DELFI

At a distance of 160km is Delphi - the ancient city of Phokida -whose history began 3000 years ago and is connected with their famous Ancient Oracle. The Oracle of Delphi was dedicated to Pithio Apollon and had an immense influence both in the public and private lives of the ancient Greeks. Delphi was built on the slopes of Parnasso, on a steep rock that overlooked the small valley of the River Plistos. The ancients believed that the location, and more specifically the existing gap was the navel of the earth. Because the earth contained oracular forces, anyone standing over that navel would acquire those forces. Then they founded on this spot a Sacred Altar in the honour of Goddess Earth, and placed a tripod seat over the gap where the holy priestess -prophetess Pythia, of the time, was seated. The priestess, after drinking water from the Kassotida fountain and chewing bay-leaves, would bend over the gap and inhale the vapours coming out of it. At that moment the inquirer, having first been cleaned in Kastalia Sacred Spring of the temple and having donated to the temple a considerable sum and animal sacrifices, made his request. Pythia would lisp an incomprehensible answer, which was recorded and translated by the attendant priests (usually in verses), and delivered. Unlike the questions, which had to be clear and precise, the answers were ambiguous. It is known that with the reputation the Oracle achieved in the then known world, it accumulated many treasures and its temple was splendid. Apart from the temple existed the Ancient Theatre, the temple of Pronea Athena, the Stadium, the Gymnasium and the Arena. Today a museum has been built in which there are exhibits of immense value such as the original bronze sculpture of the charioteer (Iniochos), the sphinx of Naxo etc.