Who wouldn’t want to go on a journey to the centre of the earth? I’d grab the opportunity, that’s for sure. With both hands. That’s why when I decided to finally visit Athens, I included Delphi in the itinerary. Ancient Greeks believe that Delphi is the centre of the earth!
Wednesday, November 19
I signed up with Chat Tour via Viator. People in my tour group all thought I was crazy. Unlike the others who woke up that morning in their hotel beds, had proper shower and a good breakfast before joining the tour, I landed in Athens at 03:15! I lingered at the arrival hall until dawn, freshened up at the airport’s restroom before getting on the bus to Syntagma Square where I had breakfast at a nearby cafe. At 08:30, I was on the bus that would take me first to Delphi, and then Meteora.
I slept the entire journey to Delphi.
When we arrived at Delphi, there were already a few tour groups there. But despite this fact, the area didn’t feel overcrowded. I suspect because it was off season.
The ancient myth goes that Zeus released two eagles at opposite ends of the universe and they flew towards each other. And because this was the Greek Gods era, the eagles must have super powers too. They survived the journey and met at Delphi. So it was claimed that Delphi was the centre of the world. The spot was marked by a stone and later, the Temple of Apollo was built here. Today, only the foundation and six pillars of the temple have survived.
The ancient myth also goes that the Oracle of Delphi was originally owned by Gaia, the earth goddess and was guarded by Python, the serpent. It was said that Apollo slain Python and took over the oracle. The Oracle of Delphi was famous for its accurate prediction of the future and people from all corners of the earth flocked to the area seeking for advice.
To this day, millions of people still flock to Delphi.
The Temple of Apollo is a big structure and standing at its level, you may feel that the temple dominates the area. However, if you go two levels up – above the amphitheatre – and look below, you will see that instead of dominating the space, the Temple of Apollo blends with its surroundings. Yes, there’re more than a few steps to tackle, but if you have strong knees, make the climb. You can thank me later.
If you climb further up, there is the stadium. Sadly, I didn’t have the time.
The only structure at the archaeological site that stands true to its dimension is the Athenian Treasury. Once upon a time, it held a multitude of Athenian offerings to the Oracle of Delphi. Built around 470 BC, the building was reconstructed in the early 1900s.
Some people say they can feel something in Delphi, that Delphi has a magical feel to it – as if the spirit of Apollo is still there. I’d be lying if I said I felt Apollo’s presence. But who knows? You may have a different experience. So if you do visit Delphi, open your heart and ears. You might just hear Apollo telling you what your future holds.
Note:
At the most, we spent slightly over an hour at the archaeological site. Our group comprised people who were only doing a day trip to Delphi and people who were doing a two day trip to Delphi and Meteora. After the site tour, the former group proceeded to the Delphi archaeological museum. However us the Meteorite group didn’t. Off we went, for lunch and then straight to Kalampaka. We only spent time visiting the Temple of Apollo and only saw the Temple of Pronoia Athena, also known as Marmaria from afar. We were told we didn’t have time to go there. Honestly, I felt cheated. If you have more time and the means, I’d suggest you rent a car and drive up to both Delphi and Meteora. These are places not to be missed when visiting mainland Greece, but my 2 cents is, avoid the tours if you can.