Calamos Supports Greece
GreekReporter.comAncient GreeceFly Over Delphi, the 'Navel of the World', in this Magnificent Video

Fly Over Delphi, the ‘Navel of the World’, in this Magnificent Video

Delphi
Delphi lies between two towering rocks of Mt. Parnassus in Greece. Credit: F. Harbin,  Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 

Footage of the ancient Greek site of Delphi taken by a drone captures the pan-Hellenic sanctuary, where the oracle of Apollo spoke, in all its glory.

Blending harmoniously with the superb landscape and charged with sacred meaning, Delphi in the 6th century B.C. was a religious centre and symbol of unity in the ancient Greek world.

A place with a rich intangible heritage, Delphi was the centre of the world (omphalos) in the eyes of the ancient Greeks: according to myth, it was the meeting point of two eagles released by Zeus, one to the East and one in the West.

Delphi lies between two towering rocks of Mt. Parnassus, known as the Phaidriades (Shining) Rocks, in the Regional unit of Phocis in Central Greece. Here lies the Pan-Hellenic sanctuary of Apollo, the Olympian god of light, knowledge and harmony.

The ruins of the Temple of Apollo that are visible today date from the fourth century BC. It was erected by Spintharus, Xenodoros, and Agathon on the remains of an earlier temple, dated to the sixth century BC.

The ancient theatre at Delphi was built farther up the hill from the Temple of Apollo giving spectators a view of the entire sanctuary and the valley below. It was originally built in the fourth century BC, but was remodeled on several occasions.

Perhaps Delphi is best known for its oracle, the Pythia, or sibyl, the priestess prophesying from the tripod in the sunken adyton of the Temple of Apollo. The Pythia was known as a spokesperson for Apollo. She was a woman of blameless life chosen from the peasants of the area. Alone in an enclosed inner sanctum (Ancient Greek adyton – “do not enter”) she sat on a tripod seat over an opening in the earth (the “chasm”).

The magnificent monumental complex is a human-made environment in perfect harmony with the rare natural environment, the principal features of which gave rise to the organization of the cults. This harmonious relationship, which has remained undisturbed from ancient times to the present day, makes Delphi a unique monument and a priceless legacy bequeathed by the ancient Greek world to the following generations.

This UNESCO World Heritage site has not been altered for centuries. Any restoration projects that were undertaken were of limited scale and were carried out by the Charter of Venice provides international guidelines for preserving ancient sites.

Within the property, only an archaeological museum has been built, which is indispensable for the protection of the findings and for the adequate understanding of the sanctuary and its offerings.

The museum houses artifacts associated with ancient Delphi, including the earliest known notation of a melody, the Charioteer of Delphi, Kleobis and Biton, golden treasures discovered beneath the Sacred Way, the Sphinx of Naxos, and fragments of reliefs from the Siphnian Treasury. Immediately adjacent to the exit is the inscription that mentions the Roman proconsul Gallio.

RelatedThe Oracle of Delphi’s Advice That Shaped Ancient Greece

See all the latest news from Greece and the world at Greekreporter.com. Contact our newsroom to report an update or send your story, photos and videos. Follow GR on Google News and subscribe here to our daily email!



Related Posts