History of Delphi and the Oracle of Delphi - Mount Parnassos Greece
Legend tells us that Delphi was the point where two eagles, which had been
released
by Zeus at different ends of the world, had met again after their flights
across the skies. Zeus threw the Sacred Stone at this exact point, and Delphi
became known as the centre of the world.
Legend states that originally, the site that would later become known as
Delphi, was a sacred place which was inhabited by the Earth Goddess "Gea",
and which was guarded by her child, the serpent Python.
Apollo, son of Zeus, left from the top of Mount Olympus to slay Python and
therefore make this area his own shrine. Apollo was believed to be the god
of reason, associated with many forms of rational such as music, law and
prophecy.
His slaying of Python was seen as a triumph in the eyes of the Greeks who
believed it to signify a victory over primitivism.
After the slaying of Python, Apollo left Delphi in self-imposed exile, as
both punishment, and to purify himself before returning. The area was named
Delphi, after Delphis (meaning dolphin in Greek).
This was the form that Apollo took when he brought back a Cretan ship, with
the intention of the Cretan sailors to build his shrine and also in hope
that they become priests in his new temple. On his return to Delphi, Apollo
was crowned and took over the oracle, which from this point onwards, belonged
to him
At the exact point were Apollo had sley Python, an Omphalos
stone was placed into the ground. The Omphalos stone, which in ancient Greek
means the "centre of the earth", would later be the location of
the main sanctum for the shrine of the Delphi Oracle.needs to be explored
to be fully appreciated.
During the 7th century BC, Delphi became very important, due to it being
the main centre of the Amphictionic League. Originally, Delphi was under
the tight control of Krisa, but in 585 BC it was liberated by Kleisthenes,
a tyrant from Sikyon. It was after this liberation that the real history
and fame of Delphi began.
Kleisthenes built new structures including the treasury, and was also responsible
for the introduction of the Pythian Games, similar to the Olympic Games
in that they would take place every four years.
During the Pythian Games, there were performances in the theatre, and at
the stadium, about 7000 spectators would watch athletes racing around that
track. There would also be chariot races in the stadium.
Delphi was the most important shrine in Greece during the Archaic period,
(750-550 BC), and every Greek city which planned to start a colony overseas
would first consult the advice of the Oracle before doing so. When these
colonisations were successful, offerings from the people of the towns were
sent to Delphi as thank you gesture. This process led to Delphi growing
in great stature and wealth.
The Sacred Way, which passed the Temple Of Apollo and through the sanctuary
was lined with over 20 treasuries, which housed gold, silver and priceless
arts of work. These treasuries were beautifully constructed marble buildings.
All of the most powerful city-states in Greece built their treasuries in
Delphi, and those, which could not afford to do so, erected statues along
the Sacred Way.
The island of Siphnos, which in the ancient times was one of the richest
islands and states in all of Greece, built a beautiful Ionic Temple, which
was clearly intended to surpass all of the other treasuries at Delphi.
The Athenians also built their treasury in Delphi after the Battle of Marathon,
in which they defeated the Persians. The victories of the Athenian Hero
"Theseus" were depicted on the impressive sculptured friezes that ran around
the treasury.
The walls of the Athenian treasury also served as a giant message board,
whereby visitors could inscribe onto the smooth stones honours and dedications.
What was remarkable about the treasuries at Delphi was the fact that that
many enemy states had their treasuries next door to each other. After defeating
the Athenians in a crucial battle in the Peloponnese War, the Syracusans
took great pride in constructing their treasury directly opposite that of
the Athenians.
All of the city-states in Greece contributed funds to the Temple of Apollo.
A massive Doric temple was constructed by the Archaic period and stood on
one of the very few spots in the sanctuary that was level. Above the temple
door were carved such admonitions such as "Know Thyself".
This was where all those wishing to consult the Oracle would come. The Oracle
of Delphi was a spiritual experience, in which advice and questions were
asked to the spirit of Apollo.
The reply from Apollo would be channelled through priestesses, known as
Pythia, who would be seated on a tripod over a mysterious chasm that expelled
mystic vapours, said to enhance the channelling of Apollo.
There was a routine that had to be followed by the Pythia before they could
start channelling messages
to and from Apollo. First of all, they would bathe in the nearby Castlian
Spring, said to have sacred waters. They would then drink from the sacred
Kassotis Spring. After this, they would sit near the Omphalos Stone, and
would enter into a trance-like state.
This image to the right has been reproduced with the kind permission of
www.cybersybils.net.
This painting is by the Hon. John Collier and was painted in 1891. For more
information on this artist, visit www.artmagick.com
The description from legends about the mystic fumes that would be expelled
from this mysterious chasm were much debated and were believed to be merely
a fabrication from Delphi times, as though to make the stories seem, if
you like, as some sort of fairy-tale.
In 1892, French archaeologists began digging down to the foundations of
the temple, but where unable to find any evidence regarding the crevice
from where these fumes could be released.
This evidence is what led many to believe that the legends about these fumes
were incorrect.
On entering the trance-like state, the Pythia would then start to channel
the spirit of Apollo for advice or answer on questions asked of her. More
than often, what the Pythia would say would not be understandable by those
waiting for her answers, so the male priests of the temple, would interpret
the replies.
It was because of the answers to questions and foresights being so accurate
that the Oracle would become a hugely important and highly influential part
of Greek life.
Heraclitus, a philosopher in around 500 BC stated that the Oracle "neither
conceals or reveals the truth, but only hints at it".
A prime example of this can be related to Croesus, the rich and powerful
Lydian king. He asked the Oracle if he should attack Greece. The reply was
that he would destroy a great kingdom if he did. After following the adice
of the Oracle and attacking Greece, Croesus released that the Oracle had
been correct. Unfortunately for him, the Great Kingdom that had been destroyed
was in fact his own.
However, with the power and the fame of Delphi and the Oracle growing, many
Sacred Wars broke out in battles to control the Oracle. The Phokians, who
occupied it in 356 BC, the Amphissans and even the Athenians all tried to
amass the great wealth and spiritual importance of Delphi.
Even more disturbing was the fact that those trying to win or who were at
the time, were
in control of Delphi, were forcing the Oracle to tell them what they wanted
to hear, and interfering with the work of the Pythia and the priests who
would interpret their meanings.
After Philip of Macedonia controlled the shrine of Delphi, as well as most
of Greece, visitors would still make the trip to Delphi, but not in the
numbers that had been seen previously.
Even the Romans would at one point have control Delphi, but sadly, all of
these Sacred Wars and the constant battling of who would gain control lead
to the ultimate demise of the importance of the Oracle and Delphi. Despite
several attempts at reviving the Oracle, nothing could be stop its decline,
and it soon lost its right to be known as the centre of the world.
The last recorded Oracle, which was in 362 AD, was a message to the Pagan
Emperor, Julian the Spostate, which said "Go tell the King, the well-wrought
hall has fallen in the dust; Phoebus Apollo no longer has a home or laurel,
or a murmuring spring. Even the talkative spring has dried up and is no
more".
After such brutal and long fought battles for control over it, along with
the arrival of Christianity, the importance of Delphi and the Oracle slipped
silently into obscurity.