Tuesday September 21st

Delphi plan

Delphi became famous because the God Zeuss was believed to have released 2 birds from opposite sides of the (flat) earth and thos was where they met. Hence Delphi was the centre of the earth. Therefore Apollo chose to make this the place where he would give prphecies through his Oracle, an ordinary older woman chosen from among the local people. Delphi means Dolphins, the sea animal that Apollo was thought to ride.


People would travel to Delphi to ask a question and the oracle would go into a trance, chanting meaningless words which would be translated by the priests and writtten down for the questioner to take away.

Sphinx

6th centrury BC Egyptian style statues

Gold ornaments

Apollo Plate

Temple of Apollo

Various cities in Greece came to build structures to hold votive offerings of various sorts, often vying with each other for the grandest display of devotion.

The city dates from the 6th century BC but in the early Christian centuries the pagan altars were destroyed and much of the metal in the statues, etc., was melted down to be used to make utensils, weapons etc. or in the case of gold to be used as money.


As in other places there has been some restoration but the ground is littered with bits and pieces of buildings: wall blocks, pieces of columns, etc. The museum houses the better pieces that have been recovered including some impressive statues and friezes.