We left the boat securely moored at Itea Marina to catch the 7.15 am bus for Delphi. The driver was quickly negotiating terrifying hairpin bends as we climbed high up into the hills, thankfully we were diverted by stunning views down to the sea.
Delphi town appeared to be a collection of restaurants, hotels and souvenir shops which we promptly skirted, following a road which opened out to a vista of mountains descending to a broad valley of olive groves and the sea in the distance.
The site of Delphi was regarded as the centre of the World by ancient Greeks. It is a spectacular site set into cliffs of honey coloured rock on the flanks of Mount Parnassos. It is best known for the ‘Delphi Oracle’ housed in a Temple dedicated to the God, Apollo. The Oracle was consulted before any important state decisions were taken. Supposedly, Apollo spoke through the Oracle via the ‘sibyl’ or priestess who was generally a respected older woman chosen from among the peasants of the area.
It was still early, just 8.00am when we entered this magical site. Deep azure skies, pine and cypress trees, an abundance of wild flowers with birdsong and the drone of insects only enhanced our views of the ruins; it looked stunning from every angle. We ambled our way up the paved pathways passing the Temple and the ancient Amphitheatre.
Finally almost at the peak we came to the Stadium.
The athletes from 7th BC must have been very fit to have climbed such heights and then enter competition.
Yet again I found myself humbled by the evidence of such an ancient sophisticated civilization, most of it dating back many hundreds of years BC – the whole site just inspired awe.
As we descended, the coaches were beginning to arrive and we were glad to escape into the well-laid out museum.
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