Join us as we visit Delphi in Greece to see where the Oracle of Delphi was in the Temple of Apollo and to see the Theater and the Stadium and other sites at Delphi. Delphi is an impressive site on the south-western slope of Mount Parnassus. It is an archaeological site that is recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.
Following is information about Delphi.
“The first stone of the Temple of Apollo and most of the Treasuries, i.e. the small temple-shaped building that housed votives by cities in memory of military victories and noble deeds, were erected in the 6th c. B.C.” (as stated on a sign at Delphi).
Sibyl the prophetess: “The Delphic Sibyl was a woman from before the Trojan Wars (c. 11th century BC) mentioned by Pausanias writing in the 2nd century AD about stories he had heard locally. The Sibyl would have predated the real Pythia, the oracle and priestess of Apollo, originating from around the 8th century BC.” ([ Ссылка ])
The Oracle of Delphi (Pythia) was the priestess of the sanctuary that was dedicated to the Greek god Apollo. It was believed that Pythia, while in a trance, would channel prophecies from Apollo. There was more than one “Pythia”. Upon the death of a prior Pythia, a new Pythia was chosen from among the priestesses of the temple. We were told by our Guide that trance-inducing fumes came from the ground into the Oracle’s Chamber.
From a sign at Delphi about the Navel: “The sacred omphalos of Delphi, believed to have fallen from the heavens was shaped like a conical stone devoid of shaping.” “According to mythological tradition, Zeus released two golden eagles in different directions. At the point where the two god-sent birds met, Zeus threw down a stone that landed in Delphi.”
Behind the Navel is the Treasury of the Athenians. From a sign at Delphi, the “Treasuries were small, temple-shaped buildings dedicated by the Greek city-states and their colonies at sanctuaries. They often housed precious votives of the city that had dedicated them.”
We were shown a picture of ancient ruins that were built on sturdy retaining walls. Excavations below the ruins showed pillars and an immense pillar with the Sphinx on top of it (the Sphinx now can be seen in the Museum of Delphi).
The Tholos of Delphi is a circular temple among ancient structures sharing the site of the Sanctuary of Athena Pronaia.
The column with the 3-headed snake was dedicated to Apollo after a victory against the Persians.
“The theater at Delphi is build further up the hill from the Temple of Apollo and it presented the seated audience with a spectacular view of the entire sanctuary below and the valley beyond. It was built in the 4th c. B.C. our of local Parnassus limestone and was remodeled several times subsequently. Its 35 rows can accommodate around five thousand spectators who in ancient times enjoyed plays, poetry readings, and musical events during the various festivals that took place periodically at Delphi. The lower tiers of seats were built during the Hellenistic and Roman periods.” (Source: [ Ссылка ])
The Stadium is high up on the hill above the sacred areas. It was built in the 5th century BC. Around 6,500 people could sit in the Stadium. It held the first games, the Pythian games, in honor of Apollo every four years at his sanctuary in Delphi with war tactics such as discus and javelin throwing, chariot races and other sports where people were not killed, but a laurel wreath was awarded (as in later Olympian Games).

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