Excursion to the nearby archaeological site of Delphi

Bootlegger of Mann
Frank Newton
Tue 16 Sep 2014 18:30
Tuesday 16th September

Day excursion from Galaxidi to Delphi: We take the 07.30 am bus from the town square and, after changing buses in a town en route, arrive in this high altitude ancient place at 08:45 am.

Delphi is both an archaeological site and a small modern town on the south-western spur of Mount Parnassus in the valley of Phocis

In myths dating to the classical period of Ancient Greece (510-323 BCE), the site of Delphi was believed to be determined by Zeus when he sought to find the centre of his "Grandmother Earth" He sent two eagles flying from the eastern and western extremities, and the path of the eagles crossed over Delphi where the navel of Gaia was found.[

Earlier myths include traditions that Pythia, or the Delphic oracle, already was the site of an important oracle in the pre-classical Greek world (as early as 1400 BCE) and, rededicated, served as the major site during classical times for the worship of the god Apollo after he slew Python, "a dragon" who lived there and protected the navel of the Earth. "Python" (derived from the verb pythein, "to rot") is claimed by some to be the original name of the site in recognition of Python which Apollo defeated. The Homeric Hymn to Delphic Apollo recalled that the ancient name of this site had been Krisa. Others relate that it was named Pytho and that Pythia, the priestess serving as the oracle, was chosen from their ranks by a group of priestesses who officiated at the temple.

Apollo's sacred precinct in Delphi was a panhellenic sanctuary, where every four years, starting in 586 BCE athletes from all over the Greek world competed in the Pythian Games, one of the four panhellenic games, precursors of the Modern Olympics. The victors at Delphi were presented with a laurel crown which was ceremonially cut from a tree by a boy who re-enacted the slaying of the Python. Delphi was set apart from the other games sites because it hosted the mousikos agon, musical competitions.

These Pythian Games rank second among the four stephanitic games chronologically and based on importance. These games, though, were different from the games at Olympia in that they were not of such vast importance to the city of Delphi as the games at Olympia were to the area surrounding Olympia. Delphi would have been a renowned city whether or not it hosted these games; it had other attractions that led to it being labeled the "omphalos" (navel) of the earth, in other words, the center of the world.

In the inner hearth of the Temple of Apollo, an eternal flame burned. After the battle of Plataea, the Greek cities extinguished their fires and brought new fire from the hearth of Greece, at Delphi; in the foundation stories of several Greek colonies, the founding colonists were first dedicated at Delphi.

The above was taken from Wikpedia, well, why try and attempt to write it yourself me thinks.

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The Delphi site with its amphitheatre amongst the numerous ruins and one of the museum's artefac
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Me, supporting the Union.                      One of a number of Treasuries


What an amazing and interesting place that is viewed over a one and a half kilometre walk, before touring the adjacent modern museum filled with many awesome artefacts.

After our visit we had a light lunch before boarding the bus for our hour and a quarter trip back down to Galaxidi.

A good day.