Temple of Apollo

Delphi was considered the center of the earth by many ancient Greeks. Myths tell of a pair of eagles, set free to fly in opposite directions of the world, that eventually met back together again in Delphi. According to other legends, in the beginning of time Gaia, or Mother Earth, was the cardinal prophetess who lived at Delphi with her son, Python, who was a snake. All was changed when Apollo came to Delphi and killed Python so that he could rule over Gaia. Appropriately, this was the location for the Pythian Games. The Pythian Games were held every three years in honor of Apollo; he was portrayed with a crown of laurels and a lyre or a bow (Guerber 1893, 91). Delphi holds one of the most important sanctuaries of the ancient Greek world, the Temple of Apollo.

Temples and sanctuaries were dedicated more frequently to specific gods and goddesses, especially Apollo, during the sixth century BCE to help rebuild a new community after fire devasted the area. According to Herodotus, the Athenian family of the Alkmaeonids donated vast amounts toward the reconstruction of the temples (Pedley 2005, 138). It is said that the first oldest dedicatory temple for Apollo was built as a hut from laurel wood, the second was built out of birds' feathers and beeswax, the third of bronze or some sort of metal, and the final fourth temple was built from stone. Excavators have found remnants of limestone and terra cotta that had covered earlier roofs (Paulsen 1973, 143). Many other objects, including votive offerings, thrones, monuments, and sculptures were offered to Apollo frequently because of his great stature (Paulsen 1973, 47).

Apollo is also known by many names: Sol, Helios, Cynthius, Pytheus, or Phoebus; god of the sun, fine arts, poetry, music, and medicine (Guerber 1893, 61). The name Pytheus refers to the slaying of Gaia's son, Python to gain control over Delphi, along with Apollo's priests that he chose on his journeys through central Greece and Crete (1893, 65 and Morgan 1990, 145). Apollo is the son of Jupiter, god of the sky, and Leto, representing the dark night, and was born on the island of Delos (Guerber 1893, 386).

Apollo was a salient component in the depiction of Delphi's wealth and overall political appeal to the rest of Greece and its surrounding states. This protracted relationship is confirmed by the excavated bronze cult votives and other possessions dedicated to Apollo from the middle of the eighth century (Morgan 1990, 147).