A version of the navel stone
Delphi is 178 km from Athens and is said to be the center of the earth. According to legend Zeus released to golden eagles. One from the east and one from the west. The eagles landed in Delphi. To mark this spot Zeus threw a sacred stone on Delphi to mark the navel of the world also known as the center of the universe.
In the early Mecyneane times Gea
the earth goddess was worshiped at Delphi. This is also the time that the
oracle originated.
People came from all over to have her answer their questions. She chewed Loral leaves and breathed in fumes and that made her babble. Before she sat on the throne a goat was sacrificed. First they would sprinkle the goat with cold water then kill it. If the goat shivered that meant that they would keep the Pythia, but if it didn't they'd get a new Pythia.
When the Pythia was chosen she could only see the priests. She had to stay on a strict diet. The oracle was given many treasures by the people who got their answers. She wore a garment that a young girl would wear. She could be a simple peasant woman.
In the beginning there was one priestess, but then they added more Pythias because they were making lots of money. At first the Pythia only answered once a year on the seventh day of February, Apollo's Birthday. Soon the Oracle readings then took place every month because so many people wanted their questions answered. At dawn on the day of the readings she visited the Kastalian spring to cleanse herself, then she burned Loral leaves and sat in the smoke. During the burning the priest would prepare a goat that was going to be sacrificed, and go to the spring and also wash themselves. Then the people going to ask their questions also washed themselves in the spring. When they were cleansed and ready they went to Apollo's Temple. Outside the temple costly bread was sold and offered to the oracle. The first person to ask a question usually lived in Delphi. The people who asked the questions asked the priests, and the Pythia would respond deep in her trance. Most of the time the answer that the priests gave werenÕt very clear and had more than one meaning.
When I entered the Sanctuary of Apollo on the right side I saw the remains of Roman shops. Farther on I saw the base of a statue that used to hold a statue of a bull dedicated from Corfu. Next came the remains of monuments that were put up by Lacediemonins and the people of Argos.
There were many treasuries from Thebes, Siphons, Sikyon, Athens and Knidos, in thanks to Apollo to helping them win battles. The Athenian treasury was the biggest and best treasury constructed. On one side of the Treasury there were carvings of Theseus' adventures and on the other side there used to be carvings of Herakles' (Hercules) labors. It was the most completely restored building because it was covered with writing, which made it easy for the archaeologists to put it together. Near the Athenian Treasury was a council house called the Bouleulerion. Next to that was the Rock of Sybil.
Next came the temple of Apollo, which is the biggest temple at the site. In the Temple there used to be a gold statue of Apollo and an eternal flame also burned there. This is where the Pythia inhaled the fumes. The last thing was the stadium, which is the best-preserved stadium in Greece.
Above the Temple of Apollo was a well-preserved theater restored by the Romans. In the theater there were plays during the Pythian Festivals.
The Pythian Games were the second most important Greek games after the Olympics. Because of Apollo, the god of music, first they only played music at the competitions every eight years. But, later on they were every four years in between the Olympic games, and more athletic events were added. The games took place in the theater and the stadium of the Sanctuary of Apollo. The games lasted eight days and the winner was awarded a wreath made from the sacred tree of Apollo, the Laurel Tree, and a statue of them was put in the Sanctuary.
Near the Sanctuary of Apollo there is a large crevice that splits two mountains where water comes out. It is called the Kastalian spring. This spring is very important because it gives the town water. The spring is named after the water nymph Kastalia.
Delphi is a terrific place with beautiful views.
