Introduction
Some 2,500 years from present, there existed a flourishing civilization in Greece, which was the centre of the Western world. Apart from being the pioneer of Western art and architecture, this civilization gave the concept of democracy to the world. There were a number of city-states in ancient Greece, which were collectively referred to as the Greek civilization. While most of the city-states were administrative centres, there were some cities that solely served religious purposes.

The ancient city of Delphi was famous for its magnificent temple, which was dedicated to the principal Greek god Apollo. This temple was famous all over Greece because it was the seat of the Oracle of Delphi. The prophecies made by the Oracle of Delphi played an important role in the history of Greece. The most famous prophecy occurred in 480 BC, which predicted that the state of Athens would be protected from its invaders behind a wall of wood.

The importance of this city declined rapidly after the downfall of the Greek civilization. The Christian rulers of the Roman Empire dealt the final blow to this city in their endeavour to wipe out religious practices, which were pagan to the Christian faith.

The ancient ruins of Delphi are located near the modern township in the central region of Greece. These ruins are situated on the craggy slopes of Mount Parnassus surrounded by olive forests on the Itea plain. Delphi lies 166 km northwest of the Greek capital Athens, near the northern shore of the Gulf of Corinth.

PART OF CIRCUIT
Ancient Greek

What to do
The ruins of the ancient city of Delphi are a veritable treasure trove for the history buff. The main attraction of this archaeological site is the temple of Apollo, which was the seat of the Oracle of Delphi. Other interesting monuments to see in Delphi include the Castalian spring and the sanctuary of the Greek goddess Athena. The Delphi museum, located near these ruins, has a good collection of artefacts belonging to Greek and Roman periods.

History
According to popular legend, there existed an ancient shrine in Delphi that was built during the last Ice Age. This shrine was dedicated to Mother Earth. The earliest prophecies of Delphi can be traced to the second millennium BC, when it was a part of the Mycenaean civilization. The ancient city of Delphi gained importance around 1000 BC with the arrival of the Greek god Apollo. According to Greek mythology, a great serpent, known as Python, guarded the temple of the earth goddess. Apollo became the lord of Delphi and its temple by slaying Python. Since then, this temple came to be known as the temple of Pythian Apollo.

The temple of Apollo in Delphi was famous for its prophecies. These prophecies were made in a sacred sanctuary located within the precincts of this temple. Prescribed rituals marked the whole procedure of obtaining prophecies. A question was put to the oracle and the chief priestess answered the queries. There were a number of prophecies made by the Oracle of Delphi, some of which played a decisive role in the history of ancient Greece. In 480 BC, the Persian forces threatened the Greek city-state of Athens. The people of Athens went to seek a prophecy at Delphi. The Oracle predicted that Athens would survive the onslaught of the invading army behind a wall of wood. The prophecy proved correct as the Athenian navy, made of wooden vessels, defeated the Persians in the decisive battle, which was fought in Salamis.

The city of Delphi played an important role in the religious and political affairs of ancient Greece. However, with the advent of the Roman Empire, Delphi lost its former glory.

Weather and Best Season to Visit
Delphi experiences a typical Mediterranean climate, which is characterized by hot, dry, sunny summers and moist warm winters. The best time to visit Delphi is between the months of October and March.

Attractions
The main attractions of the ancient city of Delphi are its ruins. The layout of this archaeological site can broadly be divided into three groups: the temple of Apollo, the Castalian spring, and the sanctuary of Athena.

Temple of Apollo
The temple of Apollo, which was the seat of the famous Oracle of Delphi, is located above the main road, which runs through this ancient city. You can reach this temple by following a path running near the museum. This path runs through the remains of an ancient roman marketplace and enters the temple through its southeast gate, where it is known as the Sacred Path. It winds its way to the main temple through a number of small monuments, which were erected by different Greek city-states.

There are a number of other monuments located within the precincts of this temple, most of which are completely ruined except for their foundations. Within the sacred sanctuary of this ancient temple, you can see the remains of the third and the last temple where the rituals of the Oracle were performed and prophecies uttered by the chief priestess. To the northern end of this temple complex, you can see the ruins of an ancient theatre dating back to the 4th century BC.

Castalian Spring
The Castalian spring is located on the eastern side of the sacred temple in the ravine of the Phaedriades. It was used by prophecy seekers and pilgrims to purify themselves before entering the sacred temple of Apollo.

Sanctuary of Athena
An ancient temple dedicated to the Greek goddess Athena is located to the east of the Temple of Apollo.

Delphi Museum
The Delphi Museum is an interesting place to visit. It is located near the southern boundary of the ancient city, along the main road. The museum has a vast collection of ancient artefacts belonging to Greek and Roman civilizations. The museum also houses the famous bronze charioteer (dating back to 4th century BC), which was excavated from the ruins of Delphi.

GETTING AROUND
There are a number of daylong excursion trips around Delphi including some ancient Greek sites. The beaches around Delphi on the coastline of the Gulf of Corinth are worth visiting.

Arakhova
The small town of Arakhova, 9 km (5.5 miles) east of Delphi is famous for its rug, shoulder bags and embroidered items. It is one of the largest towns in the area surrounding Delphi and is famous for its local wines.

Itea
Itea is an important beach resort on the coast of the Gulf of Corinth and is located south of Delphi. The present-day port of Itea is located near the ancient harbour of Kira. Azure waters and bright sunshine attract travellers to the beaches of Itea in summers.

SHOPPING
If you are interested in hunting for souvenirs, Delphi is a good place to do so. There are a number of souvenir shops in the township of Delphi.

HOTEL
Hotel Acropole (Class B Hotel)
13, Filellinon Street,
330 54 Delphi, Fokida
Tel: +30-265-82675, 82676, 82677
Fax: +30-265-83171

TRAVEL AGENCY
Delphi Consultants
Head office: 3, Apollonos Street
Phone: +30-265-82086-7, 82701-4, 82151-2
Fax: +30-265-82644, 82764