The ancient Greeks believed that Delphi was the center of the world. Over the ruins of the ancient city, the UP DRONES team flew their drone, capturing images that will amaze you.
Nestled in a lush green landscape with pine-covered slopes on the southern foothills of Mount Parnassus, Delphi is home to one of the most important religious centers of antiquity. It has been attracting visitors from all over the world ever since its establishment.
Delphi is famously known as the "navel of the earth." According to mythology, when Zeus released two eagles, one from the east and the other from the west, to determine the center of the world, they met at Delphi. This is why the place became identified with the term "navel of the earth."
Additionally, according to tradition, the sanctuary originally belonged to Gaia, who lived there with her son Python. However, the god Apollo, transformed into a dolphin, arrived at the port of Delphi, killed Python, and established his own sanctuary, the Temple of Apollo. This myth of Apollo's dominance survived through festive representations in local celebrations like the Septiria, Delfinia, Thargelia, Theophania, and Pythia.
The city was first mentioned in Homer's time as Pytho. At the beginning of the historical era, it was one of the cities of ancient Phocis, but gradually, its role grew stronger, and it developed into a pan-Hellenic center and a sacred city for the ancient Greeks. It also became the center of the Delphic Amphictyony, a federation of twelve tribes from Central Greece and Thessaly, originally a religious union that later gained political importance. Initially, the Amphictyony's center was in Anthilê of Malis, but from the mid-7th century BC, it moved to Delphi.
Delphi maintained its significance until the end of the 4th century AD, when the oracle's function was officially ended by a decree from Emperor Theodosius I. In the following centuries, the city declined and was permanently abandoned during the Slavic invasions.
The ruins of Delphi were brought to light through systematic excavations by the French School of Archaeology, which began in 1893 after the ratification of an intergovernmental ten-year agreement.
After the expropriation and removal of Kastri, the village that had been built on the sacred site since the Middle Ages, and the large accumulations of earth that had gathered due to landslides, the remains of the monuments adorning the two temples of Apollo and Athena Pronaia were revealed.
Over five thousand inscriptions of all kinds, statues, various works of craftsmanship, and pieces of architectural decorations were discovered, representing the great artistic centers of antiquity. In addition to the temple, the Stadium, the Gymnasium, the settlement of Delphi, and the necropolises were also uncovered.
Delphi: The "Navel of the Earth" from Above.
Source: dinfo
