Delphi (Greek Δελφοί, [ðe̞lˈfi]) (pronounce and dialectal forms) is both an archaeological site and a modern town in Greece on the south-western spur of Mount Parnassus in the valley of Phocis. Delphi was the site of the Delphic oracle, the most important oracle in the classical Greek world, and a major site for the worship of the god Apollo after he slew the Pytho, a deity who lived there and protected the navel of the Earth. Pytho (derived from...
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Delphi (Greek Δελφοί, [ðe̞lˈfi]) (pronounce and dialectal forms) is both an archaeological site and a modern town in Greece on the south-western spur of Mount Parnassus in the valley of Phocis. Delphi was the site of the Delphic oracle, the most important oracle in the classical Greek world, and a major site for the worship of the god Apollo after he slew the Pytho, a deity who lived there and protected the navel of the Earth. Pytho (derived from the verb pythein, "to rot") is claimed by some to be the original name of the site in recognition of the Pytho that Apollo defeated (Miller, 95). The Homeric Hymn to Delphic Apollo recalled that the ancient name of this site had been Krisa. His sacred precinct in Delphi was a panhellenic sanctuary, where every four years, starting in 586 B.C. (Miller, 96) athletes from all over the Greek world competed in the Pythian Games, one of the four panhellenic (or stephanitic) games, precursors of the Modern Olympics. The victors at Delphi were...
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