Delphi Archaeological Site

Archaeological sites in Greece are numerous and we’re not going to visit them all. 

The artifacts that remain after time, looting, and destruction (invaders or alternative religions) 

are often stunning. 


And, when something exquisite has been fairly well preserved, there is some mourning 

for what has been lost when looking at the broken pieces of other works. 


In the ruins themselves much imagination is necessary to “see” their scope and quality.


The Delphi site is situated on a steep slope in beautiful mountains.
















This iteration of the Temple of Apollo was built in the 5th century B.C.E. 

It was reconstructed following an earthquake in the 300s B.C.E. 

Its destruction was ordered in A.D 390 by a Roman (Christian) emperor.





This is the imagination part. 

It doesn’t look it, but the temple would have been 190’ long and 72’ wide. 

There would have been six columns at either end and 15 along the sides.







The theater at Delphi could seat 5000.


















Athenian Treasury at Delphi (reconstructed)





Athenian valuable and significant items (e.g. spoils from wars) would have been kept here and occasionally brought out for display. 


The purpose was twofold: curry favor with Apollo and show off how great Athens was.








Stadium at the very top of Delphi. 

Games would have been held every four years but this wasn’t the olympics. 

That’s our next destination.


















Spring flowers at Delphi


















Artifacts are displayed in the accompanying museum.


The “dancers” are 6’ tall and would have been at the top of a column 40’ high!























A piece of one of the decorative friezes from Apollo’s temple.
















The Sphinx of Naxos (carved of marble from the island of Naxos) is a little over 7’ tall.

She would have sat on a column 30’ high.























Life-size silver sculpture of a bull found buried at Delphi.

The wooden core was rotted away and much of the silver as well.


The carving skill to render the fabric, particularly the statue on the left, is amazing. 

The photo on the wall shows where these figures (and several others) were located.


















It was an interesting day to visit Delphi.

There was a huge police presence and more than one police escort motorcade.





The international 10th “Delphi Economic Forum” is happening this week and today the Prime Minister of Greece was in attendance. 


Parking was a zoo but luckily we arrived early enough to get a good spot.






View of the Gulf of Corinth from the mountain highway going to Delphi.

We are staying in Galaxidi which is a tiny smudge of gray over yonder in this pic.





45 minute drive each way from 

Galaxidi to Delphi.










Our terrace view in Galaxidi.
















Daily visitor on our side terrace





We have become some of the people (but not the only ones) who carry a ziploc of cat kibble around with us.

It’s not necessary to befriend the kitties but they appreciate it.
















Galaxidi waterfront



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