Greece: Delphi Exursion

The Town of Delphi

Delphi is located on the mountain Parnassus in lower central Greece. It first came on the map in the 15th century BC. For the ancient Greeks, Delphi was literally the center of the world. According to Greek myth, Zeus released two eagles from opposite ends of the earth and they met in the sky above Delphi. Impaling into one another with their beaks, they fell to the ground on the very center of the world. The priests from Knossos on Crete brought the cult of Apollo to Delphi in the 8th century BC, which created the Oracle, what Delphi is known for.

Beautiful Mosaic

Church of Delphi

Museum of Delphi
The museum houses thousands of artifacts excavated from ancient Delphi. Most artifacts were extravagant gifts brought by leaders for the Oracle of Delphi.

Socrates

Charioteer of Delphi (470 BC)
It is one of best known and well preserved bronze statues of ancient Greece. The most interesting thing to me about this statue are the eyes, because they look real. He has eyelashes made of copper and eyes made of onyx.

Sphinx of Naxos sitting on an Iconic column (560 BC)
Apparently there were large columns with various statues sitting on top of them throughout Delphi, this is the only one of the statues that survived.

The Archaeological Site of Delphi
It is indescribable to walk along an excavated site knowing that it was once lively and bustling with people over 2500 years ago. These temples and monuments are so beautiful, and I like to imagine what it would have looked like back then. Because of Zeus' eagle experiment, this site became the center of the world for ancient Greeks and the dwelling place for the Greek god Apollo.

What is this Oracle? you may be asking...

The priestess of the oracle at Delphi was known as the Pythia. Apollo spoke through his oracle, who had to be an older woman of blameless life chosen from among the peasants of the area. She sat on a tripod seat over an opening in the earth. When Apollo slew Python, its body fell into this fissure, according to legend, and fumes arose from its decomposing body. Intoxicated by the vapors, the sibyl would fall into a trance, allowing Apollo to possess her spirit. In this state she prophesied. It has been postulated that a gas high in ethylene came out of this opening that is known to produce violent trances, though this theory remains debatable. While in a trance the Pythia "raved" - probably a form of ecstatic speech - and her ravings were "translated" by the priests of the temple into elegant hexameters. People consulted the Delphic oracle on everything from important matters of public policy to personal affairs.

Temple Tholos
This temple was reconstructed, and the whiter stone in the below picture is the newer stuff. This temple is located in the Sanctuary of Athena. All structures in this area were dedicated to Athena. The purpose of this structure is unknown, but it is thought to have housed a spectacular statue.

These stones are what remains of an ancient fitness center. The dirt roads were the racing track.

View of Tholos in the Sanctuary of Athena

Temple of Apollo as seen from the Tholos below

View from Temples

That's my gladiator pose! I'm standing on the stage of an amphitheater.

Temple of Apollo and valley are behind us

Amphitheater and Temple of Apollo

Stadium where they use to hold athletic competitions, including chariot racing.

Below is the Temple of Apollo. It was built three different times, because of earth quakes. Each time it was dedicated to various ancient Greek architects. This building housed some of the most valuable donations given to the oracle.

Treasury of Athens

Delphi was a really great trip. We went with a tour group, but stayed the night and went back to Athens with a different group the next day. The mayor himself drove us to our hotel! According to our second tour guide, he is well loved in Delphi...he also owns half of it! That evening, we got to see real Greek dancing and we even tried it out! We were the youngest people by 35 years dining that night, but it was a lot of fun!!