Delphi

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‘Delphi’

In ancient times, the city of Delphi was the seat of the most important of the Greek oracles and was home to the omphalos stone, supposedly the centre of the universe. It was also home to the Temple of Delphic Apollo, dating from the 4th century BC, the ruins of which are visible today.

Delphi's use for worship dates from prehistoric times when it was used to honour Gaia.

In 1893 large quantities of soil from numerous landslides were removed to begin the unearthing of the city. Four areas of the site have been reconstructed, among them the Treasury of the Athenians and the Temple of Apollo. Delphi's stadium, theatre, gymnasium, springs and several temples are on view in various states of ruin. The majority of finds from the dig are housed in the Archaeological Museum of Delphi.

5 / 5 Review by editor Worldreviewer

‘Archaeological Site of Delphi’

'The pan-Hellenic sanctuary of Delphi, where the oracle of Apollo spoke, was the site of the omphalos, the 'navel of the world'. Blending harmoniously with the superb landscape and charged with sacred meaning, Delphi in the 6th century B.C. was indeed the religious centre and symbol of unity of the ancient Greek world.'

UNESCO

Review by press.

‘The Tholos temple, Sanctuary of Athena Pronaia’

Nestled in the forests of sacred Mt. Parnassus are the ruins of Delphi, the supreme oracle site of the ancient Mediterranean. Archaic legends mention a holy place of the earth goddess Gaia, whose shrine was guarded by her daughter, the serpent Python. Killing the serpent, Apollo erected an oracular temple on the site of the earlier shrine. Orienting its axis to align with the solstices, he placed an omphalos stone in the inner sanctum of temple, at the exact place where he had speared the serpent. The 'spearing' of the serpent may be interpreted as the marking of an area of energetic power and the omphalos was used to gather, concentrate and emanate those energies.

Women, considered more sensitive than men to these energies, would sit near the omphalos stone, enter a visionary trance and pronounce oracles. Plutarch, a Greek philosopher, spoke of sweet smelling geologic fumes, known as pneuma, which inspired divine frenzies. Until recently this matter was considered to be a fabrication from post-Delphic times. During the late 1990’s however, scientists proved the ancient legends to be accurate. The oracular temple is situated at the intersection of two geological faults, from which issue methane, ethane and ethylene fumes. Ethylene, a psycho-active gas, produces feelings of euphoria and visionary insight. Further adding to the intrigue of Delphi is its location along that remarkable alignment of sacred sites stretching 2500 miles from Skellig Michael to Mt. Carmel.

Archaeologically little is known about the beginnings of Delphi. Excavations have revealed a Mycenean village from 1500 BC, with an oracular cult of the Earth Goddess. Around 1000 BC the worship of Apollo became dominant, the use of the site was continued by politically astute priests, and Delphi achieved Pan-Hellenic fame by the 7th century BC. Exercising political and social influence for a thousand years, the Delphic oracle was in decline by the 1st century AD and its last recorded oracle was in 362 AD.

More about the Tholos Temple from Sacred Sites

Review by expert member Martin Gray