Delphi

Delphi was the sacred centre of the ancient Greek world, believed to be the navel of the earth, where kings and citizens came to consult the oracle of Apollo. Its ruins, the temple of Apollo, the theatre, the treasuries and the stadium, spill down a dramatic slope of Mount Parnassus above a vast sea of olive groves, and its museum holds the famous bronze Charioteer.

History

The site was occupied from the Neolithic, and extensively from the Mycenaean period (1600-1100 BC); long a place of worship of the earth goddess Gaia, Delphi gained Panhellenic importance as shrine and oracle in the 7th century BC, was taken from the Phocians of Kirra in the First Sacred War (597-585 BC), and saw its temple of Apollo burn in 548 BC. The Phocians sacked it in 356 BC, setting off the Third Sacred War that ended with the rise of Philip II of Macedon; a Gallic invasion under Brennus was beaten off in 279 BC, and Rome took control in 191 BC. After Theodosius I suppressed the sanctuary in 390 the village of Kastri grew over the ruins, and once an earthquake damaged it and the villagers accepted a new village elsewhere, the French School at Athens began the great excavation in 1893 (Wikipedia, Delphi).

What's there

• The Temple of Apollo - the ruins of the great temple of the oracle.
• The theatre and stadium - the ancient venues climbing the mountainside.
• The Charioteer - the famous bronze statue in the site museum.
• The setting - the dramatic mountainside above a sea of olive trees.

When to go

Spring and autumn for mild weather and green slopes; summer is hot and the site steep and exposed. It is a long day trip from Athens by car or tour, or better with an overnight in the village.

What to expect

It is a three-hour drive from Athens, so a very long day trip or better an overnight. The site climbs a steep, exposed hillside, tiring in heat. The ruins take imagination, though the setting and the museum's Charioteer are unforgettable.

Nearby

The pretty village of Delphi and the mountain town of Arachova are alongside; Athens is a few hours away.

Key facts