noticeable that for many years after the Alcmaeonid family paid to rebuild Apollo's temple in the 500s BC, the Pythia tended to take their side in arguments. The same goes for the Spartans around 400 BC . As time went on, fewer and fewer people came to ask questions. Maybe the methane gas had all run out by this time, and so people didn't have as much faith in the oracle as before. In 362, Oribasius visited Delphi on behalf of the Roman Emperor Julian and got this response: "Tell the emperor that the great hall fell to the ground.

Phoebus (Apollo) no longer has his house, nor the laurel of prophecy, nor the speaking well. The speaking water has also gone." In the end, the Roman emperor Theodosius decided that a Christian emperor shouldn't let people worship Apollo at Delphi and he ordered the shrine to shut down. Learn by doing: read your horoscope online. How easy is it to make predictions that seem to fit your life? More about Oracles Bibliography and further reading about Delphi: The Delphic Oracle: Its Responses and Operations , by Joseph Fontenrose (reprinted 1981). For some reason there isn't any recent book on Delphi, that I know of. Greek Religion , by Walter Burkert (reprinted 1987). By a leading expert. He has sections on each of the Greek gods, and discusses their deeper meanings, and their function in Greek society. The Greeks and the Irrational , by E.R. Dodds (1957). Old, and the Freudianism is outdated, but still an interesting look at Greek spirituality and faith.

Delphi, Greece the Oracle of Delphi Delphi The Oracle of Delphi in Greece Delphi in Greece and its oracle was one of the most sacred places in the ancient world. Situated in the breathtaking surroundings by the mythical Mt. Parnassus, where Pan and the nymphs lived, it is still an enchanting site. The ancient Greeks believed that Delphi was the centre of the world and in the oracle was foretold the future of kings and common men. Mythology: Although Delphi had been dedicated to many deities before him, Gaea , Themis and Phoebe, Apollo is the god most connected to the place. According to mythology, Apollo killed the monster Python who guarded the site and built the first temple here. He then went away to purify himself from the deed, and the Pythean games were held every eight years to commemorate the event. Later, they were held every four years and were mainly musical competitions. The winner was crowned with a wreath of laurel, since the Laurel was Apollo's special tree.

Delphi had been defined as the canter of the earth by Zeus , who one day let his two eagles fly around the earth and where they met - the centre, Delphi, lay. A stone was put at the point called Omphalos - the Navel - an can still be seen in the museum of Delphi. Another myth also tells us that it was here the human kind got a second chance. Zeus was sick and tired of humanity, its thievery, lies and treachery, and decided to drown them all in a flood. The good man Deucalion had been warned by his father Prometheus and had built an ark in good time. The flood drowned the earth, but Deucalion and his wife were safe in the ark, and when the water started sinking, they landed on the top of Mt. Parnassos. Deucalion then went to the oracle to ask what to do next, and the oracle told him to throw the earths bones behind him. He then took some stones which he interpreted to be the bones, threw them over his shoulder, and new humans grew out of them. Deucalion had a son with his wife, and he was to be called Hellen ("Greek").

He, in his turn, became the father of three children. Aeolus, Dorus and Xythos, and the grandfather of Ion and Achaios. These sons would all be the ancestors of the Greek tribes. Heracles had also come to Delphi, but with a wicked purpose: he wanted to steal the tripod Pythia sat on. He failed, but still a temple was built in Heracles' honour. Finally Dionysus also had to do with Delphi. He ruled here in Apollo place during the three months the latter was away in the north. Then chaos ruled here, with enraged women, the maenads, tearing wild animals to pieces and everyone in a constant state of drunkenness. History of Delphi: Delphi is mentioned by Homer, who calls it Pytho. There is evidence that there was a cult here in the Mycenaean period. A temple dedicated to God Apollo stood here in the 8th century BC, if not before. In the 7th century BC the area was already quite full of buildings and statues.

In the 6th century BC a big sphinx was made out of marble from Naxos and put here, as well as treasure houses for Athens, Sicyon and Knidos. It was also now that Delphi had been liberated from the Krisan state, and thus became autonomous. The games and the sanctuary was from then on organised and controlled by the 12 citystates that had formed the Amphictyonic League. In 528 a terrible fire destroyed the old temple of Apollo. Almost all Greek city-states helped to rebuild it, and in 505 a magnificent new temple stood here. In the following century the Sifnian treasure house was built, and after the battle of Marathon Athens also built a new one. In 373BC an earthquake destroyed much of Delphi, including the Apollo temple. Soon, s new collection began among the city states, and in 329BC it was finished. Here, the famous inscriptions "Know yourself", "Keep the measure" and "E" were made. Pythia sat here and told the future through an incomprehensible mumble that was then interpreted by the priests.

This is also where the omphalos, the navel stone, stood as well as Dionysus' tomb. The theatre was built, but it was during the next century that it was rebuilt of stone by Eumenes II of Pergamon so that the audience would actually have seats, and not just sat on the slopes. It could hold 5000 spectators. In AD390 the oracle was shut down by emperor Theodosius. In 1892 French archaeologists started excavating the are, after the ancient village Kastri, that was built on top of it, had been moved. The Oracle of Delphi At first, the oracle of Delphi could only be consulted once a year, but as its reputation grew more and more pilgrims came, and more days were added to the agenda. During the three months that Apollo was believed to be away, the oracle was silent. After going through purification rituals and paying a certain tax, the pilgrim that would be allowed to consult the oracle could ask his question to Pythia. Pythia was a woman from the village Delphi, and in most cases she was a young virgin.

We do not know exactly in what state of mind she was, but she was probably under the influence of some sort of narcotic substance. Tradition holds that fumes were coming out of a crack in the ground, but no such crack has been found. After Pythia had spoken, the priests interpreted her words to the pilgrim. The answers were always vague, and in this way the oracle was almost always right. This gave the priests great political power, and their credibility was discussed even in ancient times. It is said that the fable writer Aesop had called them the "parasites of Apollo" and for this the priests killed him The museum of Delphi If you come to Delphi, you should not miss the museum. It has some amazing finds from the area, the most famous being the Omphalos, the statue "The Charioteer" and the two sculptures of Cleobis and Biton. Getting there: Delphi can be reached by road. Many travel agencies in Athens offer daytrips to the site, but you can also get here on your own. There are several hotels in the area if you want to stay.

"Though killed I killed the killer; but even so he didn't go to Hades, it was I who died" Riddle from the Delphic Oracle Oracles in Ancient Greece - Quatr.us Oracles in Ancient Greece Quatr.us > Greece > Religion > Oracles Oracle at Dodona in northern Greece August 2016 - The word oracle in Greek can mean several related things. It means a god who predicts the future, like Apollo . It also means the priest who hears the message, and the message itself, and the place where the priest hears the message. Most often it means the priest or the message. UNDERWORLD The Greeks believed (like all other ancient people ) that you could communicate with the gods at certain places, at certain times, through certain people, and that the gods would give you advice and maybe tell you what was going to happen in the future. This is certainly no stupider than calling the Psychic Hotline, which thousands of people do every day. Actually, it probably makes more sense than that.

First of all, both the Greek oracles and the Psychic Hotline have in common that they hear the same questions over and over, and they listen all day to people telling more or less the same kinds of stories over and over. "Will my boyfriend leave me?" "Will my kids turn out bad?" "Will I get this job?" After you have some experience, you can predict pretty well what will happen just because you have already seen the same thing happen to so many other people. Delphi's Pythia on her tripod (Athens, ca. 500 BC) But the Greek oracles had a couple of advantages too. First, you didn't just come and ask your question. You had to hang around the temple for a while, talking to the priests, so they could get to know you. And they could see you, not just hear your voice on the telephone. Second, everybody came to the same few oracles for help, and the priests at these oracles (unlike the Psychic Hotline) compared notes with each other.

So if you asked "Should I get married?" and the oracle said "Yes," and then next week your girlfriend comes and she asks, "Will Gorgias ask me to marry him?" then the oracle already knows the answer to that one. There is every reason to think that the oracles were worth the money they charged. The most important Greek oracle was the oracle of Apollo at Delphi , though there were many others. Other countries like Egypt , the Persian Empire , and the Roman Empire , also had oracles. Learn by doing: write oracles to predict the future for your friends More about the oracle at Delphi Bibliography and further reading about oracles: The Delphic Oracle: Its Responses and Operations , by Joseph Fontenrose (reprinted 1981). For some reason there isn't any recent book on Delphi. Greek Religion , by Walter Burkert (reprinted 1987). By a leading expert. He has sections on each of the Greek gods, and discusses their deeper meanings, and their function in Greek society. The Delphi - Greece - YouTube The Delphi - Greece Want to watch this again later? Sign in to add this video to a playlist. Need to report the video?

Sign in to report inappropriate content. The interactive transcript could not be loaded. Loading... Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later. Published on May 31, 2013 David's Been Here presents one of Ancient Greece's most important historical sites: The Delphi. A two and a half hour drive from Athens brings you to what the ancient world considered both the spiritual and physical center of the universe. Dating back to the 4th century BC, this ancient sanctuary was where the Delphic Oracle both lived and prophesized about the future, helping to make Delphi the most sacred site in the world. One of the most popular day trips from Athens, tour through the ancient ruins both outdoors and inside the Archaeological Museum located on site. With ancient structural remains, artifacts, statues and offerings all found within Delphi- its both an interesting and educational site to visit. Learn all about these historic sites as well as the best spots in Delphi town during this short yet informative video. Category

Question: In ancient Greece, what would you find at Delphi?
Answer: The Oracle