Submitted by Camille Liparini on the 2024 Winter LLCU program in Greece …
At the beginning of our second week in Athens, we visited Delphi and the neighboring town of Arachova. Delphi is the home of the ancient Pythian Games honoring the god Apollo, a temple to the same god, and the Siphnian Treasury. Delphi and Arachova are both very different from Athens, much more remote and located in the mountains. Modern Delphi is a tiny town compared to the massive city and cultural hub of Athens, but the cite of Ancient Delphi gives you a glimpse into its historical significance and relevance alongside Athens. The Oracle of Apollo lived and spoke in Delphi, giving prophecies to travelers visiting the sacred site in hopes of receiving one. Because it was a religious sanctuary, Delphi was a place where anyone in the Ancient Greek world could go and safely interact with people from other communities. For this reason, it has a larger significance to the Ancient Greek world than you would imagine it having from just a glance! (Submitted on January 24, 2024)
