Delphi, one of the oldest cities in Greece, located on the slope of Mt. Parnassus, was famous in the ancient world for its temple of Apollo and the famous Delphic oracle, to which pilgrims from all over the Oikumene travelled for divination. oracle, to which pilgrims from all over the Oikumene travelled for divination. Delphi was rightly regarded as the centre of the Hellenic world.
<the pythian="" games="" took="" place="" here="" -="" all-greek="" festivals="" in="" memory="" of="" the="" victory="" apollo="" over="" python.="" apollo's="" originally="" it="" was="" a="" competition="" between="" poets="" and="" musicians,="" whose="" patron="" apollo,="" but="" from="" 586="" bc="" programme="" also="" included="" sporting="" events.="" sports="" were="" games.="" last="" held="" 394="" ad.="" at="" same="" time="" emperor="" theodosius="" i="" finally="" ruined="" closed="" temple="" apollo.="" as="" result="" archaeological="" excavations="" begun="" 1892,="" remains="" discovered.="" temple,="" theatre,="" hippodrome,="" various="" monuments="" many="" inscriptions="" discovered,="" which="" made="" possible="" to="" reconstruct="" general="" appearance="" sanctuary.
The ruins left of the temple of Apollo date back to the 4th century BC. But the sanctuary had existed on this site since the late 8th century. The sacred road led to the temple of Apollo and was adorned with three thousand statues and treasuries for gifts. treasuries for gifts and offerings of thanksgiving. The stone of Sibylla stands on the very spot where. Legend has it that the first priestess diviner made her predictions. The theatre, built in the 5th century BC, had a seating capacity of over 5,000 spectators. of spectators.
To the southeast of the Temple of Apollo is the sanctuary of the goddess Athena with the ruins of a 4th century BC temple. of a temple dating back to the 4th century BC. A rotunda, the tolos, the purpose of which is still unknown. remains unknown.
The stadium where the Pythian Games were held has been preserved quite well. It had a seating capacity about 7,000 spectators and was made of limestone from Mount Parnassus.
It was believed that anyone who came to Delphi should make a ritual ablution in the waters of the sacred a ritual ablution in the waters of the sacred Castalian Key. The poet Byron took a dip in the waters in the waters of this spring, inspired by the legend that the Castalian Key awakens poetic inspiration.
The collection of the Delphi Museum includes a collection of sculptures and architectural architectural fragments found during excavations.
