Imagine a scene at least 2,500 years old – a scene where pilgrims from all over Greece and beyond journey to the scared site of Delphi to consult the oracle. See with their eyes the wild mountain scenery 2,000 feet above sea level and the many treasuries, small temple-like buildings, built by city states and used to house the valuable gifts offered to Apollo in appreciation of the oracle. Observe if you will the ritual purification they undertook using the waters of the Castalian spring, and the goats being sprinkled with water to see if they trembled which indicated the signs were right for the goat to be sacrificed and the god to be petitioned.

According to legend Zeus released two eagles from the opposite ends of the earth and the spot where they met overhead, Delphi, was deemed to be the centre and marked by a stone, the omphalos, ie navel. A serpent, Pytho, guarded the place. However Apollo, son of Zeus, slew the serpent and then set up his own oracle with a priestess, the Pythia, acting as the medium through which the god replied. According to the historian Diodorus Siculus the Pythia were at first young virgins but it was later changed to chaste matrons of at least 50 years of age after one of the virgins was abducted and raped.

Another legend relates that Pythia sat on three legged bowl or tripod placed over a deep fissure in the earth which emitted intoxicating vapours causing the Pythia to babble a stream of incoherent sounds, while other evidence suggests she entered a state of trance by chewing laurel leaves. The Pythia was consulted on all manner of things including matters of state and war, money, religion, and marriage. Questioners paid a fee for their consultation. Their questions were written down on tablets and handed to the Pythia who went into a trance like state and gave an answer. The often ambiguous answers were interpreted by a priest who wrote it down in verse and gave it to the questioner. At the height of its popularity the temple needed up to three priestesses to deal with all the petitions.

Treasury of the Athenians. Built soon after the Battle of Marathon in 490BC.

Apollo and his sister Artemis stand either side of the omphalos in the image on the left. On the right, King Aegeus of Athens consults the oracle. Note that the Pythia sits on her tripod holding a sprig of laurel.

A view of the ancient site. The Pythia worked within the temple whose remaining columns are shown here plus the well preserved fourth century theatre.