The origins of Delphi  “Delphis” = “womb”  Delphi thought to be the center (naval) of the world

According to Mythology…  Zeus released two eagles –Flew around the world –Met at Delphi  Where they met is the center of the earth! –Omphalos (naval) marks the spot –Delphi is the center of the world, and the omphalos is its naval

 Remember the story of Cronos swallowing his children?  Omphalos = the rock he swallowed in place of Zeus –Placed at Delphi for all to see Saturn Devouring one of his Sons Francisco de Goya y Lucientes ( )

Connection to Apollo  Apollo’s symbol represents the “egg of creation.”  Center of worship –Embodied moral discipline and spiritual clarity

The Story of Delphi Version 1

The Trick  Gift of Prophecy  Apollo searches for a site for an oracle –Telphusa = Pernassus

Bad idea!  Dragon infestation! –Killed by Apollo  Left its corpse to rot, naming it “Pytho” from the Greek “to rot”  Corpse emitted the vapors that the oracle used to go into her transe  Vengeance –Buried Telphusa  Built shrine  Took over oracle

The Story of Delphi Version 2

Death of the Python  Apollo killed the Python who lived at Delphi and protected it –Sacred serpent = rebirth –Nine years penance  Returned to the sacred site

Every good oracle needs a priest  Cretan ship –Disguised as a dolphin, leaps on board –Apollo (yes, as a dolphin) steers the ship to Crisa  Reveals himself –Makes them priests of the temple

What’s up with the Dolphin?  “Delphis” = “dolphin” –Dolphin is a mammal, unlike other sea creatures

Bees  Pythia – Delphic Bee –Oracle  Arestius –First Greek Beekeeper –Sacrificed a bull to gods as penance –Returned to bull nine days later –Bees flew from carcass –Took them home

Superstitions  Bees have power over death  Kings in Greece made their tombs in the shape of bees  “When a bee flies, souls will rise” –A person’s soul will be reborn if bees are around

Historic Background  Most important oracle in Greece  Responses given by the oracle –Festival to Apollo –Increased demands = year round –All matters, personal and political –All people, ordinary citizens, kings, governments, even non-Greeks

How did it work?  Petitioner (someone seeking advice) –Submitted question –Gave offering (bribes?)  Pythia (priestess of Apollo for life) –Ritual bath, sacrifice of a goat –Entered temple  Sat on a tripod (with lid closed), set over opening in ground from which vapors rose  Entered trance, muttered gibberish –Priests interpreted the readings and delivered to questioners in poetic form –Answers were famously vague and easily open to misinterpretation  Easily claim to be right!

Mysteries Revealed

What did it look like?  Agora (marketplace) –Shops –Places to purchase relics

 Treasuries –Wealthy city-states built treasuries to demonstrate loyalty to the oracle –Displayed city’s wealth/power –Embassy, cultural center in a foreign land

 Temple of Apollo –Centerpiece –Housed the omphalos –Oracle  Sanctuary of Athena Pronaia –Temple comes before Apollo’s temple

Inscriptions  Carved into the temple are three phrases: –“Know Thyself” –“Nothing in Excess” –“Make a Pledge and Mischief is Nigh”  Attributed to the Seven Sages

 Theater –Natural slope of the mountain for seating –Semi-circular orchestra –Wrapped seating

 Stadium –Hosted Pythian Games  Similar to Olympian Games –Stadium-length sprints, race in full armor, chariot races

 Athletic Statues –Kleobis and Biton  Two brothers, renowned for their strength  Died at the height of their admiration

Balance  Dionysus is given reign over Delphi during the fall and winter months –Some say the oracle left during these months  Balance between Apollo and Dionysus