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The Sanctuary Of Apollo In Delphi, Greece: Complete Guide

The Sanctuary Of Apollo In Delphi, Greece: Complete Guide

The Sanctuary of Apollo at Ancient Delphi is arguably the most important historical site in Greece. It dates back to as early as 1500 B.C. and was home to the Oracle, where the Gods counseled people the priestess, Pythia. In this blog post, I will share a full review of my tour and also detail which tour I took. I do recommend this tour for all ages and it will be great for couples and families.

A GUIDED TOUR FROM ATHENS TO THE SANCTUARY OF APOLLO

I was really happy with the tour I booked as everything ran smoothly and I felt I received a lot of valuable information from our guide throughout the tour. I booked a tour called, From Athens: A Day Trip to Delphi. To get to Delphi I took a tour bus from Athens, which took just over two hours. Along the way, we enjoyed a guided tour of the regions we were passing through.

Once at the tour site, we were guided through each different part of the Sanctuary listening to stories about what used to happen at each site such as the Olympic training center. We were also given a guided tour of the museum but did have some time to roam freely throughout the sanctuary as well. It was a good mix.

Book your tour: From Athens: A Day Trip to Delphi

SANCTUARY OF APOLLO

The site of The Sanctuary Apollo was formerly the site of the modern Delphi Village until it was discovered that the sanctuary was buried under the village. The residents were relocated down the road and now The Sanctuary of Apollo is a major tourist attraction for the region.

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Inside The Sanctuary Apollo, we made our way up the various levels, visiting temples, offerings, and the stadium.

People from all over Greece, including kings, war generals, and leaders came to the Oracle of Delphi to consult with Apollo. They were looking for a prophecy about their future, major decisions, wars, resources, and guidance in all areas of their life.

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The most interesting part of the learning experience for me was hearing from our guide. She told us that prophets would collect information for hours from the individual about their homeland, job, the current situation in their region, and so on. Then they would collate all of this data and ultimately they created a large database, which enabled them to make informed decisions.

In addition to having large amounts of information about all parts of Greece, the prophets gave ambiguous prophecies. This meant they were never blamed for a direct outcome. If they managed to predict an outcome that happened, they were given offerings. These offerings often came in the form of temples or structures that are the monuments seen today at The Sanctuary Apollo.

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Another part of The Sanctuary Apollo that stood out to me was the stadium. Much thinner than a football pitch but a similar size. Here the Pythian games were held where competitors from all over Greece came to compete in various competitions. A training area nearby is also still visible. It might be the earliest sign of a gym in Greece.

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After exploring The Sanctuary Apollo for several hours we wandered into the museum. Here the finer details of the temples have been preserved. The intricate ornaments that once adorned the temples can be seen on the walls of the museum. Statues, which are in amazing condition can be marveled at. I struggled to wrap my head around the good condition of some of the relics, which were thousands of years old.

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Our final stop was a short drive to Tholos of Delphi. A structure that has perplexed historians for years due to its circular shape. I remember looking up at this temple, in disbelief. How was this constructed thousands of years ago in such great detail? It made me feel like a speck on an incredibly long timeline of our existence.

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Delphi is a historian’s paradise and a mind-blowing experience for all of those looking for a unique way to experience history. Unlike a standard museum, you are able to take through the same paths people used thousands of years ago. That is special and a feeling I will never forget.

Thursday 15th of October 2020

i agree. Delphi was an amazing experience for me. You could visualize the ancient Greeks walking through that difficult terrain to come to this sacred place. I had the feeling in that environment that the gods were there to listen to your entreaties and I had some understanding of why Delphi was such a sacred place. Remember that in the terrible conditions facing the Athenians when the Persians invaded that the Delphi Oracle told the Athenians that Greece would be saved by the naval fleet which came to pass at the Battle of Salamis . It is indeed an inspiring place and I am so glad we went there so many years ago.