DELPHI, The famous Oracle

The sanctuary of Delphi - one of the most important and largest of ancient Greece- is located on the southern slopes of Mount Parnassos at a height of 580m above sea level.The location of the sanctuary of Pythian Apollo below the vertical rocks Phaedriades is breathtaking.The Delphic worship dates from the Mycenaean period. The first deity who was worshipped here was Gaia (Mother earth) while Apollo's began when he slayed the Python, the dragon - guardian of the oracle.The oracles were given by a priestess called Pythia. The Pythia would go at dawn to the sacred fountain Castalia to purify her body and then would drink the water from fountain Kassotis to purify her soul. Then she would get into the adyton of the temple and sit on the prophetic tripod (a three legged stool). After chewing laurel leaves and inhaling some mysterious exhalations coming out from a 'chasm' , she would get into trance. All her answers to the questions were ambiguous and this way the oracle was never wrong.The sanctuary of Delphi grew rich with wonderful buildings and excellent works of art which have been offered by the city-states and the faithful for the prophecies which they had taken. To visit the sanctuary you follow the Sacred Way which is decorated on either side with votive monuments, statues and Treasuries. The Treasuries were storehouses for offerings put up by the rich Greek cities. One of them is the Treasury of the Athenians. A marble doric prostyle building. Following the Sacred Way you pass in front of the Porch of the Athenians and you see the Great Altar, right in front of the Temple of Apollo. Colossal doric peripteral temple, 58 m. long and 23 m. wide, with 6 columns on the narrow and 15 on the long sides, built in the 4 th. c. B.C. The interior of the temple was divided in 4 parts. The most sacred was at the back of the cella where was the "oracular chasm" from where Pythia took mainly her prophetic power.From the Temple of Apollo a flight of steps leads up to the Theatre which is one of the best preserved in Greece today. It was built the 4rth c. B.C. and its capacity is about 5.000 spectators.Further up of the theatre is the Stadium. Every four years here held the famous "Pythian Games" in Apollo's honor. The stadium could seat 7.000 spectators.Not far from the archeological site is the Museum of Delphi which contains the findings from the excavations and the famous bronze statue of the Charioteer.

Info

Telephone 0030 2265082313

Ticket : Full  € 9 , Reduced € 5

Opening hours: 08:00 - 15:00 h

Written by Sophia Kokkinou , guide/archaeologist/writer