Delphi

Delphi, town of ancient Greece, site of the celebrated oracle of the god Apollo, situated on the slopes of Mount Parnassus, in Phocis (now Fokis Department), about 9.5 km (6 mi) inland from the Gulf of Corinth. Considered by the ancient Greeks to be the centre of the Earth, Delphi was once the site of an oracle of the earth goddess Gaea. According to legend, Apollo defeated the monstrous serpent Python, which guarded Gaea, and expelled her from the sanctuary, which he then shared with the god Dionysus. The Delphic priests developed an elaborate ritual, centred on a chief priestess called Pythia. Her utterances were regarded as the words of Apollo, and the oracle was consulted by private citizens and public officials alike. The Sacred Way to the temple was lined with structures housing rich offerings given by the Greek city-states.

The town of Delphi was at first a dependency of the Phocian city of Crisa. Phocis later joined the Amphictyonic League, which had as one of its aims the protection of the temple to Apollo at Delphi and which sponsored the Pythian Games nearby. When Phocis levied tribute on pilgrims to the oracle, the league destroyed Crisa in the first of the Sacred Wars (595 bc). In 480 bc a Persian raid on Delphi failed because of an earthquake, attributed to Apollo. The Phocians seized Delphi and its treasure in 356 bc but were defeated in 346 by King Philip II of Macedon in the second Sacred War. By the end of the century the Aetolian League controlled Delphi. The wealth of the town made it a frequent target of attack, including a raid by Gauls in 279 bc. After the Roman conquest of Greece, and particularly with the spread of Christianity, Delphi declined. Much of its art and treasure was confiscated by the Romans, notably by Emperor Nero who removed 500 statues. The oracle, however, continued until ad 390 when it was closed by the Byzantine Emperor Theodosius I.

The site of the town was eventually occupied by the village of Kastri. In 1891 Kastri was relocated and renamed Dhirfis (Delphi), and in 1892 excavation of the site began. Discoveries include temples, the Great Altar, a stadium, a theatre, the ancient town walls, and treasury buildings which are inscribed with musically notated hymns to Apollo. The site contains more than 4,000 inscriptions that provide valuable information for ancient Greece, and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987.