In myth Zeus released two eagles from opposite ends of the world: they met at Delphi, which became the omphalos, the navel of the world. Here Apollo killed the serpent Python and founded his oracle, the most famous of antiquity. Kings, cities and ordinary citizens came from all over the Mediterranean for advice before a war, a marriage or the founding of a colony.
The oracle
Apollo's priestess, the Pythia, sat on a tripod in the heart of the temple and, in a trance, uttered the god's words, which priests often wrote down in verse. The answers were famously ambiguous: Croesus, king of Lydia, was told that if he attacked the Persians he would destroy a great empire; he did, but it was his own. The Athenians, threatened by Persia, were told to defend themselves with "wooden walls": Themistocles understood this meant ships and won at Salamis. Maxims such as "Know thyself" and "Nothing in excess" were carved on the temple.
The site
| Place | What to see |
|---|---|
| Sacred Way | The path zigzagging up among the remains of treasuries and votive monuments |
| Treasury of the Athenians | Small rebuilt Doric building, offered after the victory at Marathon |
| Temple of Apollo | Foundations and some columns of the 4th-century BC temple where the Pythia spoke |
| Theatre | 4th century BC, about 5,000 seats and an extraordinary view |
| Stadium | Higher up, one of the best-preserved ancient stadiums, home of the Pythian Games |
| Castalian spring | Where pilgrims and the Pythia purified themselves |
| Sanctuary of Athena Pronaia (Marmaria) | Lower down, with the famous Tholos, a 4th-century BC circular temple |
The museum
The Delphi Museum is one of the most important in Greece. Its masterpiece is the Charioteer of Delphi, a bronze statue of a young chariot driver from about 470 BC, his stone eyes still intact. Also on show are the Sphinx of the Naxians, the sculptures of the Siphnian Treasury, the marble omphalos and the twins Kleobis and Biton.
Arachova and around
Ten kilometres away is Arachova, a mountain village on Parnassus popular with skiers in winter, with shops selling rugs, cheese and honey. Nearby you can visit the monastery of Hosios Loukas and the seafaring village of Galaxidi.
Practical information
- From Athens it is about two and a half hours by car, or by KTEL bus; many agencies run day trips.
- One ticket covers the site and the museum.
- The site is steep: comfortable shoes, water and a hat. In summer visit early in the morning.
- Staying in Delphi or Arachova lets you see the site with fewer crowds and the valley at sunset.
See also Central Greece, Greek religion and places of myth.