Photos of the Ancient Greek Delphi Archaeological Site

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Photos of the Enigmatic Stunning Ancient Greek Delphi Archaeological Site, Greece. Including the Temple of Apollo, Tholos Temple & Theatre. Photos by Photographer Paul E Williams. (TIP – use the icons below the slideshow for thumbnail photos and info)

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Photos of the Ancient Greek Delphi Archaeological Site

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Photos of the enigmatic spectacular archaeological site of Delphi, with images & photos of Delphi Museum.

Delphi was the home of Pythia the high priestess of the Temple of Apollo. She specifically served as the temples oracle and was known as the Oracle of Delphi. 

The Oracle of Delphi

Established at the latest in the 8th century BC, The Pythia was widely credited for the accuracy of her prophecies uttered under divine possession by Apollo. Between the 7th century BC and late 4th century AD, the Delphic Oracle was the most prestigious and authoritative oracle among the Greeks and Romans. The Oracle of Delphi was consulted by the great of the ancient world and became amongst the most powerful women of the classical world. 

The Oracles Enigmatic Prophecies

The Oracle would breath in gasses that came from the opening and go into a violent trance. Her rantings or babbling were translated by priests into eloquent statements that could be interpreted by the questioner in several ways.

Many famous misinterpretations by the questions led to disaster. When Croesus, the fabulously rich Lydian King, asked if he should go to war with Persia, he was told that if he did so a great empire would fall. So Croesus went to war and lost to the Persians, and it was his Great Empire that fell. So the Delphic Oracle would have been right either way.

Spectacular Delphi

The tributes paid to the Oracle made Delphi very wealthy and it grew into spectacular city. Built high on a mountain side it would have been seen by ships approaching from miles away. The long climb up to see the Oracle would have given the journey a heightened sense of pilgrimage.

The archaeological site of Delphi has the most spectacular setting of any Greek site. The views across the mountains it is set in are a wonderful backdrop to the enigmatic ruins.

Panhellenic Games

Apollo’s sacred precinct in Delphi was a panhellenic sanctuary, where every four years, starting in 776 BC athletes from all over the Greek world competed in the Pythian Games, the precursor of the Olympic Games.