Delphi Archaeological Site | Home of the Oracle of Delphi

Quick Information

ADDRESS

Delphi 330 54, Greece

RECOMMENDED DURATION

5+ hours

Timings

08:00–20:00

VISITORS PER YEAR

600000

TICKETS

From $29.57

NUMBER OF ENTRANCES

EXPECTED WAIT TIME - STANDARD

0-30 mins (Peak), 0-30 mins (Off Peak)

EXPECTED WAIT TIME - SKIP THE LINE

0-30 mins (Peak), 0-30 mins (Off Peak)

UNESCO YEAR

1987

Plan your visit

Did you know?

In mythology, Delphi was considered the center or omphalos of the Earth, representing the point where two eagles, sent by Zeus from opposite ends of the world, met. As the myth goes, the wilderness of Delphi was chosen by Apollo as a spot to communicate with mortals. He slayed the evil serpent Python, who guarded Delphi and established a temple and oracle at Delphi.

Along with the sanctuary of Apollo, Delphi also has a sanctuary of Athena, which contains the Tholos of Athena Pronaia. The Tholos is a circular building, characterized by its distinctive architecture with a central circular structure and surrounding columns. One of the most photographed spots in Delphi, its purpose remains unknown to this day.

The ancient Temple of Apollo at Delphi was a center for worship. The temple was destroyed and rebuilt multiple times, with the existing ruins dating back to the 4th century BCE. It was the seat of the Oracle of Delphi or Pythia who channelled the god Apollo. It is said that the most important decisions in the Greek world were made upon consultation with the oracle at the Temple of Apollo.

What to see at the Delphi archaeological site

The Temple of Apollo

The Temple of Apollo was one of the most important and imposing structures at the Delphi archaeological site. It was here that the Oracle of Delphi channeled Apollo’s prophecies. The first temple dates back to the 7th century BCE, and it underwent several reconstructions over the centuries. The iconic ruins, including the remnants of its columns that we see today, are of the final temple, built around 330 BCE.

The Temple of Apollo

Sanctuary of Athena Pronaia

The Sanctuary of Athena Pronaia is a temple precinct located southeast of the main Delphi buildings, on the road leading up to the site. It is called “Pronaia”, which means “the one before”, because you had to cross this temple to get to the Sanctuary of Apollo. Made of marble, its most prominent structure is the Tholos of Athena Pronaia, a circular building surrounded by 20 Doric columns, of which three remain standing today.

Sanctuary of Athena Pronaia

Theater of Delphi

Theater and religion were deeply intertwined in ancient Greece, so it’s no surprise there’s a theater at Delphi. Originally built in the 4th century BCE, the Theatre of Delphi is set into the natural slope of the mountain above the Temple of Apollo. From here, you can see the entire archaeological site below and get an idea of how big the theatre is – it could accommodate up to 5,000 people! It hosted music, drama, and poetry performances during festivals in honor of Apollo as well as during the Pythian games.

Theater of Delphi

Ancient stadium of Delphi

Higher up the mountain, beyond the main archaeological site, lies the ancient stadium of Delphi. Built in the 3rd century BCE, it could accommodate 6,500 to 7,000 spectators. It hosted the famous Pythian games, which took place every 4 years, as well as other Hellenic celebrations. Notable for sheer size and grandeur, it has survived the centuries remarkably intact, especially its starting line, and remains well preserved. The arched entrance leading up to the stadium offers views of the sanctuary and the valley.

Ancient stadium of Delphi

Delphi Archaeological Museum

Established in 1903, the Delphi Archaeological Museum was built to showcase sculptures, votive offerings, friezes, and other treasures recovered from the ancient sanctuary. These artifacts date from Mycenaean Greece (17th to 10th centuries BCE) to the late Byzantine period (14th century AD). They give you a glimpse into how art and architecture were an integral part of religion in ancient Greece. Don’t miss the chryselephantine idols of Artemis and Apollo, and the sculpture of the Charioteer of Delphi.

Delphi Archaeological Museum

The Sacred Way

All pilgrims and processions to the Temple of Apollo had to make their way along a path called the Sacred Way. It is flanked by the remains of treasuries where emissaries could leave offerings to the gods. These monuments were erected by independent Ancient Greek city-states in gratitude for the Oracle’s wisdom, at a time when they competed with each other for resources, land, and political power. As you walk up the Sacred Way, you’ll be treated to gorgeous views of Mount Parnassus and the valley below.

Athenian Treasury

The Athenian Treasury is an old Doric building situated on the Sacred Way at the Delphi archaeological site. It was originally built around 490 BC to celebrate Athens’ victory over the Persians at the Battle of Marathon, for Athenians to store their votive offerings and dedications to Apollo. The Athenians used marble from the island of Paros to build the treasury, whose outside resembles a temple. Its façade is decorated with sculptural friezes depicting scenes from Greek mythology like the labors of Hercules and the heroism of Theseus.

Omphalos

The Omphalos in Delphi is an ancient marble stone monument known as the “navel of the Earth”. It is believed Zeus dropped this stone on Delphi to mark it as the center of the universe. It was revered as a powerful religious symbol in ancient Greece. The stone that you see at the Delphi archaeological site today is a copy; the original Omphalos is housed at the Delphi Archaeological Museum.

Castilian Spring

The Castalian spring is a sacred spring where visitors to Delphi are believed to have washed before going up to the main temple complex. These included travelers, emissaries, pilgrims who came to consult the Oracle, and contestants of the Pythian games. It is said Pythia and the priests of Apollo also cleansed and purified themselves here before making prophecies. The present-day spring is situated in a rocky gorge, towards the east of the sacred site, and contains the remnants of two surviving ancient fountains with spouts shaped like lion heads.

Polygonal Wall

During its second construction in the 6th century BCE, the Temple of Apollo was built on a terrace supported by a long wall of stones. The sides of the interlocking stones are cut and curved in polygonal shapes instead of square or rectangular blocks, giving the wall its name. The 90-meter-long Polygonal Wall, located in front of the Stoa of the Athenians, has multiple Hellenic inscriptions that indicate the release of slaves.

A brief history of Delphi

1700-1400 BCE: Pre-Classical Greeks worshipped the goddess Gaia at Delphi. In Ancient Greek mythology, Gaia was the personification of Earth.
Around 800 BCE: Delphi became a site of religious significance during the Classical era, with the worship of the god Apollo. Pythia, the high priestess of Apollo, was established and served as the Oracle of Delphi, channeling Apollo’s prophecies.
750-700 BCE: Delphi’s reputation spread across Ancient Greece and beyond its borders. It became a Pan-Hellenic sanctuary, where all Greeks could come to worship regardless of their city-state.
650 BCE: The first Temple of Apollo was built at Delphi. It was subsequently destroyed in a fire in 548 BCE.
590-550 BCE: This period saw a wave of intense construction at Delphi, with the ancient stadium and 12 treasuries, including the Siphnian treasury, being built.
586 BCE: The first Pythian games — athletic games like the Ancient Greek Olympic games — were held at the stadium in Delphi.
510 BCE: The second Temple of Apollo was constructed, which was destroyed in an earthquake in 373 BCE.
350 BCE: The Theatre of Delphi was constructed.
330 BCE: The third Temple of Apollo was built. It is the ruins of this temple that we see at Delphi today.
191-83 BCE: After the Romans conquered Greece, Delphi was sacked and came under Roman control. In 86 BCE, Delphi was stripped of its treasures to finance the siege of Athens. In 83 BCE, it was destroyed by the Thracians.
48-122 AD: Delphi experienced a short renaissance under Roman Emperors, like Hadrian. Emperor Nero competed in the Pan-Hellenic games at Delphi in 67 AD.
393 AD: Roman Emperor Theodosius ordered all pagan sanctuaries in Greece to be closed and all pagan games to end. The Oracle of Delphi made its last prophecy.
5th to 14th century AD: With the decline of Pagan worship and the rise of Christianity in Greece, Delphi lost its significance and was neglected and mostly forgotten.
1676 AD: After being briefly rediscovered by an Italian traveler in the 15th century, Delphi was properly rediscovered, this time by George Wheler, a British traveler, and Jacob Spon, a French archaeologist. They visited Delphi on a joint expedition, after which they published their experiences, including illustrations of the ruins.
1892 AD: Modern archaeological excavations began at Delphi by the French Archaeological School of Athens.

Delphi – Greek mythology & ancient history

“Navel of the Earth” & Omphalos

According to Greek mythology, Zeus, the Greek god of thunder and lightning, wanted to find the center of the universe. So, he launched two eagles from two ends of the universe, which flew eastwards and westwards. They crossed each other above Delphi, and Zeus dropped the Omphalos stone to mark the place, earning it the name “the navel of the Earth”.

Why did Apollo choose Delphi?

Greek mythology has it that Apollo, the god of prophecy and more, chose Delphi as the location of his oracle because of its natural beauty. But to claim the sanctuary, he first had to defeat and kill Pytho (or Python), either a huge serpent or a dragon, who guarded it. The name “Pythia”, who served as the oracle, is said to have been derived from Pytho. Apollo’s sanctuary was built by priests from Crete, who were brought here accompanied by Apollo in the form of a dolphin. This is how Delphi is supposed to have gotten its name.

Pythia & the Oracle of Delphi

The ancient Greeks believed gods communicated with mortals through oracles, and the most important of these was the Oracle of Delphi. Pythia, the high priestess of the Temple of Apollo, served as the Oracle of Delphi and delivered Apollo’s messages. The Oracle was consulted on all matters, from affairs of state to when to plant certain crops and when to go to war and against whom.

How the prophecies were delivered

Pilgrims who wanted to seek guidance from the oracle had to purify themselves in the Castalian Spring. Pythia, the high priestess, sat on a three-legged stool in the Temple of Apollo. She inhaled vapors that arose from a chasm in the floor, which sent her into a trance. In this state, she uttered the divine prophecies of Apollo, which were written down and interpreted by a group of priests for the petitioner.

Interpreting the prophecies

The oracle’s prophecies were made in the form of riddles and were often vague, ambiguous, and open to interpretation. For instance, in 560 BCE, King Croesus of Lydia consulted the oracles of Delphi and Thebes, and was told (by both oracles, no less) that if he attacked the Medeans (the Persians), he would destroy a great empire. Believing this to be a prophecy in his favor, he went to war and was defeated, and the Lydian Empire was destroyed.

Who built Delphi?

The earliest structures at the Delphi archaeological site were constructed around 2,500 years ago, and the knowledge of who built them has been lost to time. However, the first Temple of Apollo is said to have been built by Trophonius and Agamedes, architects famous in Greek mythology. The building of the second temple is attributed to the wealthy Alcmaeonidae family, while the third temple, whose ruins are visible today, was built by Spintharus of Corinth, a Greek architect, along with Xenodoros and Agathon.

The Sanctuary of Athena Pronaia was also estimated to have been built by the Alcmaeonidae family. The construction of the Tholos of Delphi is attributed to Greek architect Theodorus Phoceus.

The different treasuries along the Sacred Way were built by the city-states who sponsored them, such as Athens, Siphnos, Thebes, Boeotia, Sicyon, Akanthos, and many more. The Athenians also built the Stoa of the Athenians in the 5th century BCE.

Architecture of Delphi

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Built over many centuries, the Delphi archaeological site features elements of Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian architecture, which differ from each other in the design of their pillars or columns. It reflects the development of Greek architectural styles from the Archaic period (800-480 BCE) through the Classical (5th and 4th century BCE) and Hellenistic (323-30 BCE) periods. The sanctuary was built in such a way that the natural landscape enhanced the spiritual experience of the pilgrims who came to worship here.

From the ruins of the 4th-century BCE building that we see today, the Temple of Apollo was a Doric-style structure with six columns on the facade and 15 along the sides.
The Tholos of Delphi, the circular structure at the Sanctuary of Athena Pronaia, was made of marble and is a splendid example of Classical architecture. It was surrounded by 20 Doric columns, of which three remain standing today, while its interior had Corinthian columns.
The various treasuries resembled small, lavish temples and were richly decorated on the outside with sculptures, friezes, and metopes on their façades. Built in the Archaic or Doric styles, these depicted important events like victory in a battle or scenes from Greek mythology.
The theatre of Delphi is an excellent example of Hellenistic architecture, characterized by its integration into the landscape and use of the mountain slope’s natural geometry.
Many of the structures, such as the stadium and the theater, were repaired or remodeled in the later centuries by the Romans. For instance, the stone seats in the stadium were added later by the Romans to replace the previous ancient Greek ones.

The Delphi archaeological site today

Delphi was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1987. Today, it is one of Greece’s most iconic ancient landmarks and an important archaeological site. Due to the crucial role it played in politics, religion, and everyday life in ancient Greece, its cultural significance has endured over the centuries. Together with the Delphi Archaeological Museum, it draws thousands of visitors from around the world, who come to see its historical ruins and get a sense of the grandeur of ancient Greek architecture.

Frequently asked questions about the Delphi archaeological site

Do I need tickets to visit the Delphi archaeological site?

Yes, you can book Delphi tickets to visit the archaeological site and the museum. We recommend choosing a full-day guided tour of Delphi from Athens to enjoy round-trip transfers and priority access.

What type of attractions can I see at the Delphi archaeological site?

The historical site at Delphi contains the ruins of the Ancient Greek sanctuary of Apollo. Here, you’ll find ruins of ancient temples from the 8th century BCE to the 4th century AD, including the Temple of Apollo, the Sanctuary of Athena Pronaia, an ancient stadium and theater, and various treasuries.

How much time should I allocate for a visit?

It typically takes about 4 to 5 hours to explore the archaeological site and the museum. However, Delphi is located around two and a half hours from Athens, so if you visit it on a day trip, you’d require a full day.

What are the Delphi opening hours?

The Delphi archaeological site and museum are open from 8am to 8pm from April through August. In September and October, the site’s opening hours are reduced by half an hour every two weeks with the shortening daylight hours. From November to March, they are open from 8.30am to 3.30pm. Delphi is closed on January 1, March 25, Easter Sunday, Labour Day (May 1), and December 25 & 26. It might also have reduced working hours on other days during the year.

Are the Delphi archaeological site and museum wheelchair accessible?

The Delphi Archaeological Museum is fully accessible by wheelchair. However, due to the steep and uneven terrain, rocky steps, and uphill path, the archaeological ruins are difficult to explore by wheelchair. A special vehicle is available for visitors with mobility issues to take them to the Temple of Apollo. However, you must inform the authorities at least a week before your visit.