Situated 2.5 km southeast of the town of Amfissa, the village of Delphi serves as a gateway to its proximate, historically significant archaeological site. With a population of 1,499, the village offers travelers a starting point from which to embark on a comprehensive exploration of the ancient ruins, a venture that necessitates at least a full day.
The Delphi archaeological site is uniquely situated in an amphitheater-like setting, punctuated by a hypsometric difference of 200 meters (656 feet). The site is framed by towering vertical rock formations known as the 'Fedriades Stones'. Among its array of ruins, one will encounter remnants of the Temple of Apollo, the vestiges of the 'Sacred Way,' and the remains of treasuries that once belonged to various city-states. Notably well-preserved is the Athenian Treasury. The site also encompasses the Castalian Spring, the crumbling edifice of a Gymnasium, and ruins of the Temple of Athena Pronaia, a sanctuary of paramount significance to Delphi.
Housed within its vicinity is the Museum of Delphi, featuring 13 rooms replete with an assortment of artistic contributions ranging from ceramics and figurines to sculptures, bronze weapons, tools, and inscriptions, covering a chronological span from the Prehistoric era to Roman times.
The site was held in the highest esteem by ancient civilizations, considered the "navel of the world" and the most sacred of places. The importance of Delphi was first recognized through excavations initiated by the French Archaeological Faculty in 1860. These digs revealed that the area had been inhabited since as early as 1400 B.C., linking the site's history inextricably with that of Apollo's sanctuary and oracle.
Initially, Delphi was governed by the Phocians of Crissa. In a pivotal moment in 590 B.C., with the collaboration of multiple Greek city-states, Delphi waged what became known as the First Sacred War against Crissa, culminating in the latter's destruction. From that point onward, Delphi emerged as a central locus for the Amphictyonic League and the broader Greek city-states. It became host to the Pythian Games, initiated in 582 B.C. and held quadrennially. Throughout its long history, Delphi faced multiple instances of devastation—at the hands of the Persians in 480 B.C., the Phocians in 355 B.C., and the Gauls in 279 B.C. Subsequent Roman intrusions led to plundering, most notably by General Sulla in 86 B.C., followed by a succession of Roman emperors, including Nero, who expropriated 500 ornately sculpted statues for Rome.
During the early 2nd century AD, a resurgence of interest in the sanctuary occurred under the reign of the philhellenic Emperor Hadrian, who engaged in various building projects. Yet, the closure of the Oracle of Delphi was precipitated by the decree of Byzantine Emperor Theodosius in AD 392, effectively outlawing the ancient religion and forbidding the adoration of statues, along with the celebration of the Pythian Games.
