| By Carlos Parada, author of Genealogical Guide to Greek Mythology |
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| Delphi |
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| The Omphalos, symbol signifying that Delphi is the centre of the world: "...where Phoebus has at earth's navel his prophetic seat..." [Hermes. Euripides, Ion 5] |
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| Relevant links: Map of Greece Apollo Themis |
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| These are the three maxims which the so called "Seven Sages", with laconic brevity, engraved upon a column at Delphi: "Know yourself" Some have believed that by this maxim they exhorted men and women to become educated and to acquire prudence. For, they say, those who are ignorant and thoughtless, use to think themselves to be very clever. And this disgraceful feature has been considered to be the worst of all kinds of ignorance, also because such people consider wicked men to be good and believe the honest to be of no account. It has also been remarked that some fail to follow this maxim by believing they own greater wealth than they do, or by believing they possess better physical qualities than it is the case, or by erring about the qualities of the soul, thinking themselves to be wiser than they are. Others have said that to know oneself is to exploit the gifts one has got, and that only the man with self-knowledge will be able to love wisely. They have added that if nature has made him handsome, he should flash his best profile, that the good singer should sing and the good drinker drink. This they considered to be Apollo's counsel. "Nothing in excess." Of this maxim it has been said that the Seven Sages wished mankind to observe due measure and proportion in all matters and not to make irrevocable decisions about any human affairs. "A pledge, and ruin is near." The Seven Sages are believed to declare with this maxim that ruin is near to such pledges as those made in relation to contracts and all other agreements in which money is involved. And Euripides is recorded to have said likewise: "No pledge I give, observing well the loss Which those incur who of the pledge are fond."[Diodorus Siculus 9.10.4] And yet it has been found pertinent to observe that by this maxim they do not mean to abstain from aiding a friend who needs help, but that they advise against strong decisions, against eagerness in giving pledges, and against decisions beyond recall. It has also been remarked that whereas the treasures of Delphi have vanished, these maxims have been kept alive and, being the fairest Pythian treasure, survive stored up in the souls of men for all time. |
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| Tourists visiting the temple of Apollo at Delphi in AD 1983 |
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Delphi is a city of Phocis in mainland Greece, which lies in the vale of the river Pleistus and is shut on one side by Mount Parnassus. The city became particularly famous because the oracle ofApollo was located in it.  Location of Delphi in Phocis, mainland Greece Pytho The celebrated city of Delphi, which on account of its oracle, received countless visits during many years, was originally called Pytho and was still called so at the time of theTrojan War, when it was held by Epistrophus 1 and Schedius 1, sons of Iphitus 2, son of Naubolus 1 or of Hippasus 3. Naubolus 1, who sometimes is called son of Hippasus 3, is otherwise called son of Ornytus 1. Some have said that the name Pytho comes from Pythes, son of Delphus, but others say that the city was called after Python, the dragon offspring of Gaia, who guardedThemis' Oracle at Delphi [more about this dragon atLeto]. Phocis and Parnassus Phocis was called after Phocus 4, son of Ornytion, son ofSisyphus. Later Phocus 3, son of Aeacus & Psamathe 1 and his sons settled in the land about Mount Parnassus. This mountain, they say, was called after Parnassus, son of Cleopompus & Cleodora 1, a Nymph, or, as others say, son ofPoseidon & Cleodora 1. Parnassus, who invented the art of foretelling the future from the flight of birds, is said to have founded the first city of Delphi, which was destroyed during the Flood of Deucalion 1. Lycorus. Those who were able to escape theFlood followed the howls of wolves and came to the top of Mount Parnassus. And because they were saved by these beasts they called the new city Lycoreia, founding it above Delphi. But others say that the city was named after Lycorus, son ofApollo & Corycia, a Nymph after whom the Corycian cave was named. Delphus. Lycorus, they say, had a son Hyamus, who had a daughter Celaeno 3, who had byApollo a son Delphus after whom the city received its definitive name. But others have said that Delphus was son ofApollo & Thyia 1, a priestess of Dionysus 2 and the first to celebrate orgies in his honour. She was daughter of Castalius, anautochthon from Phocis. Still others say that Delphus was son ofApollo & Melaena, daughter of the river god Cephisus. Her mother was probably Liriope, who is also called mother ofNarcissus. First priests. It is said that after killing Python, a plague for all men, Apollo established his oracle in the vicinity. He then appointed Cretan sailors as the sanctuary's first priests. For having seen a Cretan ship sailing from Cnossos in Crete toPylos in the Peloponnesus, he turned himself into a dolphin and brought the ship into the Crisaean Gulf, which is in the Phocian section of the northern coast of the Gulf of Corinth. So from Crisa, the Cretan sailors conducted byApollo came to Parnassus, and having become priests ofApollo, they called the city Delphi, for the god, having appeared to them in the shape of a dolphin, told them: "I sprang upon the ship in the form of a dolphin, pray to me asApollo Delphinius; also the altar itself shall be called Delphinius..." [Apollo to the Cretan sailors. Homeric Hymn to Pythian Apollo 495] The oracle. Concerning the oracle says a Pythian priestess of Delphi that the first to have prophetic powers was Gaia, who appointed Daphnis 4, a Mountain Nymph (Oread), as prophetess. After her came Themis, and then the Titaness Phoebe 1, who gave her seat at Delphi to PhoebusApollo, called after her. But others say that Gaia and Poseidon had the oracle in common and that it wasThemis who gave the oracle to Apollo as a gift, and that Poseidon was compensated receiving Calaureia, that lies offTroezen, in exchange for the oracle. First prophetess. Phemonoe, they say, was the first prophetess ofApollo at Delphi, but the Delphian poetess Boeo says that the Hyperboreans Pagasus 1, Olen and Agyieus established the oracle of Apollo at Delphi and that Olen was Apollo's first prophet. First temple. The most ancient temple was made of laurel, the branches of which were brought from the laurel in Tempe (a Thessalian valley through which the river Peneus flows from the foot of Mount Pindus) whereApollo was once purified. Second temple. According to the Delphians the second temple was made by bees from bees-wax and feathers, though others say that it was built by Pteras, who is known for this. Third temple. The third temple was made of bronze and some say that it was destroyed through falling into a chasm in the earth, but others have said that it was melted by fire. Fourth temple. The temple was then rebuilt a fourth time by Agamedes 1 and Trophonius, sons of King Erginus 1 of the Minyans by a young wife. Erginus 1, who was afterwards killed byHeracles 1, was son of Clymenus 2, son of Presbon, son of Phrixus 1 & Chalciope 2, daughter of KingAeetes of Colchis and the Oceanid Idyia. Phrixus 1 is son ofAthamas 1 & Nephele 2. Clever architects. Trophonius, who some say was son ofApollo and not of Erginus 1, and Agamedes 1, being considered talented architects, built both sanctuaries and palaces, as the temple in Delphi and the palace of wealthy Hyrieus, son ofPoseidon & Alcyone 1, one of the PLEIADES. These two talented architects built Hyrieus treasury in such a way that they were able, by removing one of the stones from the outside, to drain Hyrieus' riches. The wealthy man was dumbfounded, for although all keys and seals were untampered the treasure kept shrinking. So he put traps to arrest anyone who should enter, and that is how Agamedes 1 was kept fast. But Trophonius, fearing that his brother should be tortured when day came and confess everything, cut off his head. Trophonius himself was later swallowed up by the earth. Musical contests. Musical and poetical contests were held at Delphi among singers and composers, and prizes were offered to the best hymn to the god. A crown of laurel was the prize for a Pythian victory on account of the love ofApollo forDaphne 1, who turned into a laurel tree, a branch of which the god made into a wreath for himself. First winner. The first contest, they say was won by Chrysothemis 3, son of Carmanor, the man who purified Apollo after he had killed the dragon Python, and the same who received Apollo in his house when the god consorted with Acalle (Acacallis), the daughter ofMinos 2. Second winner. The second contest was won by Philammon, who was famous for his song and zither. Philammon was son of Apollo by either Chione 2, Leuconoe 3 or Philonis, though others have called him son ofHephaestus. Chione 2 and Philonis are daughters of Daedalion [seeCeyx]. Leuconoe 3 is daughter of Eosphorus, who is Lucifer, that is the morning an evening star, or with other words, the planet Venus. Eosphorus is son ofEos (Dawn). Philammon was killed by an armed force of Phlegyans that marched against the sanctuary at Delphi. Third winner loses all. The third contest was won by Thamyris 1, son of Philammon and the Nymph Argiope 3. This Thamyris 1 is the same that lovedHyacinthus 1, being the first man to fall in love with males. He is also known for having engaged in a musical contest with the MUSES, and, when he lost, they took both his eyes and minstrelsy in accordance with what they had agreed before the contest. In addition he is still being punished in the Underworld for having opposed these goddesses. Another winner. Also Eleuther 1, son ofApollo & Aethusa (daughter of Poseidon and the Pleiad Alcyone 1), is said to have won a Pythian victory for his loud and sweet voice. Eleuther 1 was father of Iasius 3, father of Chaeresilaus, father of Poemander, the founder of Tanagra in Boeotia. The seat of the oracle. The seat of the oracle has been described as a cave hollowed out deep down in the earth with a narrow mouth, from which arose breath that inspired a divine frenzy. Over the mouth a high tripod was placed, and when the Pythian priestess mounted it she received the breath and uttered oracles, in both prose and verse. The oracle at Delphi was believed to be the most truthful, also because it was placed in the geographical centre of Greece or, as some claimed, in the centre of the inhabited world. For this reason Delphi came to be considered as the navel of the earth and many riches and spoils of war were deposited in treasure-houses there. So, for example, when theEPIGONI tookThebes they sent a part of the booty to Delphi and with it the daughter of the seer Tiresias, who was a seeress herself, for they had sworn that, if they took the city, they would dedicate to Delphi the fairest of the spoils.  Remains of the treasury of the Athenians at Delphi (AD 1983) Goats discover oracular site. The oracular shrine, they say, was accidentally discovered by goats, and that is why goats were regularly used as victims when consulting the oracle. What came to be the forbidden sanctuary was originally a chasm, and it is told that when goats once came to that place and peered into the chasm they started leaping about in an unusual fashion, emitting sounds completely different from what goats normally emit. Goatherd possessed. So when the herdsman approached the chasm to investigate the reason behind the strange phenomenon, he became as possessed as his goats, or even more, for he began to foretell future events. All become prophets. Now, when everybody in the vicinity learned what was happening, they started coming in larger numbers visiting the chasm and testing its miraculous effects. Many then became inspired and so the chasm was regarded as a marvel and as the prophecy-giving shrine ofGaia herself. In this way, and in a completely free manner all who wished to obtain a prophecy approached the chasm and made their prophetic replies to one another. Public danger. However, an increasing number of people, not being able to control their frenzy, started to leap down into the chasm disappearing for ever. So to eliminate this public risk the people of the region decided to appoint one single prophetess for all and to have the oracles told by her. And a contrivance with three supports (hence called a tripod) was devised so that the prophetess could safely mount it, and having become inspired, give prophecies to those who so desired or needed them. Elderly woman takes over. In ancient times virgins delivered the oracles because virgins, having their natural innocence intact were supposed to guard the secrecy of the oracles. But in historical times, as sexual violence was offered against a prophetess, the Delphians appointed an elderly woman to prophesy. Examples of violence at Delphi. Regular violence was also witnessed by the Oracle of Delphi which itself was plotted against many times. The AtridesAgamemnon andMenelaus, seized their uncle Thyestes 1 at Delphi, when they had come to inquire about him, and Thyestes 1, by chance, had come at the same time to consult about taking vengeance on his brotherAtreus. Later in this same city Orestes 2 killed Neoptolemus,Achilles' son, as he was sacrificing to the god.Heracles 1 was so disappointed when the Pythian priestess did not answer him by oracles, that he, after plundering the temple, carried off the tripod to institute his own oracle. Heracles 1 was however resisted byApollo himself untilZeus parted them throwing a thunderbolt. |
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| Examples of visits to Delphi |
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Consultants & Visitors Since the times ofDeucalion 1, who survived the Flood and, after coming to Mount Parnassus, received instructions from Themis as to how to populate the desolate earth, the Oracle at Delphi received many inquiries, answering in both prose and verse, and even though the oracles were spoken in a clear way by the Pythia, not always were they properly understood.  The Rock of the Sibyl at Delphi. Behind are the remains of the Temple of Apollo Manto 1 Manto 1, the daughter ofTiresias who was sent to Delphi by theEPIGONI, was commanded by the Oracle to marry whomsoever she might meet, and the man she met was Rhacius. EPIG.3 Aegeus 1  Aegeus 1 consulted the Oracle as to how he might have children, and he received the answer: "The bulging mouth of the wineskin, O best of men, Loose not until thou hast reached the height ofAthens." [Apollodorus 3.15.6] Apd.3.15.6 Erginus 1 King Erginus 1 of the Mynians, who was later killed by Heracles 1, inquired the Oracle about children, and having received the answer "Erginus, son of Clymenus Presboniades, Late thou camest seeking offspring, but even now To the old plough-tree put a new tip." [Pausanias 9.37.4] ... he took a young wife. Pau.9.37.4 Cadmus Cadmus foundedThebes, following instructions from the oracle, when he came to inquire about his sisterEuropa. The oracle told him no to worry about his sister and instead, letting himself be guided by a cow, found a city in the place where the animal should stop to rest. Some say that Cadmus then bought an ox which had a moon-shaped mark on its side, as the oracle had predicted, and driving it before him, he foundedThebes, where the ox lay down to rest. Apd.3.4.1, Hyg.Fab.178, Pau.9.12.2. Athamas 1 King Athamas 1 sent a servant to Delphi to inquire as how his kingdom might be delivered from the dearth, but the servant was bribed and brought back a false reply. Athamas 1, who having suffered two plots, had lost all his children, was banished from Boeotia. Not knowing where to live he inquired the oracle, receiving the answer that he should dwell in whatever place he should be entertained by wild beasts. Apd.1.9.2. Oedipus  and Laius 1 Oedipus killed his father Laius 1 in the road to Delphi; the former came to inquire about his parents and the latter about prodigies that revealed that death at his son's hands was near. Prior to that, an oracle had declared that if Laius 1 had a son by Jocasta he would meet his death at his son's hands. This is the reason whyOedipus was exposed. Eur.Phoe.17; Hyg.Fab.66; Pau.9.5.10; Pin.Oly.2.40; Soph.OT.714. Orestes 2  It was the oracle at Delphi which gaveOrestes 2 leave to kill his mother and her lover, and later, when he was pursued by the ERINYES, the oracle advised him to sail to Tauris in order to get rid of his mental disorder. At his return from Tauris, Orestes 2 met at Delphi her sisterElectra 2, who had come to inquire about the fate of her brother. After his death the oracle helped the Lacedaemonians to find the place where the bones of this sameOrestes 2 were buried. Heracles 1  Alcides inquired at Delphi where he should dwell, and he was called for the first timeHeracles 1 by the Pythian priestess who told him to dwell inTiryns servingEurystheus. On a later occasion, after having killed his wife and children, Heracles 1 was told by the oracle that the cure for his violent mental disease was for him to be sold as a slave, and it was then that he was bought by Omphale, Queen of Lydia in Asia Minor. HERACLIDES Also theHERACLIDES consulted the oracle, not understanding the answers until three generations had passed. Robe & Necklace of Harmonia 1 The famous Robe & Necklace of Harmonia 1 were dedicated at Delphi by the sons of Phegeus 1, or as others say, by the sons of Alcmaeon 1 [see Robe & Necklace of Harmonia 1]. Podalirius After the Trojan War, Podalirius, son ofAsclepius, settled in the Carian Chersonese, following the instructions he received at Delphi. Inachus Inachus' daughter Io told her father that she had dreams by night, in which visions told her to leave her maidenhood behind her and yield to Zeus, who loved her. Inachus then consulted the Oracle, and the god speaking through it commanded him to banish his daughter from home and land to roam over the whole world, adding that if he disobeyed a thunderbolt from Zeus would destroy his race. Aes.Pro.655ff. Aepytus 3 Aepytus 3, son of Elatus 2, son of Arcas 1, son of Zeus &Callisto, consulted the Oracle concerning the pregnancy of his adoptive daughter Evadne 3, to whom Pitana gave birth after having consorted withPoseidon. There he learned that Evadne 3's child wasApollo's, and when he came back the child Iamus had already seen the light. Iamus, who had been left on the ground by his distressed mother, was nurtured by two serpents who gave him honey. From Iamus are descended the diviners called Iamides. Pau.6.2.5, Pin.Oly.6.28ff. Pelias 1 King Pelias 1 of Iolcus was told by the Oracle to beware of a man wearing one sandal. That man proved to be Jason, whom Pelias 1 sent to fetch the Golden Fleece, according to yet another oracle, which he said he had received and that urged him to make ready a ship for that purpose, and for the purpose of bringing the soul of Phrixus 1, son ofAthamas 1 home. Apd.1.9.16, Hyg.Fab.12, Pin.Pyth.4.75, 4.164. Tlepolemus 1 Tlepolemus 1, son ofHeracles 1 & Astyoche 2, was beating a servant when Licymnius, bastard son of Electryon 1, son ofPerseus 1 ran in between. Licymnius died and Tlepolemus 1 consulted the oracle, which told him to leaveArgos and settle inRhodes. Tlepolemus 1 became leader of the Rhodians againstTroy [see alsoACHAEAN LEADERS]. Apd.2.8.2, Dio.4.58.7, 5.59.5, Pin.Oly.7.32. Acrisius King Acrisius of Argos inquired of the oracle how he should get male children, and the answer was that his daughterDanae would give birth to a son who would kill him. That is whyDanae was kept isolated, but she nevertheless became pregnant and gave birth to Perseus 1, who did kill Acrisius. Apd.2.4.1, Hyg.Fab.63. Telephus Also Telephus, son of Heracles 1 & Auge 2, daughter of Aleus, son of Aphidas 1, son of Arcas 1, son of Zeus &Callisto, consulted the oracle concerning his parents, for he had been exposed as a child, and on the information received at Delphi he went to Mysia in Asia Minor and was adopted by King Teuthras 1, or as others say, by Corythus 3. Telephus was wounded by Achilles. As the wound would not healTelephus asked the oracle, which replied that the wound would be cured when the one who wounded him should turn physician. That is why Telephus, in a beggar's attire, sailed toArgos, whereAchilles was staying, begging to be healed by him and offering to show the Achaeans the course to steer forTroy, as a reward. AndAchilles healed him by scraping off the rust of his spear. Apd.Ep.3.20; Hyg.Fab.101. Thyestes 1 In the course of the conflict betweenAtreus and his brother Thyestes 1, the latter consulted the Oracle about taking vengeance on his brother, which answered that he would be able to retaliate if he had intercourse with his own daughter. Apd.Ep.2.14; Hyg.Fab.87. Alcmaeon 1 and theEPIGONI When ten years after the expedition of theSEVEN, theEPIGONI marched againstThebes, they consulted the Oracle, which predicted victory if they fought under the leadership of Alcmaeon 1. This man, once he was chosen, consulted the Oracle himself regarding the campaign and the punishment of his mother, hateful Eriphyle. And the Oracle answered that he should make the expedition againstThebes, and also punish his mother, who was notorious for the bribes she had received [see Robe & Necklace of Harmonia 1]. On account of those bribes Alcmaeon 1 killed his mother, but as this is a terrible kind of deed, he was followed by herERINYES, which means that he went mad; for that is the effect of these avenging spirits. He then consulted the Oracle once more and was instructed to settle in a land that did not exist at the time of the murder. That is why Alcmaeon 1, having discovered the alluvial deposit of the river Achelous, settled there. Apd.3.7.2-5; Dio.4.66.3; Pau.8.24.8. |
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| Sources Abbreviations Apd.1.4.1, 1.9.1, 2.4.12, 2.6.2, 3.4.1, 3.5.7, 3.7.4, 3.7.5, 3.7.6, 3.9.1; Apd.Ep.6.14, 6.16, 6.24; Cal.Del.177; Hyg.Fab.2, 67, 120, 122, 123, 178, 190; Lib.Met.8; Nonn.4.290, 5.5; Ov.Met.2.677, 9.332, 10.168, 11.304, 11.414. |
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| This page belongs to theGreek Mythology Link, created and maintained by Carlos Parada since September 18, 1997. Except stated otherwise all material in this site iscopyright © Carlos Parada. E-mail:maicar@swipnet.se |
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