Photo Essay

Delphi

Sanctuary of Athene Pronaia
By Mary Rota
19 March 2008

According to tradition, Delphi was the geographical centre of the world, the omphalos ("navel"), the meeting point of the two eagles dispatched by Zeus from the ends of the universe to find the centre of the world.

The first traces of inhabitation in the region of Delphi go back to Mycenaean times (14th-11th c. BC). At this period, the main deity worshipped at the small settlement was Ge ("Earth"). From the end of the 9th c. BC the cult of Apollo became established at Delphi, when the god installed himself there, having first killed the Python, the snake that guarded the oracle of Ge.

The first stone temples were built towards the end of the 7th c. BC, one dedicated to Apollo and the other to Athena.

The period from the 6th to the 4th c. BC was a flourishing one for the sanctuary at Delphi, which was adorned with buildings and a large number of votives dedicated to Apollo by the greek cities and private individuals. Worshippers and theopropoi(public messengers sent to inquire an oracle) flocked from all over the ancient world to seek the advice of the god and an oracle whenever they were about to take a serious decision or initiative.

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