Delphi Ancient Town
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Why go
- The Temple of Apollo, whose inner hearth held a flame that never went out.
- The Pythian Games, held here every four years from 586 BC, with music contests.
Don't miss
- Theatre and stadiumAn early visitor wrote about both as they stood at the time.On the archaeological site.1436
- Ancient gymnasiumIn the early modern period, a monastery was raised over it.On the archaeological site.early modern period
Interesting facts4
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After Plataea, Greek cities lit their public fires again from this hearth.
Delphi (modern town) - Wikipedia -
Gaia, the mother goddess linked with fertility, was worshipped here from the earliest times.
Delphi (modern town) - Wikipedia -
Representatives of six tribes sat on a council that ran the site and its games.
Δελφοί Φωκίδας - Wikipedia -
Many colony founders brought their first offerings here.
Δελφοί Φωκίδας - Wikipedia
History
The sanctuary was a shrine and oracle of Apollo. It became the god's main centre of worship and gained importance for all Greek peoples. The Athenians reclaimed the site during the First Sacred War. Later, the Phocians under Philomelos captured and sacked it. The site was sacked several times. Lucius Cornelius Sulla sacked it, and Nero sacked it again. Later emperors helped restore it, but it gradually lost importance. The Ottomans took control of the area, and in medieval times a village stood on the buried ruins. Residents were moved out so the site could be excavated.
- 800 BCThe site becomes the main centre of worship of Apollo.
- 548 BCA fire destroys the temple.
- 86 BCLucius Cornelius Sulla sacks the site.
- 66 ADNero sacks the site again.
- 381 ADTheodosius I shuts the site down during the persecution of pagans.
Show all
- around 1410The Ottomans take control of the area.
- 1893Archaeologists from the École française d'Athènes locate the real site.
Tips for your visit
- The archaeological museum is in the modern town, just west of the site, not on it.
Best time to visit
- The site draws many visitors all year round.
With kids
- The laurel crown for the winners was cut by a boy acting out the myth of the Python's slaying.
How to get there
- CarThe site lies 183 km west-northwest of Athens.
- CarIt is 20 km northwest of Amfissa, the seat of its municipality.
- CarThe site is reached by the road linking Amfissa with Livadeia.
Sources: Delphi (modern town) - Wikipedia · Δελφοί Φωκίδας - Wikipedia · Delphes (Phocide) - Wikipedia · checked 19 Oct 2026
Questions and answers
Where is the modern town of Delphi in relation to Delphi Ancient Town?
The modern town of Delphi lies just west of the ancient site.
Was there an oracle at Delphi Ancient Town before 800 BC?
Traditions say an important oracle stood here as early as 1400 BC.
Is Delphi Ancient Town protected?
Yes, UNESCO protects the site.
Who was the first Westerner to describe the ruins of Delphi Ancient Town?
Ciriaco de' Pizzicolli was the first Westerner to describe the remains, in the 15th century.
Is there an archaeological museum in Delphi?
The town's archaeological museum ranks among the most important of its kind in the country.
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