Delphi

Delphi (Greek language Δελφοί - ''Delphoi'') is an archaeological site and a modern town in Greece. In ancient times it was the site of the Delphic Sibyl, dedicated to the god Apollo (god). Delphi was revered throughout the Greek world as the site of the ''ομφαλός (omphalos)'' stone, the centre of the universe. In the inner ''εστία (hestia)'', or hearth, of the Temple of Apollo (''Απόλλων Δελφίνιος - Apollon Delphinios''), an άσβεστος φλόγα (eternal flame) burned. After the battle of Plataea, the Greek cities extinguished their fires and brought new fire from the hearth of Greece, at Delphi; in the foundation stories of several Greek colonies, the founding colonists were first dedicated at Delphi (Burkert, 1985, pp. 61, 84). ==Location== Delphi is located in a plateau on the side of Mt. Parnassus. This semicircular spur is known as Phaedriades; it overlooks the Pleistos Valley. Southwest of Delphi, about 15 km away, is the harbor-city of Kirrha on the Corinthian Gulf. ==Apollo== [[Image:Ancient athletics stadium at Delphi.JPG|250px|thumb|View of the stadium of the Delphi sanctuary, used for the Pythian Games. The stone steps on the right were added under the Romans.]] The name ''Delphoi'' is connected with δελφός ''delphus'' "womb" and may indicate archaic veneration of an Earth Goddess at the site. Apollo is connected with the site by his epithet Δελφίνιος ''Delphinios'', "the Delphinian", i.e. either "the one of Delphi", or "the one of the womb". The epithet is connected with dolphins (the "womb-fish") in the Homeric hymns Εις Απόλλωνα Πύθιον, 400), telling how Apollo first came to Delphi in the shape of a dolphin, carrying Crete priests on his back. Another legend held that Apollo walked to Delphi from the north and stopped at Tempe, a city in Thessaly to pick laurel, a plant sacred to him. In commemoration of this legend, the winners at the Pythian Games received a laurel wreath picked in Tempe. Delphi was the site of a major temple to Phoebus Apollo, as well as the Pythian Games and a famous oracle. Even in Roman times hundreds of votive statues remained, described by Pliny and seen by Pausanias (geographer). When young, Apollo killed the chthonic serpent Python (mythology), which lived beside the Castalian Spring, according to some because Python had attempted to rape Leto while she was pregnant with Apollo and Artemis. This was the spring which emitted vapors that caused the Oracle at Delphi to give her prophesies. Apollo killed Python but had to be punished for it, since Python was a child of Gaia (mythology). The shrine dedicated to Apollo was probably originally dedicated to Gaia and then Poseidon. The oracle at that time predicted the future based on the lapping water and leaves rustling in the trees. [[Image:Delphi charioteer front DSC06255.JPG|right|150px|thumb|The Pythian Games comprised a chariot race, thus this magnificent statue, the ''Charioteer of Delphi''.]] ==Oracle== The first oracle at Delphi was commonly known as Sibyl, though her name was Herophile. She sang her predictions, which she received from Gaia. Later, "Sibyl" became a title given to whichever priestess manned the oracle at the time. The Sibyl sat on the Sibylline Rock, breathing in vapors from the ground^#Footnote and gaining her often puzzling predictions from that. Pausanias (geographer) claimed that the Sibyl was "born between man and goddess, daughter of sea monsters and an immortal nymph". Others said she was sister or daughter to Apollo. Still others claimed the Sibyl received her powers from Gaia originally, who passed the oracle to Themis, who passed it to Phoebe. This oracle exerted considerable influence across the country, and was consulted before all major undertakings: wars, the founding of colonies, and so forth. She also was respected by the semi-Hellenic countries around the Greek world, such as Lydia, Caria, and even Egypt. Croesus of Lydia consulted Delphi before attacking Persia, and according to Herodotus received the answer "if you do, you will destroy a great empire." Croesus found the response favorable and attacked, and was utterly overthrown (resulting, of course, in the destruction of his own empire). The oracle is also said to have proclaimed Socrates the wisest man in Greece, to which Socrates said that if so, this was because he alone was aware of his own ignorance. This claim is related to one of the most famous mottos of Delphi, which Socrates said he learned there, ''Know thyself'' (Γνώθι Σεαυτόν): "know thyself". Another famous motto of Delphi is ''Meden Agan'' (Μηδέν Άγαν): "nothing in excess". In the 3rd century A.D., the oracle (perhaps bribed) declared that the god would no longer speak there. The temple to Apollo at Delphi was built by Trophonius and Agamedes. [[Image:Treasury of Athens at Delphi.JPG|thumb|The Treasury of Athens, built to commemorate their victory at the Battle of Marathon]] ===Footnote=== ¹ After investigating the site, archeology were convinced that these vapours are only a myth, as no evidence for them could be found, and —-so the then standard opinion in geology— gaseous emissions from rock only occur in conjunction with volcano activity. However, recent geology research indicates that the site of the oracle shows young geological faults, and it seems plausible that these emitted in ancient times light hydrocarbon gases from bitumen limestone which do have an intoxicating effect. (de Boer et al., Geology 29 (2001) pp. 707; see e.g. [http://www.geolsoc.org.uk/template.cfm?name=DelphiHigh here] for a popular science coverage) ==Treasuries== From the entrance of the site, continuing up the slope almost to the temple itself, is a large number of votive deposit statues, and numerous treasuries. These were built by the various states – those overseas as well as those on the mainland – to commemorate victories and to thank the oracle for advice important to those victories. The most impressive is the now-restored Treasury of Athens, built to commemorate the Athenians' victory at the Battle of Marathon. The Athenians had previously been given the advice by the oracle to put their faith in their "wooden walls" – taking this advice to mean their navy, they won a famous battle at Battle of Salamis. Another impressive treasury that exists on the site was dedicated by the city of Siphnos, who had ammassed great wealth from their silver and gold mines and so they dedicated the Siphnian Treasury. ==Tholos== The Tholos at the sanctuary of Athena Pronaia is a circular building that was constructed between 380 and 360 B.C. It consisted of 20 Doric columns arranged with an exterior diamater of 14.76 meters, with 10 Corinthian columns in the interior. The Tholos is located approximately a half-mile (800 m) from the main ruins at Delphi. Three of the Doric colums have been restored, making it the most popular site at Delphi for tourists to take photographs. ==Modern Delphi== The modern Delphi or Delfi or Delfoi is situated west of the archaeological site. It is passed by a major highway linking Amfissa along with Itea and Arachova. The main street is two-ways. Delphi also has a school, a lyceum and a square (''plateia''). The communities include Chrysso (Phokida), Greece which in ancient times was Crissa. ==External links== ===General=== *[http://www.fokida.gr/en/dim_delfon.html Homepage of the modern municipality] (in English or Greek) *[http://www.culture.gr/2/21/211/21110a/e211ja01.html Hellenic Ministry of Culture: Delphi] *[http://www.isidore-of-seville.com/oracles/ The Oracle of Delphi and Ancient Oracles], annotated guide edited by Tim Spalding *[http://www.travel-to-arachova.com/delphi.php Delphi guide] *[http://hellas.teipir.gr/prefectures/greek/Fokidas/Delfoi.htm Delphi] (in Greek) *[http://www.moonspeaker.ca/Delphi/delphi.html C. Osborne , "A Short detour to Delphi and the Sibyls"] *[http://www.theosophy-nw.org/theosnw/world/med/me-elo.htm Eloise Hart, "The Delphic oracle"] *[http://psychicinvestigator.com/demo/DELPHI.htm "The Delphic oracle"] ====Geology of Delphi==== *[http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?articleID=0009BD34-398C-1F0A-97AE80A84189EEDF John R. Hale, et al., "Questioning the Delphic Oracle: When science meets religion at this ancient Greek site, the two turn out to be on better terms than scholars had originally thought", in ''Scientific American'' August 2003] *[http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2001/08/0814_delphioracle.html John Roach, "Delphic Oracle's Lips May Have Been Loosened by Gas Vapors" in ''National Geographic news''], August 2001 *[http://geology.about.com/cs/odds_and_ends/a/aa081901a.htm Geology of Delphi] *[http://www.erowid.org/chemicals/inhalants/inhalants_history1.shtml ''The New York Times,'' March 19, 2002: "Fumes and Visions Were Not a Myth for Oracle at Delphi"] ==Reference== *Walter Burkert, ''Greek Religion'' 1985. ==See also== *Greek art *Delphi Technique for evaluation *Delphi programming language software development tool Holy cities Classical oracles World Heritage Sites in Greece Phokida

Delphi

This is just a note, but there have been convincing theories that the vapors the oracles inhaled consisted mainly of ethylene, a common hydrocarbon gas that was found in the petro-chemical rich layers of sediment surrounding Delphi. Ethylene, more potent and flammable than nitrous oxide (laughing gas), when inhaled in moderation can produce a trancelike state. the gas could have risen through fissures created by the many intersecting fault lines that run through the site. Also, during the last years of Delphi's significance there were reports of a major earthquake that shook the region, which may have played a factor in the vapor being suddenly closed off or redirected somewhere else. That would explain why a short while later the oracle pronounced that Delphi was no longer a medium for prophecies. The general mindset is that the oracle was bribed to discredit the site, mainly because of the rise of Christianity. :Interesting - if you have some journal papers to cite, they would be great additions. User:Stan Shebs 05:57, 18 Aug 2004 (UTC) ==A Delphic "Sibyl"?== We have a new editor who, working backwards from Thomas Bulfinch and (perhaps) echoing some Latin Christian sources, assumes that the priestess in any Greek oracle is a "sibyl". I think this is incorrect. --User:Wetman 05:12, 20 Mar 2005 (UTC) ---- I too propose to replace "Sibyl" with "Pythia" ... unless this is a trick to awaken her :-) Sibyls: the Cumaean Sibyl and the Erythraean Sibyl: [http://www.pantheon.org/articles/s/sibyl.html] The Pythia was the priestess at Apollo's oracle in Delphi. [http://www.pantheon.org/articles/p/pythia.html] [http://www.sciam.com/print_version.cfm?articleID=0009BD34-398C-1F0A-97AE80A84189EEDF] --User:Odysses 15:41, 17 Jun 2005 (UTC) ---- *Sibyls: the Cumaean Sibyl and the Erythraean Sibyl: :"In ancient times a prophetess who, in a state of ecstasy and under influence of Apollo, prophesized without being consulted. Famous Sibyls are the Cumaean Sibyl and the Erythraean Sibyl, who revealed to Alexander the Great his divine descent. The Cumaean Sibyl owned, according to tradition, nine books of prophecies, which she sold the remaining three to the Roman king Tarquin."[http://www.pantheon.org/articles/s/sibyl.html Micha F. Lindemans at Pantheon.org] ::Lindemans would place the Erythraean Sibyl at the oasis of Ammon in Egypt's Western Desert, where Alexander consulted the oracle about his divine birth. I don't think that identification is made by any of Alexander's biographers. Let's not add to the confusion. Can we stick to drawing some simple conclusions from ancient references? --User:Wetman 17:23, 17 Jun 2005 (UTC) *The Pythia was the priestess at Apollo's oracle in Delphi. [http://www.pantheon.org/articles/p/pythia.html Jennifer Middlesworth at Pantheon.com] ---- Besides, two more names relevant to ''Pythia '', that shouldn't be ignored: Pythian Games - Held at Delphi, second only to the Olympic Games Pythagoras Pyth-agoras - His name was relevant to Pythia and Delphi oracle. --User:Odysses 18:12, 17 Jun 2005 (UTC)

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Delphi
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Delphic_Oracle
Delphic_oracle
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Delphine
Delphine
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Delphine_de_Girardin
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Delphine_Seyrig
Delphine_Software
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Delphinia
Delphinidae
Delphinios
Delphinium
Delphinium_bakeri
Delphinium_glaucum
Delphinus
Delphinus_(airship)
Delphinus_(constellation)
Delphinus_(constellation)
Delphinus_(disambiguation)
Delphinus_(genus)
Delphinus_capensis
Delphinus_constellation
Delphinus_constellation
Delphi_(auto_parts)
Delphi_(auto_parts)
Delphi_(disambiguation)
Delphi_Corporation
Delphi_Corporation
DELPHI_detector
Delphi_effect
Delphi_effect
Delphi_Forums
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Delphi_internet
Delphi_language
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Delphi_method
Delphi_online
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Delphi_programming_language
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Delphi_technique