Delphi Archaeological Site
Telephone: +30 22650 82313 
Email: iepka@culture.gr
Tickets : Full: €6, Reduced: €3 ( Valid for museum)
Special ticket package: Full: €9, Reduced: €5 (Valid for museum and Archaeol. site)
Tholos of Athena Pronaia
The City of Delphi is known as a modern town and an archaeological site. It is located in the valley of Phocis in Greece. Delphi is known in history as being an ancient city, where it is said that worshipping of Apollo took place. There is so much to explore in Delphi for those travelers who want to visit historical places and learn more about the culture.
The Stadium of Delphi is a place with a great history. It is located up the hill, beyond the theater. Delphi Stadium was built in the5th c. B.C. and was remodeled several times. Later on, the stadium was financed, stone seating and entrance was added and so we see its present form from back then.
The Delphi Stadium was often used during Pythian and Panhellenic games, athletic events or music festivals. The stadium could fit more than 6 thousand spectators and its track was about 177 meters long and 25.5 meters wide.
The most amazing event in the Delphi Stadium was Pythian Games. These games were the beginning of the Olympic Games. These games were the most prestigious in the ancient world. Athletes competed in this Delphi sport tournament to show their skills and proof that they are best. Apart from sport and athletics competitions there were also music and poetry competitions, where best musicians and poets struggled for recognition.
Delphi Stadium
In Delphi Stadium Pythian Games were held at an interval of four years in summer and they were meant to honor the Greek God Apollo. It is said that here the god Apollo had killed the dragon Python and a sanctuary was called Pytho and Great Pythian Games were held here in honor of the god. At first there were only poetry and music competitions, but later on sports contests were added. In the Delphi’s Pythian Games even though sports contests were very famous, the main event was musicians’ performance and they came first in the program.
The whole event took 5 days. Delphi’s Pythian Games began with religious ceremonies following performance of mythical struggle between Apollo and dragon Python. Second day there was a large banquet. And last three days consisted of musical, athletic contests and horse races.
Delphi’s Pythian Games ended with award ceremony. Best athletes, sportsmen, poets and musicians were awarded just like in today’s modern Olimpic games. Winners were awarded with a wreath of Bay Laurels., which is a symbol of highest status.The origin of the Pythian Games dates back to the 6th century BC. Feel its presence now in Delphi and explore these ruins that date back to ancient times.Delphi is famous of it’s historical sites. One of it is The Temple of Apollo. The Temple of Apollo at Delphi is UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987. It is located in the ancient city Delphi, which is an archeological site. This Temple of Apollo is central to the entire site and is the most important ruin that is found here. These ruins visible today date from the 4th century BC are of a peripheral Doric building.
The temple of Apollo in Delphi
In ancient times Delphi was a special place. It’s said that world’s known oracle lived in the temple. Local people came to ask for advice and help. It has long been associated with the God Apollo and it was the place, where people would worship him. It was considered to be the center of the earth by many ancient Greeks. Myths tell that a pair of eagles, set free to fly in opposite directions of the world, that eventually met back together again in Delphi.Temple Appolo – Delphi, Greece.
Many people think of the Temple as an oracle and they are right indeed. It is said that, the oracular god Apollo set out to make his way in the world. He came upon Delphi and considered it an ideal location for the erection of his Delphi Temple and the establishment of his cult. Later on, the Christian emperor destroyed the temple, statues and works of art in the name of Christianity. The site was destroyed in an attempt to remove all traces of paganism.
The Temple of Apollo was built around the 7th c. B.C. by the two legendary architects Trophonios and Agamedes. It was destroyed by an earthquake, then it was rebuilt and those structures that decayed into ruins are here today, with only foundation and several Doric columns remaining. These are made of porous stone and limestone, which is fairly soft material that let the temple decay. As a result to this, there is very little known about the temple’s interior arrangements although reconstructive drawings are considered accurate.
Temple of Appolo