Delphi

Delphi is an ancient site which played a big role in Greek myths and legends; it is also the name of the little town beside the site, where we stayed for one night.  Our guide Ave was an archaeologist before he changed vocations to become a tour guide, and Delphi is one of the places where he worked.  As a result he has very good knowledge of the site, and of the history, myths, and legends which underlie Delphi.

No doubt you have heard of the Oracle of Delphi (or seen the film "The Matrix"); a mystical person who could predict the future.  People came from far and wide to seek the advice of the oracle, and the site at Delphi grew around the thriving business of catering for these pilgrims.  The oracle was a high priestess who was seldom seen, but sat within the main temple here over a vent in the rock from which came some sort of vapour which placed her in a trance.  In this state she was believed to be able to see the future.  The modern interpretation is that she was probably breathing some sort of gas not unlike glue-sniffing youth of today, which led her to hallucinate.  A coterie of assistants would then interpret her ramblings to provide insights into the futures of those who came to seek her advice.

The ancient site at Delphi is centred around the temple of Apollo where the oracle performed her miracles.  All sorts of other buildings sprang up around the temple, all high up on the side of Mount Parnassus.  The site was also where ancient games were held, so there is a stadium.  The games at Delphi also included "musical competitions".

We had lunch here in Delphi town before heading out into the hot sun...

Ave our guide in typical dramatic demonstration mode!

 At the centre of Delphi was a special stone, which represented the "navel of the world", signifying Delphi's importance as the centre of the known universe.  Ave (above) is standing in front of a replica of the navel stone.

Another treasury - like a bank in which precious offerings to the oracle were displayed.

 Wealthy citizens, or perhaps cities, donated lavish gifts to the oracle to gain preferential treatment or access.  The wealthiest gave whole buildings like the one above, referred to as treasuries, which were filled with valuable gifts and gold.

Ave translating a bit of ancient Greek for us.

One spiral bronze leg of the tripod of Platea

The Tripod of Platea was a golden bowl supported on three intertwined serpents of bronze, standing in front of the Temple of Apollo.  The one above is a replica, as the the original was stolen and now stands in Istanbul!

The main temple at Delphi was to the god Apollo.  There has been a temple on this site since about 700 BC!

The theatre could accommodate about 4,500 people.

It was hot work climbing up the slope of the Delphi site.

At the top of the site is this 200 m long stadium, scene of the "Pythian Games".

A hot Delphi cat.

After climbing the steep Delphi site in the baking hot sun I looked forward to the next attraction: the air-conditioned museum next door!

Inside the museum are many amazing exhibits of sculpture and artifacts excavated from the ground at Delphi.  These are real pieces most of which date from about 2,400 years ago, and some of them are in very good condition having been protected by the earth they were buried beneath.

An unusual sphynx, from Delphi.

Life-sized statue of Apollo, in pure gold and ivory.  The ivory is black because it had been burnt.

Remnants of a life-sized pure silver bull.

The ivory face of the wife of Apollo.

Ivory toes!

Life sized bronze leg, from 400 BC.

Marble statue of the beautiful boy "Antinoos".

The bronze charioteer - one of the museum's best pieces.

The bronze charioteer has an uncannily realistic gaze!

I am impressed by the skill of the sculptors from more than 2,000 years ago who made these statues.  We think we are pretty advanced compared to people from so long ago, but seeing this sort of thing makes you wonder if we are really that different.  We do have cell phones now, of course, but...