Delphi

One of the most sacred ancient sites in Greece, the ruins at Delphi are incredible. Clinging to the side of Mt. Parnassus, the Pythian Way switches back and forth, leading one through treasury houses, the great Temple of Apollo, a grand theater, and a stadium at the top.  Further down the slope is a round temple dedicated to Athena.

The ruins of the Temple of Apollo

Delphi was also famous for its Oracle. Priestesses would go into the Temple of Apollo, fall into a trance, and come back with a cryptic answer to a question posed by a supplicant. It seems to me that the answers given never really made sense until it was too late. Even so, I wish I had been able to pose a question so that I too might receive a mysterious answer.

Temple of Athena

One myth of Delphi has Zeus releasing two eagles, flying in opposite directions. They flew around the world and crossed at a spot at Delphi, which Zeus considered the center of the world. An “omphalos”, or navel, was erected at the spot. It looks like a stylized egg but is really the belly button of the world.

The “omphalos” or navel of the world in the archaeological museum.