Delphi Ruins, and the Temple of Apollo, Delphi, Greece

We spent three days in Delphi to visit the Delphi ruins and the temple of Apollo.
One day for the sites, two days resting from the exertion.

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Delphi is situated high above the Corinthian gulf on the Parnassus.
As far as the eye can see there is the greenery of the forests covering the craggy rocks, nestled among which are the wonderful ruins of Delphi.
Delphi has a rich history of artistic achievements and athletic events during the first millennium BC. But Delphi is undoubtedly most wellknown as being the site of the Delphic oracle, the supreme oracle of the classical Greek world.

The name Delphi, Delphoi, comes from the same root as ?????? delphys, ‘womb’, thought by some to indicate archaic veneration of Gaia, Grandmother Earth, earth goddess of the site.

Delphi was the site of an oracle of the earth goddess Gaia. During the reign of Gaia, the site was known as Pytho, for the great serpent offspring of Gaia said to have arisen from the slime left behind after the great flood.
The Python lived in a cave on Mount Parnassus guarding Gaias shrine.
According to mythology Apollo slew the Python, expelling Gaia from the sanctuary, which was then known as Pythian Apollo

Delphi is situated on the lower slopes of Mount Parnassus in Phocis, an ancient province of Central Greece.
The oracle of Apollo at Delphi was consulted throughout the ancient world. The priests at Delphi developed an elaborate ritual on the chief priestess of Apollo who was known as the Pythia. The worshippers considered the messages uttered by the Pythia to be the words of Apollo.
According to legend, the Pythia would fall into a deep trance, from inhaling the sulfurous fumes rising from a deep fissure in the ground. The priests would interpret her utterances into promising, but imprecise, prophesies. Then the Pythias vague words would be communicated to the pilgrims who had travelled to consult the oracle of their fate.
Initially there was a single oracle, who was consulted by both private individuals, and public officials. But as the demand for her services increased she was joined by two other Pythia.

According to legend Zeus dispatched two golden eagles from the ends of the world, to find the centre of the world. The eagles met at Delphi which was then believed to be the centre, ‘navel’ of the world.
Since then the sanctuary of Apollo has been home to a sacred omphalos, or navel-stone, surmounted by the two eagles released by Zeus. .

There were three phrases engraved on the walls of the most important building in the sanctuary, the Temple of Apollo, ‘Know thyself’, ‘Make a pledge and mischief is nigh’, and ‘Nothing in excess’, were visible on the walls of the most important building in the sanctuary, the Temple of Apollo.
The site also contains a theatre, stadium, and bouleteuerion, or council house.

Parnassus was the place of worship of Pan, the god of fertility, and Dionysus, the god of wine.
Mount Parnassus was also sacred to the Muses, and a centre of poetry and musical inspiration.

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In case you couldn’t be bothered to read the above information, which is not necessarily correct, about the ruins at Delphi, here’s our take on it.
So, basically the ruins at Delphi in Greece were where the oracle, an old lady with little life experience, high on who knows what substances, spouted nonsense, which was then acted upon by people who should surely have known better.
It’s people like the oracle, Pythia, that start wars.

There are many differing opinions of the exact facts about the history of the site at Delphi in Greece.
I don’t know truth from myth. I wasn’t there, I’m not quite that old.
I do know that we thoroughly enjoyed our visit to the ruins at Delphi.
The sun was unrelenting as we climbed the steep slope, the sweat was dripping off of our unfit bodies, and we loved every minute of it.
We were shocked at how many of the other people, who were visiting the site whilst we were there, didn’t manage to walk to the top though. Most of them were much younger than us, teenagers. As we walked to the top, we passed dozens of them all sitting in the various small patches of shade, yabbering about how they just couldn’t make it to the top. Shocking at how unfit these whippersnappers were.
You don’t have to be an athlete to climb up to see the ruins at Delphi. It’s not particularly high at all, just a pleasant walk, all be it under the scorching Summer sun – if you visit at the height of the season like we did.
Uphill. Out of breath. Hot. Delphi is definitely a site worth seeing.
Top Tip ~ take water with you, or beer. It’s important to keep hydrated. ;D

Video of Delphi

Click here to view the embedded video.

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