| Memories of a
pilgrimage to Delphi, Greece [Double click photo to enlarge] |
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 Zeus had two eagles fly together from the corners of the world. They met here at Mt. Parnassos, Delphi. |
 Zeus declared this the center of the Universe. Recent archeology has found that two fault lines meet and cross right beneath the temple! |
 Here the temple of Apollo was constructed. It housed the famous Oracle of Delphi. It was first built in 650 BCE. |
 From the 14th to 11th century B.C. the deity worshiped in Delphi was mother earth Gaia or �Ge�.
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 From the 11th to 9th century B.C. the worship of Apollo became established at Delphi. Now six Doric pillars stand where 24 once were erected.
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 Apollo appear to sailors as a dolphin and led them to the nearby shore; hence the name Delphi. "Delphis" is also Greek for womb - referring back to the center of the Earth. |
 A closer view of the 3400 year old stone structure. |
 The walkway leading into the temple. |
 One of two views of the floor plan and six remaining pillars. |
 The second of two views of the floor plan and six remaining pillars. |
 This is the stadium at Delphi. It seats 5,000 and one of the three useable stadiums of antiquity. |
 The remains of the benches surrounding a field for Olympic-like completion at Delphi. |
 The competition track at Delphi showing some of the bleachers. |
 A beautiful overview of the temple of Apollo and Mt. Parnassos. The chamber where the Oracle (Pythia) sat is to the far right of the structure. |
The fault lines mentioned above actually cross exactly below the Oracle's chamber. It is now thought that Plutarch, the Greek biographer (80 CE), was correct in stating that a sweet gas (pneuma) was present in the chamber and that the Pythia inhaled this gas, probably ethylene. |
