Delphi was for the Ancient Greeks the “Omphalus” (navel), the centre of the Earth, because, according to the mythology, here have been met the two eagles sent by Zeus from the end of the universe to locate the centre of the world. At this point, defined in between the two gigantic rocks, the Faedriades, on the roots of mount Parnassus, Greeks erected the most important temple of the ancient world, the Temple of Apollo, the God of Light.

Apollo, the son of Zeus and Leto, was just born . The golden light flooded over his birthplace, the island of Delos. Everafter, Apollo was riding the Chariot of Helios (Sun) to spread the morning light across the universe. He was the one who taught the people the art of music, the singing of ode, the poetry. According to the myth, Apollo captured the temple of Goddess Gaia in Delphi after killing the mythic snake Python. It is said that the Temple of Apollo was then inaugurated by Cretan pilgrims who sailed to the port of Kirra accompanied by the God himself metamorphosed in a Dolphin.

It is in this sacred place where the Delphi Oracle was established. Phythia, priestess of Apollo, divined the future for those who seek advice by pronouncing dark, enigmatic prophesies. The period from the 6th to the 4th century BC coincides with the golden era of Delphi Oracle, reflecting a worldwide establishment of spiritual influence and reputation. Cities, emperors and ordinary people have been rushing to receive her advices coming from the God, to become able to resolve their own difficult issues. Expressing their gratitude, important and bright votive offerings gradually filled the Temple. The fame of the Oracle reached the limits of the whole known world and thus the commencement of its function is lost in the depths of antiquity and the myth. Intelligence, craftmanship, philoshopy, culture and athletics reached the climax of their glory.

The decline of Delphi and its Oracle became visible with the philosophical movement of rationalism in the 3rd century BC. Even though, its activity continued and during the Adrian era in the 2nd century AD.

The termination of its operation was ordered at 394AD by the Byzantine emperor Theodosius the 1st. The sanctuary has thus been gradually ruined off and sedimentation allowed a new village, Kastri, to be built and developed.

Archaeological excavations in Delphi started in 1860 by German archaeologists and from 1892 the Ecole Francaise d'Athenes performed the so-named “Large Excavation”, which brought into light the whole archaeological complex with its theatre, the stadium and The Temple of Apollo, thus restoring the global interest of this ancient sacred site.

In ancient Greek thinking The Light was an axis for understanding Cosmos, the whole world. It is what allows objects to exist, to be defined, to be described, to be attributed in their form, and, finally, to become captured forever, the very same truth of the world, the non-forgetfulness. In Plato’s Cave objects leave their shadow, they exist due to light, but they also vanish into the elusion of its reflections. Cosmos will, thus, always be such real and, always, so vanishing. A tangible quantifiable reality and also an extra dimension we always miss. A place where Science and Art, rationalism and fantasy walk together and talk together .......

Interesting reading

Herbert William Parke, History of the Delphic Oracle, 1939

William J Broad, The Oracle: Ancient Delphi and the Science Behind its Lost Secrets, 2006.

Walter Burkert, Greek Religion 1985.

Norma Lorre, Goodrich, Priestesses, 1990.

Martin Litchfield West, The Orphic Poems, 1983

Henry A Spiller, John R. Hale, and Jelle Z. de Boer. The Delphic Oracle: A Multidisciplinary Defense of the Gaseous Vent Theory Clinical Toxicology 40.2 (2000) 189-196

John R. Hale, Jelle Zeilinga de Boer, Jeffrey P. Chanton and Henry A. Spille Questioning the Delphic Oracle: When science meets religion at this ancient Greek site, the two turn out to be on better terms than scholars had originally thought, Scientific American, July 15, 2003

http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/393
http://www.culture.gr/h/1/eh152.jsp?obj_id=3404
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delphi
http://www.efa.gr/histoire/histoire1870_03.htm

Images

(click on either to view these larger)