Delphi is the ancient town in the Phocis region of Greece where the temple and oracle of Apollo are located. It lies on the slopes of Mount Parnassus which is just 10 km from the Gulf of Corinth.
The ancient Greeks believed that Delphi was the centre of the world. According to Greek mythology Zeus released two Eagles from the East and the West. These Eagles flew towards the centre and met at a spot which was marked by a stone called omphalos, meaning navel. The temple of Apollo was built here and this was the future site of Delphi. Legends also say that the Oracle of Delphi originally belonged to Gaea, Earth Goddess and its guardian was her child Python, the serpent. Later, Apollo defeated Python and began his oracle here.
In the 6th century BC Delphi had been a major religious centre and a symbol of the unity of ancient Greeks. The remains of the amphitheatre of Delphi that sits up the hill from the Temple of Apollo were excavated between 1895 and 1897. This had been a cultural centre where music, poetry and drama were showcased before an audience of 5000. The ruins of Delphi are important archaeological sites that were designated as UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1987.
Picture Credit : Google
