Delphi

Why Delphi in Greece is special
Delphi was one of the ancient world's most sacred sites. It was famous for its oracle. Today, Delphi is a remarkable complex of historical ruins.

The Oracle of Delphi
Widely renowned
The Oracle at Delphi was easily the foremost one in ancient Greece. Common folks and kings from distant lands traveled to the site to have their questions answered by the Greek god Apollo.

How it worked
The Oracle was a several-step process:

• Query
  Visitors posed questions through a medium to Apollo. They could range from personal ("Should I plant more olive trees?") to serious matters of state.
  
• Answer
  Apollo's prophecy was heard by a designated priestess. She then incoherently mumbled it out loud while sitting on a tripod chair at the entrance to a cave. (Supposedly, the Temple of Apollo was built over that location, but archaeologists have yet to find it.)
  
• Translation
  Delphi priests would then translate the prophecy for the eagerly waiting pilgrim.

Purposely vague
The answer (oracle) was often purposely ambiguous to minimize the chances of it being wrong. A famous example:

The reply to a king's "Should my country battle the Persians?" query was "A great kingdom will be destroyed." The monarch thought that the noun referred to his enemy the Persian kingdom - and so he went to war. It turned out it was his kingdom that was destroyed.

Top 5 Delphi archaeological sights to see
Don't miss
This Greek wonder has many interesting archaeological ruins for tourists to see. The top five are:

• Temple of Apollo
  Massive sanctuary. Dominates Delphi.
  
• Temple of Pronaia Athena
  Circular structure with three restored columns
  
• Treasury of Athena
  Small. Well restored for Delphi.
  
• Theatre
  The site's cultural center. Seated 5,000 people.
  
• Stadium
  Site of the Pythian Games (similar to the Olympic Games).

Other Delphi tips and insights
Impressive settng
Delphi lies on a steep mountain slope with an arresting view of a valley and, in the distance, the Gulf of Corinth.

Closed by decree
The Oracle of Delphi was shut down in the 4th century AD by governmental decree because of its pagan rituals. The site was neglected and gradually buried by landslides and other natural causes.

Discovery
Delphi was discovered in the late 19th century hidden under a working village, which was relocated so that excavations could begin.

Museum
The site has an outstanding onsite archaeological museum. Standout artworks include the Bronze Charioteer and the friezes of the Athenian and Siphnian Treasuries.

Geo-centric
Ancient Greeks believed Delphi was the geographical center of the world. The exact spot was marked by the carved Omphalos stone, which is now on exhibit in the museum.

Definition
Oracle has different related meanings, which sometimes leads to confusion. The word can signify:

Getting there
You can visit it on a day trip from Athens, Greece. It's 2 to 3 hours away, depending on traffic conditions.

Location in Greece