Delphi in Context

The ancient Greeks believed in fate and destiny—the idea that one’s path in life was already determined by the gods and could not be changed. They had complete faith in the oracle’s words, even though the meaning of the message was often unclear. As the oracle’s fame spread, people came from all over the Mediterranean region seeking advice. Numerous well-known figures of history and mythology visited Delphi, including the philosopher Socrates and the doomed King Oedipus.

Visitors would ask not only about private matters but also about affairs of state. As a result, the oracle at Delphi had great influence on

The Oracle of Delphi. STOCK MONTAGE/HULTON AR-CHIVE/GETTY IMAGES.

Political, economic, and religious events. Moreover, Delphi itself became rich from the gifts sent by many believers.

The worship of Apollo at Delphi probably dates back to the 700s BCE, although the fame of the oracle did not reach its peak until the 500s BCE. In about 590 bce, war broke out between Delphi and the nearby town of Crisa because Crisa had been demanding that visitors to the

Delphic oracle pay taxes. The war destroyed Crisa and opened free access to Delphi. To celebrate the victory, Delphi introduced the Pythian Games, an athletic festival that took place every four years.

In early Roman times, Delphi was often plundered. For example, the Roman dictator Sulla took many of Delphi’s treasures, and the emperor Nero is said to have carried off some 500 bronze statues. With Rome’s conquest of Greece and the spread of Christianity, Delphi’s importance declined. The oracle was finally silenced in 390 ce to discourage the spread of non-Christian beliefs.

The modern village of Kastri stood on the site of ancient Delphi until 1890. Then the Greek government moved the village to a nearby location, making the site of the ancient town available for excavation. Archaeologists have been working on the site since that time and have made many important discoveries relating to the temple of Apollo.