Vacation in Delphi
The
ruins of the great complex of Delphi are situated in a suitably
awe-inspiring position on a ledge beneath the towering cliff face, with
the clear waters of the Gulf of Corinth sparkling 600 meters (1,970
feet) below. When consulted, Apollo's priestess was believed to deliver
the god's response in the form of esoteric riddles. The Ancient Greeks
considered Delphi to be the center of the world, and it is mentioned in
almost every Greek myth.
The site
consists of two separate sacred areas, little more than 1 km (0.5 mile)
apart. The Sanctuary of Athena Pronaia has two ruined temples, ruined
altars and treasuries and the Tholos. The old Temple of Athena Pronaia
was built in the seventh century BC, but suffered from landslides and
earthquakes and only two columns and a piece of wall remain. The superb
Tholos, built in the early forth century BC, is a rotunda encircled by
two circles of 20 columns, three of which were reconstructed with a
small section of entablature and frieze in the 1930s. The New Temple of
Athena was built following an earthquake that destroyed the Archaic
Temple of Athena in 370 BC. A gymnasium of the same era is nearby.
The Sanctuary
of Apollo is more extensive and is covered with an astonishing
collection of ruins, monuments, friezes and altars linked by the paved
Sacred Way, which leads to the Temple of Apollo. To the west, Roman
steps lead to the well-preserved theatre, which has 35 tiers of seats.
Right at the top of Delphi is the stadium, which is also wonderfully
preserved, and has stands cut into the rock face capable of seating
7,000 spectators, and a triumphal arch at the end. Here the Delphic
games took place every four years.
