However, the most important piece in the museum is The Charioteer. For many visitors, the towering Sphinx of Naxos is the highlight. Some of our favorites were the twin Cleobis and Biton statues, standing regally side-by-side. The friezes were interesting and are essentially high reliefs around the exterior of buildings. Statues and friezes are the most prevalent artifacts in the museum. The modern building at the base of the mountain holds the artifacts that were removed from the site. Despite the broad period of time covered by the museum, it doesn’t bore or disappoint. It follows Greek history from the late Helladic/early Mycenaean period through Classical Greece and Hellenistic Greece, ending at the Roman conquest and the rise of the Byzantine Empire.
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The museum positions the archaeological site in the proper historical context. We love history and information and all that. The Spinx of Naxos The Archaeological Museum of Delphi We’ve seen more impressive Greek ruins in our travels, but none are more important than this. I wasn’t alone in that – a group of Spanish tourists were thoroughly baffled (signs throughout the Sanctuary of Delphi are only in Greek, English and French…and sometimes poorly translated).īut yes, these are the ruins you came to see. First on my list, “Was this the oracle?” The limited signage (and the sometimes awkward English composition) had me kind of confused. My rather limited experience with ancient history left me with a lot of questions. It was from this Temple at Delphi that the Pythian priestess would speak for Apollo and communicate the god’s insights. Long grasses have long ago taken to filling in the voids of the granite blocks. Parnassus, the Temple of Apollo at Delphi consists of just six limestone columns atop the ruins of a granite foundation. The Temple of Apollo – home of the Oracle The Temple of Apollo at DelphiĪnd yet, upon reaching it, Apollo’s Temple of Delphi is a bit underwhelming. Before starting the climb, be sure to consult the map just inside the park entrance to get your bearings.
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The lower parts of the Sacred Way are lined with trees, which provide shade in the Greek sun, however the upper parts of the path are fully exposed. Visiting the archaeological site at Delphi is pretty simple: follow the Sacred Way path as it winds its way up the mountain and to the right. Just look for all of the cars parked along the roadway. We’d wondered if it would be difficult to find. The main Delphi archaeological site is located on the main road between the towns of Delphi and Arachova, Greece. On your Athens to Delphi day trip, there are several important sites you’ll want to visit: The Archaeological Site of Delphi And being located high in the mountains, it is also really beautiful. Today, this is a UNESCO World Heritage Site recognized for it’s outstanding cultural contributions. That said, visiting Delphi is traveling back in time to see the place that was once the center of the known world (and certainly the center of knowledge). If you’re looking for a theme park type experience, you might be disappointed. On our visit to here, we overhead some tourists grumbling that there wasn’t a recreation or a new Oracle to consult. They are very well preserved, but this is still an ancient site and these are still ancient ruins. When you visit, you are visiting the Delphi ruins. The Temple of Apollo What to See in Delphi, Greece In later times, it was rumored she had visions and predictions of the future, although where those legends started, nobody really knows since it is not supported in the writings of the ancient Greeks. She offered advice to leaders, settled disputes, and provided practical guidance. The Pythia or Oracle at Delphi served up common-sense advice in a simpler time. People would travel across the known worlds to visit Apollo’s Oracle and receive “divine” guidance. That’s a lot of power.įor centuries, no major decision anywhere in Ancient Greece was undertaken without consulting The Pythia. But more importantly, she was believed to speak for the Greek god of Apollo on Earth. The high priestess at Delphi (and it was always a woman) was known as the The Pythia and she oversaw the Temple of Apollo at Delphi. Stepping back into Ancient Civilizations for a moment, how can you not remember the famous Delphi Oracle?įrom the 7th century BC to the 3-4th century AD, the Oracle was the most famous person in the world…and perhaps the most powerful. What To Bring on a Day Trip to Delphi from Athens.The Ruins of the Sanctuary of Athena Pronaia.