Duration (from Athens): 10 hours

The famous sanctuary of Delphi is located in Phokis, in one of the loveliest and most impressive Greek landscapes. Its ancient ruins spread out over the southern slopes of Parnassos, beneath the looming gigantic Phaidriad rocks, known in antiquity as Yampeia and Nauplia. Such is the aplendour and magnificence of the setting that the visitor is overcome with awe and ecstasynthe at the moment he turns his gaze from the olive groves of the Pleistos valley to those rugged crags which tower over and enclose the archaeological site from north and east.

Delphi was believed to be the center of the world. According to tradition Zeus, in order to find the center of the earth, sent two eagles to fly around the earth in opposite directions. Since they met over Delphi, he pointed that specific area as the center of the earth.

The trip also includes a visit to the monastery of Osio Lukas. In the year 946 AC he first built his cell, a small church in which to pray. He also made a beautifull garden in which he grew his vegetables. He did not, however, manage to finish it. He died on February 7th 953 at the age of 56. The monastery is famous for it’s wall paintings. Those paintings have been cleaned and restored recently and they exhibit special interest.

During the Mycenaean period, the female deity of Earth was worshipped in the small settlement of Delphi. The development of the sanctuary and oracle though, began in the 8th century B.C. with the establishment of the cult of Apollo. Under the protection and administration of the Amphictyony, the sanctuary continued to be autonomous after the First Sacred War and, as a result, increased its panhellenic religious and political influence. The Pythian Games were re-organized, the sanctuary was enlarged and it was enriched with nice buildings, statues, and other offerings. In the 3rd century B.C. it came under the domination of the Aetolians and later, in 191 B.C., was conquered by the Romans. During the Roman occupation the site was sometimes plundered but was also favoured by some of the emperors. With the spread of Christianity, the sanctuary lost its religious meaning and was permanently closed down with a decree of emperor Theodosius the Great.

The ruins of Delphi were uncovered by the systematic excavations of the French Archaeological School, which began in 1893. The village of Kastri, which had occupied the area of the sanctuary since medieval times, was moved to its present position. After the removal of huge quantities of earth that had been accumulated with the landslides, the remains of two sanctuaries, dedicated to Apollo and Athena Pronaea, were finally uncovered. The excavations revealed more than five thousands inscriptions of all kinds, statues, several miniature objects, architectural decorative pieces, all exquisite works of art, representing the major cities of Greek antiquity. Outside the area of the Sanctuary, the Stadium, the Gymnasium, the settlement of Delphi and its cemeteries have also been excavated.

The only monument that could be fully reconstructed from its own building material was the Treasury of the Athenians, which was restored in 1903-1906 by the French excavators, at the expense of the Municipality of Athens. In 1959, the restoration of the altar of the Chians was completed by the Greek Archaeological Service. The gradual reconstruction of parts of the Tholos and the Apollo Temple since 1938, has resulted in major changes in the overall appearance of the ancient remains; the Tholos has been rebuilt up to the marble sima at the base of the roof, while of the Temple have been restored the north crepis, the north wall, the columns on the east side, and the ramp of the entrance.

THE MOST IMPORTANT MONUMENTS

- The Temple of Apollo: The visible ruins belong to the last temple, dated to the 4th century B.C., which was peripteral, in Doric order. It was erected exactly on the remains of an earlier temple, dated to the 6th century B.C. Inside was the "adyton", the centre of the Delphic oracle and seat of Pythia. The monument was partly restored during 1938-1941.

- The Treasury of The Athenians: Small building in Doric order, with two columns in antis, and rich relief decoration. It was built by the Athenians at the end of the 6th century B.C. in order to house their offerings to Apollo. After its restoration, in 1903-1906, it is the best preserved building on the site.

- The Altar of The Chians: The large altar of the sanctuary, in front of the temple of Apollo, was paid for and erected by the people of Chios, in the 5th century B.C., according to an inscription cut on the cornice. The monument was made of black marble, except for the base and cornice which were of white marble, resulting in an impressive color contrast. The altar was restored in 1920.

- The Stoa of The Athenians: The stoa, built in the Ionic order, has seven fluted columns, each made from a single stone. According to an inscription cut on the stylobate, it was erected by the Athenians, after 478 B.C., to house the trophies taken in their naval victories over the Persians.

- The Theatre of The Sanctuary: It was originally built in the 4th century B.C. but the ruins we see today date from the Roman Imperial period. The cavea had 35 rows of stone benches; the foundations of the skene are preserved on the paved orchestra. The theatre was used mostly for the theatrical performances during the great festivals of the sanctuary.

- The Tholos: Circular building in Doric order, built in ca. 380 B.C. Its function remains unknown but It must have been an important building, judging from the multi-coloured stone, the fine workmanship and the high-standard relief decoration. The monument was partly reconstructed in 1938.

- The Polygonal Wall: Retaining wall, built after the destruction of the old temple of Apollo in 548 B.C., to support the terrace on which the new temple was to be erected. The masonry is polygonal and the curved joints of the stones fit perfectly in place. A large number of inscriptions, mostly manumissions, are carved on the stones of the wall.

- The Gymnasium: was a complex of buildings used by the youths of Delphi for their education and practice. It was constructed in two levels: on the upper was a stoa and a free open space used for running practice, and on the lower was the palaestra, the pool and the baths (thermae).

- The Archaeological Museum of Delphi: The first museum of Delphi was built in 1903 on the plans of the French architect Tournaire and was later incorporated in a larger edifice, constructed in 1938. The rearrangement of the exhibition was carried out gradually and was finally completed in 1980. In 1974, a new room was added for the exhibition of the gold and ivory finds from the sanctuary. A project for the further enlargement of the museum, which has improved the display of the finds as well as the appearance of the building, has already been made by the Ministry of Culture. The museum is actually an integral part of the sanctuary and contains exclusively finds from the site of Delphi, mostly offerings and architectural parts. Some of the most important exhibits are:

- The Charioteer: Bronze statue of a charioteer, originally belonging to a larger group which represented a chariot drawn by four horses. It was dedicated to Apollo by Polyzalos, the tyrant of Gela, in 478 B.C. when he won the chariot-race at the Pythian Games. This incomparable statue is a representative example of the ''severe'' Attic style, certainly the work of a major artist. (Inv. no. 3484, 3520, 3540)

- Cleobis & Biton: Archaic statues representing two brothers from Argos, Cleobis and Biton or, according to a second interpretation, the Dioskouroi. They are the work of the Argive sculptor (Poly)medes. Dated between 610 and 580 B.C. (Inv. no. 1524, 467).

- Chryselephantine Statues: Two life-size heads made of ivory and gold, from the chryselephantine statues of gods, interpreted as Apollo and Artemis. (Inv. no. 10406, 10414).

- The Frieze From The Treasury of The Siphnians: decorated with relief representations of mythological scenes. On the north side, which is the finest and best preserved, there is a representation of Gigantomachy, the war of the gods of Olympus against the Giants. It is a wonderful specimen of the mature Archaic art, dated to 525 B.C. (Inv. no. 1392, 2042).

- Metopes From The Treasury of The Athenians: Marble metopes from the facade of the Treasury, with representation of Amazonomachy, the Labours of Herakles and the Exploits of Theseus. They were undoubtedly the work of skilled Athenian sculptors and date to ca. 490 B.C. (Inv. no. 86a-b, 2027).

- White-Ground Kylix decorated with a unique representation of Apollo: The god is seated on a stool, holds his lyre in his left hand and with his right pours the libation from a bowl. It is the work of an unknown skilled painter, dated to 480-470 B.C. (Inv. no. 8140).

- Marble Statue of Aghias: an athlete of the pankration (a kind of wrestling), famous for his victories in the 5th century B.C. It is a copy of a bronze original which was made by Lysippos and belongs to the group of statues offered to Apollo by the Thessalian Daochos II, the hieromnemon (representative) of Thessaly in the Amphictyonic League of Delphi. (Inv. no. 1875.)

- Bronze Incense-Burner: A wonderful vessel in the shape of a young woman wearing a peplos ("peplophoros"). In her upraised hands she holds a hemispherical cauldron in which the incense was placed. It is an original work of a skilled artist, dated to ca. 460-450 B.C. (Inv. no. 7723).

- The "Column of the Dancers": Statues of three young women forming the upper part of a column encircled with acanthus leaves. The figures are dancing, all wear a short, transparent chiton and bear a basket-like polos on their heads. They supported a bronze tripod cauldron. The column is an Athenian offering to the sanctuary, dated to ca. 330 B.C. (Inv. no. 466, 1423, 4851).

- Statue of Antinoos: Marble statue of Antinoos, a youth famous for his beauty, and the favourite of emperor Hadrian. This is one of the best "cult" statues of the young man, who is portrayed as a god. It is a typical example of the "Rennaisance" style of the 2nd century A.D. (Inv. no. 1718).