  |
||||||
|
|
Discover the center of the ancient world at Delphi in Central Greece, with the Sanctuary of Apollo, an amphitheatre, a stadium and a museum filled with ancient treasure
Modern DelphiModern day Delphi perches high on a rugged mountainside of Mt Parnassos overlooking the Gulf of Corinth. 178 kms north west of Athens, Delphi can be reached in 3 hours by bus or car. It takes slightly longer if you take the train to Livadia and bus it from there. The main streets of Delphi hug the natural curves of the mountainside, while a side-street of stairs climbs straight up. Take a trip to the top for some spectacular views of the Gulf far below. Be sure to take the opportunity to peer into some interesting backyard gardens along the way. The Oracle at DelphiLegend has it that the god Zeus released two eagles at opposite ends of the world. When they met, an Omphalos, or sculpted cone was erected on the spot, and Delphi thus became the centre of the ancient world. This also became the site of the Sanctuary of Apollo where the Oracle of Delphi came into being. Although the actual location has not been discovered, it is said that vaporous fumes rose from a chasm inside the Sanctuary, putting the Oracle into a trance. Of course the utterances of the woman were so unintelligible, a priest translated it into verse so the petitioner could make sense of it. Delphi reached its height in the 4th century BC when the Oracle was consulted mainly by governments of the day in regards to marriages, journeys, business deals and battles of war. The success of the advice brought an avalanche of treasures to the city. Much later, the Oracle became known for dispensing personal advice. Visit the Ancient SiteAncient Delphi has been deemed a World Heritage site and is located less than a kilometre from the modern town. There are some spectacular ruins to be seen at Delphi. Enter the site and follow the Sacred Way. In ancient times this walk was lined with statues and treasures, all gifts from grateful city-states who had received advice from the Oracle. The Sanctuary of Apollo at one time dominated the site. The stones hold inscriptions of wisdom such as “Know thyself” or “Nothing in excess”, good advice even today. On the upper side of the Temple are the ruins of an amphitheatre. Climb to the top for more spectacular views. Continue on up the mountainside for a look at the Stadium – the best preserved in all of Greece. When you come back down, take a walk along a paved path that runs parallel to the highway. Walk until you come to the Castilian Spring where pilgrims cleansed themselves of the journey’s dust before their consultation with the Oracle. Cross the road to find the Sanctuary of Athena. These ruins also feature a circular podium with 20 columns – three of which have been re-erected – around its perimeter. Tour the Delphi MuseumThe immense treasure amassed in Delphi is reflected in the museum. A copy of the Omphalos that marked the center of the world, a frieze depicting an important moment in the Trojan war, and an Acanthus column with dancing women at it’s base are a few of the highlights. The most prized piece though is the life sized Bronze Charioteer. After all these years, he still celebrates his victory in the Pythian games of the mid 470’s BC.
The copyright of the article Discover Delphi in Greece Travel is owned by Gwendolyn Copeman. Permission to republish Discover Delphi in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
|
|||||
|
|
||||||
