Delphi

Delphi
/del"fuy/, n.
an ancient city in central Greece, in Phocis: site of an oracle of Apollo.

* * *

Site of the ancient temple and oracle of Apollo in Greece.

Located on the slopes of Mount Parnassus, it was the centre of the world in ancient Greek religion. According to legend, the oracle was originally sacred to Gaea, and Apollo acquired it by slaying her child, the serpent Python. From 582 BC Delphi was the site of the Pythian Games. The oracle was consulted not only on private matters but also on affairs of state, such as the founding of new colonies.

* * *

▪ ancient city, Greece
 
ancient town and seat of the most important Greek (ancient Greek civilization) temple and oracle of Apollo. It lay in the territory of Phocis on the steep lower slope of Mount Parnassus (Parnassus, Mount), about 6 miles (10 km) from the Gulf of Corinth. Delphi is now a major archaeological site with well-preserved ruins. It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1987.

      Delphi was considered by the ancient Greeks to be the centre of the world. According to ancient myth, Zeus released two eagles, one from the east, the other from the west, and caused them to fly toward the centre. They met at the future site of Delphi, and the spot was marked by a stone called the omphalos (navel), which was later housed in the Temple of Apollo. According to legend, the oracle at Delphi originally belonged to Gaea, the Earth goddess, and was guarded by her child Python, the serpent. Apollo is said to have slain Python and founded his own oracle there.

 Excavations reveal that Delphi was first inhabited in late Mycenaean times (as early as the 15th century BC). Priests from Knossos brought the cult of Apollo to the site in the 8th century BC. Some 200 years later, during the First Sacred War (c. 590 BC, the Amphictyonic League (to which Delphi pertained) destroyed the nearby town of Krisa, whose taxation of visitors to the oracle had prompted the war, and free access to Delphi was opened. The League subsequently reorganized the panhellenic Pythian Games, which were held in Delphi every four years beginning in 582 BC. By then, the prestige of the Delphic oracle was at its height. It was consulted not only on private matters but also on affairs of state, and its utterances often swayed public policy. It was also consulted whenever a colony was to be sent out from Greece proper, so that its fame spread to the limits of the Greek-speaking world. Such influence led to controversy, and several more sacred wars were waged over the oracle, with control of the site shifting between rival city-states.

      After the Romans captured Delphi in the early 2nd century BC, it was frequently pillaged. Nero is said to have removed 500 statues from the vicinity. With the spread of Christianity, the old pagan stronghold fell into decay, and it was permanently closed by decree of Theodosius (Theodosius I) about AD 385.

 The site of Delphi was later occupied by the village of Kastrí, until 1890, when the village was moved and renamed Delphi. Excavations, begun in 1892, revealed the plan of the ancient site, and the remains of its buildings can be further identified in the 2nd-century-AD writings of the geographer Pausanias. The temple sanctuary was a large, roughly rectangular area enclosed by a wall. A sacred way lined with monuments and treasuries wound up through the sanctuary to the temple of Apollo itself, which housed the Delphic oracle in a chamber at the rear. The monuments along the way were offerings to Apollo erected by states or individuals in thanks for favours bestowed by the god. The existing temple site includes only the foundation, some steps, and a few columns from a structure built in the 4th century BC. Two earlier temples of Apollo at Delphi are also known from their actual remains. Some archaic capitals and wall blocks are preserved from the first temple, which was burned in 548. The second temple, built at the end of the 6th century BC, was destroyed by an earthquake; many of its wall blocks and some pediment sculptures are extant. Of the site's once-numerous treasuries, the Athens treasury has been rebuilt with the original blocks; it displays a famous wall covered with inscriptions, including musically annotated hymns to Apollo.

      Archaeological work in the late 20th century centred on several Roman buildings from the 4th through 6th centuries AD. In 2001 a team of scientists from varied disciplines discovered in the region the presence of ethylene gas—once used as an anesthetic and capable of producing a trancelike state. Their findings accord with ancient accounts of vapours rising from the temple floor.

      As with most ancient structures in the Mediterranean, the ruins at Delphi are threatened by erosion. Preservation efforts have included reburial of several lesser buildings. The site is a major tourist attraction. See also oracle.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужна курсовая?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Delphi — Saltar a navegación, búsqueda Para otros usos de este término, véase Delphi (desambiguación). Delphi es un entorno de desarrollo de software diseñado para la programación de propósito general con énfasis en la programación visual. En Delphi se… …   Wikipedia Español

  • Delphi — Delphi: Tholos im Heiligtum der Athena Pronaia Delphi (griechisch Δελφοί (m. pl.), altgriechisch Delphoí ausgesprochen) war eine Stadt im antiken Griechenland, die vor allem für ihr Orakel bekannt war. Heute gehören die Ausgrabungen von …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Delphi I — Studio album by Chick Corea Released 1979 …   Wikipedia

  • Delphi — ([дэлфи]): Дельфы древнегреческий город (латинское написание Delphi). Delphi (среда разработки)  среда разработки компании Embarcadero Technologies. Delphi (язык программирования)  язык программирования производный от Object Pascal,… …   Википедия

  • Delphi — (Агиос Гордиос,Греция) Категория отеля: Адрес: Agios Gordios, Агиос Гордиос, 49084, Греция …   Каталог отелей

  • Delphi — Delphi, IN U.S. city in Indiana Population (2000): 3015 Housing Units (2000): 1241 Land area (2000): 2.556533 sq. miles (6.621390 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.000000 sq. miles (0.000000 sq. km) Total area (2000): 2.556533 sq. miles (6.621390 sq.… …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • Delphi, IN — U.S. city in Indiana Population (2000): 3015 Housing Units (2000): 1241 Land area (2000): 2.556533 sq. miles (6.621390 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.000000 sq. miles (0.000000 sq. km) Total area (2000): 2.556533 sq. miles (6.621390 sq. km) FIPS… …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • Delphi — Delphi. Der berühmteste aller Orakelorte, der früher Pytho hieß. Dort stand über einer Erdöffnung, aus welcher besondere Dünste stiegen, der heilige Dreifuß mitten im Tempel des pythischen Apollon; auf ihm saß die Priesterin Pythia, und sprach… …   Damen Conversations Lexikon

  • Delphi — es un entorno de desarrollo rápido de software diseñado para la programación de propósito general con enfásis en la programación visual. En Delphi se utiliza como lenguaje de programación una version moderna de Pascal llamada Object Pascal. Es… …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • Delphi [1] — Delphi, 1) (a. Geogr.), kleine, aber wegen des dasigen Tempels u. Orakels wichtigste Stadt in Phokis, die sich am Südabhange des Parnassos nach Kirrha hin amphitheatralisch erhob u. vom Berge Kirphis durch ein Thal geschieden war, durch welches… …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • Delphi [2] — Delphi, Hauptort der Grafschaft Carroll im Staate Indiana (Nordamerika) am Wabash Erie Kanal; 3 Kirchen, 2 Zeitungen; fruchtbare Umgegend; 2000 Ew …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”