What do delphi mean in literature. Delphi is an ancient city in Greece. Modern resort and archaeological museum

According to one of the legends hovering around this place, Zeus once released two eagles in different parts of the world, who met in Delphi. Since then, the Greeks perceived this city as the center of the universe.

The Delphic temple appeared in ancient times and its main purpose was to predict fate. According to legend, the Delphic oracle at first belonged not to Apollo, but to the goddess of the earth, Gaia. At that time, the very first soothsayer was a nymph named Daphne. And once Apollo took possession of the temple - for this he had to kill the dragon Python, who guarded the oracle. To save her life and avoid persecution, Daphne turned into a laurel tree. After this conquest, Apollo received the nickname "Pythian". From that moment on, the laurel tree is revered in Delphi as sacred. In addition, large sports competitions, better known as the Pythian Games, were regularly held in honor of the oracle of Apollo at Delphi.

The Temple of Apollo at Delphi played an important role in the life of the ancient Greeks for centuries. They tried not to start any serious business without the advice of the oracle in Delphi, and it doesn’t matter if this business is private or public. A stone base with steps and several columns of the Doric order have survived to this day.

Castal spring

The Kastal spring is a source of inspiration, the birthplace of the muses, located at the foot of the Phaedrias rock, in the wall of which small niches were carved, intended for gifts brought by pilgrims.

The source is the oldest of the Delphic shrines and, probably for this reason, Apollo chose this place for his refuge. This is due to the chemical vapors that came from the depths of the earth and "inspired" the Pythia Oracle.

According to one of the beliefs, three sips from this source will make you a poet, six will bring good luck in business, and nine will give you love.

And what sights of Delphi did you like? There are icons next to the photo, by clicking on which you can rate a particular place.

Sanctuary of Apollo

In ancient times, the temple of Apollo was of great cultural importance. Ancient Greece. It was here that the Delphic oracle was located - the great soothsayer, where even Alexander the Great himself came to ask for a prophecy.

The Pythia, a priestess-soothsayer, who spent almost her entire life in the temple of Apollo, was in charge of the Delphic oracle. Pilgrims from all over the world came to her, but she did not accept everyone (among the "refuseniks" was even Hercules himself). Those to whom the Pythia agreed to give a prophecy had to wait up to three days for an answer.

The stone temple of Apollo was built in the fifth century BC. Subsequently, it was badly damaged by an earthquake, but was rebuilt. Having existed for a thousand years, the temple was destroyed by Christians. Only ruins have survived to this day.

Among the provincial temples built in the XI-XII centuries. the monastery of Blessed Luke is one of the most famous. The monastery welcomes travelers with peaceful silence and coolness, relaxing after a noisy city. From the site on which the monastery is located, a magnificent panorama of the monastery and its surroundings opens up. Opening views can not leave anyone indifferent. The spiritual richness of the monastery of Blessed Luke is based on personality and life path its founder - St. Luke, sometimes referred to as the "younger" or "Stiris". However, one should not confuse him with the Evangelist Luke, who is buried in Thebes, not far from here. From an architectural point of view, the monastic buildings are among the most impressive and monumental examples of early monastic architecture. The Byzantine mosaics, amazing in their beauty, brought worldwide fame to the monastery.

Parnassus National Park

The Parnassus National Park is located on the territory of the mountain of the same name in Delphi, in Greece. Mount Parnassus should be well known to connoisseurs of ancient Greek myths, where it is repeatedly mentioned. At the foot of the mountain is the Delphic oracle - a soothsayer at the temple of Apollo.

The park gives tourists who come here the opportunity to enjoy the excellent landscapes that provide alpine meadows and mountain cliffs. Almost the entire territory is covered with forest. And, of course, such an environment for animals is a paradise, so these places have long been inhabited by forest inhabitants: foxes, vultures, squirrels, badgers.

One of the most famous places in the park is the Kastalsky spring, dedicated to Apollo and his attendants, the Muses. Legend has it that this source gives inspiration to everyone who seeks it.

Parnassus is famous not only among lovers of ancient Greek myths, art critics and connoisseurs of wildlife: skiers and snowboarders come here more and more often in winter to have a great sports holiday.

Archaeological Museum at Delphi

The exposition of the Delphi Archaeological Museum is the most extensive in Hellas. And this is not surprising: in antiquity, Delphi was an extremely rich and significant city. Here was the sanctuary of Apollo, in which treasuries were built, where gifts were kept to the god Apollo from various city-states.

The museum occupies a two-story building with a total area of ​​2270 square meters, which housed 14 exhibition halls. They exhibit single statues and sculptural compositions made of materials such as marble, bronze, gold and ivory.

The most valuable exhibit of the museum is the perfectly preserved bronze statue of the Delphic Charioteer. Experts believe that this is a fragment of a large sculptural composition depicting a charioteer, a chariot and horses harnessed to it. The date of manufacture is believed to be 478 - 474 BC, and depicts the winner of the Pythian games in 478 in a chariot competition. In addition to the Charioteer, the Delphic Museum is famous for the sculpture Three Dancing Girls. There are also statues of the god Apollo and the goddess Artemis, made of ivory and gold, and a lot of other exhibits that are extremely interesting to get acquainted with.

Museum of the Tiled and Brick Factory

The Tile and Brick Factory Museum is one of the few surviving examples of the Greek industrial complex. In 2004, the museum joined the network of thematic museums of the Technologies of the Cultural Foundation. The purpose of this museum is an attempt to bring to the fore the history of the city. The brick factory was founded in 1926 and its total area is 22.000 square meters. It was used to produce a wide variety of bricks and tiles. The factory closed in 1978.

In 2004, the Cultural Foundation decided to create samples brickwork in the main facilities of the plant. Two years later crushers, compressors, cutters, silos, carts and furnaces were restored. Now museum visitors have the opportunity to get acquainted with the profession of a brickmaker and tiler, and they can also get to know the process of making bricks as best as possible.

The center of the world

The ancient city of Delphi in Antiquity was considered a cultural center and its descriptions in the legends and myths of Ancient Greece have come down to us. One of the legends says that Delphi is the center of the Earth, or the navel of the Earth. In order to perpetuate this fact, an omphalos (cone-shaped stone) was installed, symbolizing the Navel of the Earth.

And the legend is this: once Zeus the Thunderer decided to determine where the center of the Earth is. He released two eagles, one from the west, the other from the east. The birds flew around the Earth and met at Delphi, thus defining its center. At the meeting place of the eagles, Zeus ordered to install a stone omphalos (according to another version, he himself threw a stone at this place), which was considered the Navel of the Earth.

According to another legend, the omphalos is a stone from the grave of the sacred serpent (or dragon) Delphi Python, or, in other words, was the point of intersection of the world of the living with the world of the dead, that is, the very center of the universe. And he sent the terrible Pif to the world of the dead - Apollo, after which he turned into a flock of dolphins and brought the ship in distress to the Corinthian Gulf. The sailors, in gratitude for the rescue, renamed the area Delphi. Another version of the name Delph is a translation of the Indo-European word "delphis" - "belly" or "womb", that is, the source of all life.

Ancient Delphi

Delphi is one of the most important religious centers of ancient Greece, 176 km from Athens. The Delphi archaeological complex and museum are located at the foot of the famous Mount Parnassus in the Sacred Valley. Back in the 17th century. English and French explorers tried to find the location of ancient Delphi, but were unsuccessful. The city and the sanctuary disappeared under a layer of later deposits, and no one knew where they were. Only in the 70s. 19th century German and French archaeologists began systematic excavations here, which led to the fact that Delphi again appeared to the world.

In ancient times, Delphi was considered the center of the world. According to legend, two eagles of Zeus, released from different parts of the world, met over the slopes of Mount Parnassus, at the same moment a conical stone fell from the sky, which marked the center of the universe. This stone was called "omphalos", and became one of the symbols of the Delphic sanctuary.

Terraces on the southern slope of the mountain, reaching 2457 m, rise in ledges to the sanctuary of Delphi. The Temple of Delphi, located in a natural stone amphitheater, has been considered the most sacred place on earth for centuries.

The Sanctuary of Apollo (Temenos) was in ancient times one of the most important religious centers in Greece, without the most revered oracle of antiquity, the famous Oracle of Delphi, not a single important decision was made. The Delphic sanctuary was extremely rich. Each pilgrim brought something valuable as a gift to God, and the envoys of city-polises built magnificent treasuries here and erected bronze or marble sculptural monuments.

The most popular attractions in Delphi with descriptions and photos for every taste. Choose best places to visit the famous places of Delphi on our website.

Once Zeus sent two eagles from different parts of the world, according to legend, the birds were supposed to show where the center of the world was. The birds met on the territory of the modern western slope of Mount Parnassus at an altitude of 700 meters above sea level. It was here, in beautiful Greece, that the city of Delphi was founded. Today, only ruins remain of that city.

Legend has it that the city from the very beginning admired its holy power. It was called the oracle - a place where you can get predictions. Part of the city of Delphi belonged to the goddess of the Earth, Gaia, who, in turn, gave it to another deity. So the earth passed from hand to hand of various mythical heroes: Themis, Apollo, Posedon.

In the 7th-6th centuries BC. e. the role of the sacred place has increased. The tribes that lived in these territories always came here in order to find out the answer to their question or make an offering to the gods.

In Delphi began to hold Pythian games. The event became the second most important after Olympic Games. Sports and creative competitions were held. Games brought the city great popularity and gave impetus to development.

Attractions Delphi includes:

Temple of Apollo.
Only a few vertical pillars speak of a building that once existed on this site. Archaeologists have established that this building was a temple. Sacred ceremonies were held here. Lists of participants in the Pythian games were kept in one of the rooms. The story goes that the temple was built on donations that were collected throughout the country. The building was rectangular in shape with rows of columns on each side. Images of various scenes from Greek mythology served as decoration.
It is known that there was omfal- an object similar to a monolithic block symbolized the "Navel of the Earth". The Archaeological Museum of Delphi contains some fragments of the temple of Apollo, which were found during excavations.

Treasury of the Athenians.
A small building was used to store various trophies and awards for important battles. On the walls of the building you can see many inscriptions that describe various holidays and customs of those years. From the inside, the walls are covered with texts describing important dates from the life of the city. Records were kept from about the 3rd century BC. e.

polygon wall.
One part of the wall was built to protect against falling stones, while the other was erected to strengthen the soil and delineate the boundaries of the temple. About 800 different texts are written along the entire surface.

Portico of the Athenians.
The portico was built with one side leaning against a polygonal wall. Nearby there was a place of sacrifice and a temple. On the structure one can see the inscription: "The Athenians erected a portico and weapons and statues, driving out the enemies." Thanks to the text, scientists were able to determine that this building was founded in 478 BC. e.

Treasury of the Siphnians.
A small building, resembling a temple, was erected to store the donations of the Siphnians. Instead of columns, two statues of girls were built here. Nowadays, only the foundation has been preserved from the building. In the Archaeological Museum of Delphi you can also see various fragments of the ornamentation of the treasury.

Delphic theatre.
Once upon a time, competitions were held here in the Pythian games in creativity: singing, playing musical instruments. The total capacity is about 5 thousand seats and about 35 rows. There are small aisles between the rows. Time has greatly "patted" the theater - the architectural details of the structure are still found in different parts of Delphi.

Holy road.
Pilgrims and visitors approached the temple along the Sacred Road. Once upon a time there were statues on the first stretch of the path; treasuries were installed along the second section, and its final part was decorated with an “exhibition” of offerings to the city.

The ancient stadium of Delphi.
The stadium was built to host the Pythian games here. It was here that the sports part of these competitions was held. The stadium was designed for about 5 thousand seats, initially people sat on the ground, but later stone benches were created. The site was set up on a slope. The entrance was represented by several arches through which the referee and the athletes themselves passed.

Tholos of Athena Pronoia. This attraction has become a symbol of the city of Delphi. However, scientists have not established the purpose for which this structure was built. A building rises between the temple of Athena and the treasury of the Massilians. The building is represented by a circular colonnade of 20 pillars. When examining the monument, several colors can be seen in the architecture. This was due to the fact that during the construction were used different materials. Decor details can be studied in more detail in the Delphi Museum.

All the sights listed are only a part of those that can be seen. Walking through the territory of Delphi can be a truly wonderful pastime for any visitor. The ancient city is included in the World Heritage List UNESCO.

get there Delphi can be reached by bus from Athens. Travel time will be approximately 3 hours.

Delphi, one of the oldest cities in Greece, located on the slope of Mount Parnassus, was famous in the ancient world for its temple of Apollo and the famous Delphic oracle, to which pilgrims from all over the Oikoumene came for divination. Delphi was rightfully considered the center of the entire Hellenic world.

The Pythian Games took place here - pan-Greek festivities in memory of the victory of Apollo over Python. Initially, it was a competition of poets and musicians, whose patron was Apollo, but from 586 BC. e. sports competitions were also included in the program of the games. The last Pythian Games took place in 394 AD. e. At the same time, Emperor Theodosius I was completely ruined and closed the temple of Apollo. As a result of archaeological excavations begun in 1892, the remains of a temple, a theater, a hippodrome, various monuments and many inscriptions were discovered, which made it possible to restore general form sanctuaries.

The ruins left from the temple of Apollo date back to the 4th century BC. But the sanctuary on this place also existed in more ancient times - from the end of the 8th century. The sacred road led to the temple of Apollo and was adorned with three thousand statues and treasuries for gifts and thanksgiving offerings. The Sibylla stone stands in the same place where. According to legend, the first priestess-soothsayer spoke her predictions. The theater, built in the 5th century BC, could seat more than 5,000 spectators.

To the southeast of the temple of Apollo is the sanctuary of the goddess Athena with the ruins of a temple from the 4th century BC. The rotunda, the tholos, has been preserved, the purpose of which is still unknown.

The stadium where the Pythian Games were held is quite well preserved. It accommodated about 7 thousand spectators and was made of limestone from Mount Parnassus.

It was believed that anyone who came to Delphi must take a ritual bath in the waters of the sacred Kastalsky key. The poet Byron plunged into the waters of this spring, inspired by the legend that the Key of Castal awakens poetic inspiration.

The collection of the Delphi Museum includes a collection of sculptures and architectural fragments found during excavations.

Man does not have time to make fatal mistakes - this is the prerogative of the gods. After all, only they, having Eternity at their disposal, can make countless mistakes, without thinking about what this can lead to. That is why the ancient Greeks hurried to Delphi on the southwestern slope of Mount Parnassus, where at an altitude of 700 m in the temple of Apollo one could find out their fate and follow the will of the gods playing their endless games...

Before Apollo

Today, only well-preserved ruins remain from the richest temple complex on the slope. But in ancient times, Delphi in Greece was famous for the fact that from time immemorial, sanctuaries in honor of the gods were located on this place. Already in the XVI century. BC, that is, more than 3500 years ago, the cult of Mother Earth went here. And where there is a sanctuary, there are rich gifts. The priestly settlement was repeatedly plundered, and half a thousand years later it finally fell into disrepair.

Today, only well-preserved ruins remain from the richest temple complex on the slope of Parnassus.

The cult of Mother Earth (among the Greeks it is Gaia) is universal in nature: it is both birth and death, creativity and destruction. All chthonic monsters that terrified ancient people are her “children”. Among them is the terrible serpent Python, wrapping nine stinking rings around Parnassus from the foot to the very top. According to one version, it was Python who initially acted as the "mouthpiece" of the will of the mother goddess. But, most likely, the myth about him arose precisely because the sanctuary, due to numerous murders and robberies, eventually became considered an unclean place, and even unsafe.

So the Delphic oracle might never have appeared if the ancient man had not finally turned to the more “enlightened” cult of the Olympian gods, the gods of the “third generation”. And if Zeus, having decided to determine the center of the world inherited from Kronos, the son of Gaia, would not have released two birds (eagles, swans or ravens) from opposite borders of the world. At the place where the birds met, the supreme ancient Greek god threw a huge stone, thereby indicating where the Navel of the Earth is located. This stone fell just on the southwestern slope of Parnassus. The place, of course, was not bad, prayed, but did not enjoy the best fame. However, in the end, there are rites of purification from filth ...

The ruler of Olympus designated the center or "Navel of the Earth" with a cone-shaped sacred stone

Apollo at Delphi

Buses Athens-Delphi run 4 times a day from 7.30 to 17.30 on weekdays and Saturdays and 5 times - from 7.30 to 20.00 - on Fridays and Sundays. Travel time is 2.5-3 hours. The fare is €15.10 (2014). If you are going to Delphi with an overnight stay (and it's worth it), then good selection hotels with guest reviews, photos and the possibility of booking.

Fans of colorful shopping should go to Arachova

The archaeological site of Delphi is open daily from 7.30 to 20.00. The opening hours of the museum, which has more than 6,000 exhibits, depend on the time of year. In summer it is open from Sunday to Tuesday from 8.30 to 15.30, and from Wednesday to Saturday from 8.00 to 20.00. In winter, both the excavations and the museum open for viewing at 8.30 am and are available until 2.45 pm. In the schedule of the museum, there are also days when you can visit it for free - we have indicated a list of them.

The schedule is constantly changing. Only one thing remains unchanged: it is better to come to Delphi early in the morning, while it is not too hot and there are no huge crowds of schoolchildren, students, and excursion groups. In summer there is an opportunity to avoid the crowds in the late afternoon. The cost of a single ticket (Delphi Museum plus excavations) is € 9 (2014).

Finally, I would like to add that if you are already planning to visit Delphi, then be sure to look into Arachova, a small village located a few kilometers from the Complex. Today it is considered one of the most popular centers of ski tourism in Greece. And it doesn't matter if you come here during your summer vacation, you can also go to Arachova for colorful local shopping. The local people are known for being very good masters on the part of all sorts of interesting items of clothing and various obscure gizmos.

Delphi Greece is a popular resort town that attracts travelers from all over the world. Each tourist finds exactly what he needs. Here you can fully enjoy the favorable climate, beaches, sights. Developed infrastructure contributes to the full enjoyment of the upcoming vacation.

General information about Delphi

Delphi is located on the territory of Phokis (mainland Greece). The city is located on the majestic Mount Parnassus, so you can imagine how majestic and picturesque the nature of these lands is. From any point there will certainly be a view of the picturesque valley with groves where olives grow, and the Gulf of Corinth.

Important! The distance to Athens is about 180 kilometers, to Kalambaka (this is where the famous monasteries of Meteora are located) - 300 kilometers, to Patras - 120. If you swim across the Gulf of Corinth, you can find yourself on the Peloponnese peninsula. If you carefully study the map and coordinates of Delphi, you can understand how advantageous the resort is and how interesting it is to spend the upcoming trip. In addition, the time here is European, so it will be easy for tourists to change lanes.

Delphi Greece

From the very beginning, Delphi has played an important role for Greece. The ancient Greeks considered the city to be the center of the world and associated it with numerous myths, as a result of which they tried to make the pilgrimage route here. From the very beginning, Delphi developed its culture; the Pythian games were held here. It is not surprising that in the 21st century, tourists prefer to spend their long-awaited vacation here.

Archaeological excavations on the territory ancient city were started in 1900. New research was carried out in the late 90s, thanks to which Delphi was officially listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Climate and weather in Delphi

The hottest months in the resort are July, August (the air warms up to +30 degrees and above). The coldest months are December and January, when the temperature drops to +4-12 degrees. The long-awaited trip is best planned from May to the end of October. Experienced tourists note that Delphi is a worthy competitor to the island of Crete, because the small city surprises with its history, culture and architectural appearance.

Sights of Delphi

Delphi is a real open-air museum. Despite frequent earthquakes, numerous cultural and architectural monuments have been preserved.

Note! The state of local attractions cannot be called ideal, but they still deserve special attention of travelers.

• The Temple of Pythian Apollo is one of the main attractions. It has existed since 6-4 centuries BC. Here you can still understand that the temple was created in honor of Apollo. Opposite the temple is the main altar of the sanctuary, which has been preserved to this day, and it is made of valuable black marble. The sanctuary is also famous for its structure with corrugated columns (colonnade), the treasury of the Athenians (5th century BC). It is here that tourists can see the most important exhibits related to the culture and history of Greece.
• The ancient stadium, which has existed since the 6th century BC, also deserves attention. It is believed that the stadium could accommodate up to 6 thousand spectators at the same time. The stadium is located at the very top and has been preserved in a fairly good condition. Tourists can imagine how athletes who participated in the Pythian Games fought here.
• The Delphic Theater also deserves attention. It was created in a special way. Spectators should have seen the temple of Apollo and the valley below. The theater is located in the sanctuary of Apollo. It was rebuilt many times, but still the appearance corresponds to the original versions (2nd century BC). The theater is distinguished by the presence of stone benches, an orchestra and a stage. The bowl of the theater is partially formed by the natural relief, but it was still necessary to create an artificial embankment.

Delphi architecture

• Natural attractions also deserve attention. For example, tourists can visit near the Castal springs. This spring springs from underground and is located near a rock on Mount Parnassus. The spring is the sacred spring of Delphi.
• Tholos of Athena Pronoia is one of the most famous landmarks of Greece and Delphi. The circular structure is created in the form of a rotunda. The attraction has existed since the 3rd century BC. Until now, the purpose of the structure is unknown, but it impresses with its execution. In addition, the monument was created from different building materials, including limestone, marble. Statues depicting dancing women were used to decorate the roof of the tholos. However, the statues and reliefs of the tholos have not survived to our time. The tholos was only partially restored, and this significant event took place in 1938.
• The archaeological museum of Delphi also deserves attention. The history of the museum center began in 1902. In 1938, a reconstruction was carried out. Antiquities that were found during archaeological excavations are stored here: statues, sculptures, antique objects. Currently, about 6 thousand valuable exhibits are presented here. More than 300 thousand people visit here every year.

How to get to Delphi

Delphi can be reached from the Greek capital, Athens. Buses depart daily from Athens to Delphi (once every 2-3 hours), and you need to buy tickets in advance. The journey will take about 3 hours. If you wish, you can go to Delphi for one day, but it is advisable to rent a hotel room and carefully explore the ancient city.

The beaches and resort of Delphi

Delphi is located at a distance of 10 kilometers from the Gulf of Corinth. They include the small village of Galaxidi, which is ideal for a beach holiday. Here you can also go diving, surfing, windsurfing, sailing. Each tourist independently determines the appropriate format of recreation for himself.

• Local attractions deserve special attention of tourists, so it is advisable to carefully consider the excursion program.
• It is recommended to schedule beach holiday. The swimming season usually falls on May - October.
• You can plan active shopping and visiting local cafes. In addition, the attendants often speak Russian.
• A variety of hotels are available in Delphi, so you can choose the right option for the price.

When planning to visit Delphi in Greece, you can properly plan your upcoming vacation and enjoy it to the fullest.