Delphi
placeThe most important oracle in ancient Greece, where the Pythia delivered Apollo's prophecies. The Greeks considered Delphi the center — the navel — of the world.
The Myth
According to myth, Zeus released two eagles from opposite ends of the world to find its center. They met at Delphi, which the Greeks thereafter called the omphalos — the navel of the world. A sacred stone marked the exact spot.
Apollo established his oracle at Delphi after slaying the great serpent Python. The Pythia, a priestess seated over a chasm from which intoxicating vapors rose, delivered prophecies in a trance state. Her utterances, often cryptic and ambiguous, were interpreted by priests and influenced decisions throughout the Greek world.
Kings, generals, and ordinary citizens traveled from across the Mediterranean to consult the Oracle. "Know thyself" and "Nothing in excess" — two of the most famous maxims of Greek philosophy — were inscribed on the temple walls at Delphi. The site remained active for over a thousand years, from the 8th century BCE until the 4th century CE.
Symbols
Fun Fact
A "Delphic" statement is one that is deliberately ambiguous or obscure — just like the Oracle's prophecies.
Words We Inherited
English words and phrases that trace back to this myth: