Ancient Greek
Δελφοί
Delphi
“At the navel of the world, where they listened for the voice of the god”
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Scenes
Meaning
Doric columns line the slope of Mount Parnassus, and far below, a valley of olive trees opens into the haze.
Tradition holds this to be the omphalos, the 'navel of the world,' the center of the earth, where oracles came through the Pythia, priestess of Apollo. The words 'Know thyself' are said to have been inscribed on the temple, and the ancient Greeks gathered here to ask the god about the great matters of their cities. A UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Field notes
- Location
- Mount Parnassus · 그리스 중부 · N38.5° · E22.5°
- Best time
- Early morning in spring or autumn, when light falls on the slope
- Getting there
- About a 2.5-hour drive from Athens to the site on the flank of Mount Parnassus.
- Etiquette
- Keep to the marked paths to protect the ruins.
Sources
- · Encyclopaedia Britannica
- · UNESCO World Heritage
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