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Delphi

The myth recounts that at a certain moment Zeus released two eagles, one from the East, the other from the West, and at the point where the met, he threw the Sacred Stone, marking the centre of the earth - the navel of the world. The cave where the divinity Gaia (Mother Earth) used to utter prophecies guarded by her son, the serpent Python, dates from the second millennium BC (Mycenaean period). It was located on the way from the Gulf of Corinth to Central and Northern Greece, in a region then called Pytho. When the God Apollo was an infant, he killed the Python, at the same time abandoning Delphi to purify himself. After the purification took place, he returned to Delphi crowned and took over the Oracle, which from then on belonged to him.

Apart from the mythical implications, this act symbolised the introduction of the worship of Delphinios Apollo at Krisa (a town in Phokis, today Hrisso), by the seamen of Knossos. The God became known as Apollo Pythias and the area was called Delphi from that time on. At first the Oracle was under the strict domination of Krisa; It was liberated in 590 BC, and it is from this date that the true history and fame of Delphi essentially began. A number of Sacred Wars broke out for control of the Oracle.

The Phokians, Amphissans and even the Athenians vied to avail themselves of its great wealth, interfering with the independence of the priests and the little world that revolved about them. In 191 BC the Romans became masters of Delphi. This was a period of waves of pillaging raids but also attempts to revive the Oracle. However, nothing could halt Delphi's decline and eventually it ceased to be regarded as the navel of the world.

(The first excavations began in 1838 and were completed in 1935). The Sanctuary of Apollo with the Treasuries (buildings where the city-states kept votive offerings and religious vessels), the temples and the peribolos (enclosure) lie on the south flank of Mt. Parnassos to ones right, if approaching from Arahova. The centre of the Sanctuary is dominated by the Doric temple of Apollo. A Sacred Way leads to the temple and is lined with treasuries, monuments and offerings. Northwest of the temple is the theatre that seats 5,000 persons, where the Delphic Festivals were held. The central theme here was the representation of Apollo's victory over the serpent Python. Further to the west and somewhat above the theatre lies the Stadium where the Pythian Games took place every four years.

To the right of the entrance to the Sanctuary is the Kastalian Fountain, where Pythia washed before speaking her prophecies, and on the left and below the road stands the Sanctuary of Athena. Finds have shown that it had been dedicated as early as the Mycenaean era to a female deity. The tholos or rotunda, one of the most remarkable architectural constructions of antiquity, stands next to it. It is not known what this building was used for.

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