Apollo Temple in Delphi, Greece
Delphi Sights & Monuments - The Apollo Temple in Delphi, Greece, is a significant ancient religious sanctuary dedicated to the god Apollo. This temple, situated on the slopes of Mount Parnassos, housed the renowned Oracle of Apollo. The Oracle provided enigmatic predictions and counsel to individual people and city-states. Delphi also hosted the Panhellenic Pythian Games. As one of Greece's most notable monuments, Delphi is recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Its roots date back to the late Bronze Age (1500-1100 BC), when it was first inhabited during the Mycenaean period. Delphi gained religious importance around 800 BC, and its original name, Pytho, was inspired by the snake that Apollo supposedly slayed there. In Greek mythology, Delphi was regarded as the center of the world. According to the myth, Zeus dispatched two eagles, one to the east and another to the west, and Delphi was where they met after flying around the globe. The omphalos (or navel), a dome-shaped stone outside Apollo's temple, symbolized this fact and represented the site where Apollo defeated the Python. Lastly, contrary to popular belief, the Oracle did not predict disasters; it provided guidance and answers to inquiries posed by its visitors.
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