Ancient Delphi

The Sanctuary at Ancient Delphi (Sandra told us that Delphi is pronounced “Delfee,” not “Delfi”), on the south slope of Mt. Parnassus, was dedicated to the worship of Apollo, the god of healing and music. People from all over the ancient world came to Delphi to consult Apollo before making important decisions. This was done through the Delphic Oracle, who was a priestess (or Pythia). To ask the Oracle for help, worshippers had to pay a levy (a pelanos) and sacrifice an animal on the altar. Then, their questions were asked of the Pythia by a male priest. The Oracle would answer in a trance and what she said would be interpreted by the priest. Her answers were most often ambiguous. The golden age of Delphi was from the 6th century B.C. until 191 B.C. when the Romans conquered Delphi. The Oracle was abolished in 393 A.D. by the Christian Emperor Theodosius. This photo shows a re–creation of Ancient Delphi.

Ancient Delphi

Ancient Delphi

The Sacred Way. Note the large rectangular blocks along the Sacred Way.

Ancient Delphi

Ancient Delphi

Close–up of the blocks. The blocks were lifted by the use of the “hooks” on the side of them. The indentations on the top of the block were where some of the more than 3000 statues of the Sanctuary were placed.

Ancient Delphi

Ancient Delphi

Photo of part of our tour group and a good photo of Sandra, our tour leader. She always took the time to wait for slower members of our group.

Ancient Delphi

Ancient Delphi

Treasury of the Athenians. The small Doric building was built by the Athenians at the end of the 6th century B.C. and housed their offerings to Apollo. It was restored in 1903–1906 and is the best preserved building at Ancient Delphi.

Ancient Delphi

Ancient Delphi

Laurel wreaths etched in the stones of the Temple of the Athenians. The laurel wreath was a symbol for Apollo.

Ancient Delphi

Ancient Delphi

Stoa of the Athenians (bottom columns). It had seven fluted Ionic colums, each made from a single stone. It was built by the Athenians after 478 B.C. to house the trophies they took in their naval victories over the Persians.

Ancient Delphi

Ancient Delphi

Photo of the Sacred Way, the Treasury of the Athenians, and the Stoa of the Athenians.

Ancient Delphi

Ancient Delphi

Doric Temple of Apollo, built in the 4th century B.C. The Delphic oracle sat inside the temple.

Ancient Delphi

Ancient Delphi

Rock of the Sibyl. This is where the first Sibyl (Oracle) sat while making her prouncements.

Ancient Delphi

Ancient Delphi

The rectangular column in the photo is the Altar of the Chians, erected by the people of Chios, an island in the Aegean, in the 5th century B.C.

Ancient Delphi

Ancient Delphi

Some of slippery marble steps that we walked up. The steps also had small pebbles scattered on them, making them even riskier.

Ancient Delphi

Ancient Delphi

Theatre of the Sanctuary. It was originally built in the 4th century B.C., but it was rebuilt by the Romans and these ruins are from Roman times. It had 35 rows of stone benches and was used for theatrical performances during festivals.

Ancient Delphi

Ancient Delphi

View of the theatre and the Temple of Apollo from above.

Ancient Delphi

Ancient Delphi

We next walked (hiked!) up a very very steep hill to the Stadium. We really had a strenuous Greek ruins workout today. This is a photo of the entrance to the stadium, which dates back to the 5th century B.C. You can see the ancient starting blocks in the photo.

Ancient Delphi

Ancient Delphi

The Stadium. The Stadium was built in 200 B.C. and remodeled in the 2nd century A.D., with stone seats added which held 7000 people. The panhellenic Pythian Games took place here every four years. Each winner of the games was awarded a laurel wreath and the right to have his statue in the Sanctuary.

Ancient Delphi

Delphi Archaeological Musuem

We carefully walked back down the hills and steps of Ancient Delphi to visit the Delphi Archaeological Museum, which houses the artifacts excavated from the ancient site. These are statues of Cleobis and Biton, two brothers from Argo. The statues date from between 610 and 580 B.C.

Delphi Archaeological Musuem

Delphi Archaeological Musuem

Life–size head of a chryselephantine statue (a chryselephantine statue has an ivory head and gold decoration) from one of the statues of the gods.

Delphi Archaeological Musuem

Delphi Archaeological Musuem

White–ground kylix (shallow drinking cup with two handles) with a unique representation of Apollo. He is seated on a stool holding his lyre in his left hand and pouring a libration from the bowl with his right hand. 480–470 B.C.

Delphi Archaeological Musuem

Delphi Archaeological Musuem

Frieze from the Treasury of the Siphians. The relief represents mytholigical scenes. 525 B.C.

Delphi Archaeological Musuem

Delphi Archaeological Musuem

More of the frieze.

Delphi Archaeological Musuem

Delphi Archaeological Musuem

More of the frieze.

Delphi Archaeological Musuem

Delphi Archaeological Musuem

Caryatid from the Treasury of the Siphians.

Delphi Archaeological Musuem

Delphi Archaeological Musuem

I do not have any information on this statue, but it looks like a combination of a man, bird, and dog.

Delphi Archaeological Musuem

Delphi Archaeological Musuem

Column of the Dancers––three young women who formed the upper part of a column. About 330 B.C.

Delphi Archaeological Musuem

Delphi Archaeological Musuem

Marble statue of Antinoos, a youth known for his beauty.

Delphi Archaeological Musuem

Delphi Archaeological Musuem

Bronze Charioteer, commemorating a chariot victory in the Pythian Games in 478 B.C.

Delphi Archaeological Musuem

Delphi Archaeological Musuem

Statues in front of a photo of the excavation workers, showing in it where various statues were found.

Delphi Archaeological Musuem

Kalambaka

We had lunch in Delphi and then started our long journey north to Kalambaka, our next overnight stop. The town of Kalambaka is at the foot of the huge sandstone rocks of Meteora on which 14th and 15th century monasteries were built. Somewhere between Delphi and Kalambaka, Sandra announced that tomorrow we would be climbing 300 steps up to one of the monasteries (collective groan!). Photo of Kalambaka.

Kalambaka

Kalambaka

More of Kalambaka.

Kalambaka

Kalambaka

Sausage store window with reflection of the rocks of Kalambaka.

Kalambaka

Kalambaka

Photo of the sausages for sale.

Kalambaka

Kalambaka

Cafe in Kalambaka.

Kalambaka

Kalambaka

I thought that he was kind of cute.

Kalambaka

Kalambaka

Everything for sale.

Kalambaka

Kalambaka

Greek slippers.

Kalambaka

Kalambaka

Spectacular plant on the side of a building in Kalambaka. It wasn’t a bougainvillea. I don’t know what type of plant it was.

Kalambaka