Delphi

Delphi

1. historical background

   • The pan-Hellenic sanctuary
     • the oracle of Apollo spoke, was the site of the omphalos, the 'navel of the world'希腊圣地德尔斐是阿波罗神曾转述神谕的地方
   • Delphi lies between two towering rocks of Mt. Parnassus, known as the Phaidriades (Shining) Rocks, in the Regional unit of Phocis in Central Greece. Here lies the Pan-Hellenic sanctuary of Apollo, the Olympian god of light, knowledge and harmony.
     • rocks of Mt. Parnassus,帕纳塞斯山，希腊中部山脉，滨临科林斯湾。最高点海拔2,457 m
     • Phocis福基斯州是希腊中希腊大区西南部的一个州，南临科林西亚湾。面积2120.564平方公里，2005年人口49,576人。首府阿姆菲萨。 下分12市。
   • Delphi bears a unique testimony to the religion and civilization of ancient Greece. At the legendary site where Apollo slew the serpent Python, celestial cults replaced chthonian cults and introduced the old heritage of myths originating from primitive times. The Delphic oracle, over which four sacred wars were fought, is one of the focal points of Greek political history, while the Theatre and the Stadium, where the Pythian Games took place every four years, were places of community celebrations reflecting triumphant Hellenism.
     • The Delphic 神諭（英语：Oracle）oracle皮媞亚，也译为皮提亚、皮提娅、琵西雅，古希腊的阿波罗神女祭司，服务于帕纳塞斯山上的德尔斐神庙。她以传达阿波罗神的神谕而闻名，被认为能够预见到未来。 德尔斐神庙开始自公元前八世纪，在古希腊世界是极为重要的信仰中心。
     • The Sacred Wars can refer to several wars over control of Delphi: First Sacred War (595 BC - 585 BC), between the Amphictyonic League of Delphi and the city of Kirrha Second Sacred War (449 BC - 448 BC), an indirect confrontation between Athens and Sparta Third Sacred War (356 BC - 346 BC), between the forces of Thebes and Phocis for control of Delphi The Fourth Sacred War or Amphissean War (339-339 BC) was the final step in Philip II of Macedon's rise to a position of dominance in Greece, and ended with the defeat of the joint Athenian and Theban army at the battle of Chaeronea.
     • Pythian Games是古希腊四大泛希腊运动会之一。他们每四年在德尔斐的庇护所举行纪念阿波罗的仪式。他们是在每届奥运会后两年，以及每场Nemean和Isthmian Games之间举行的。 Pythian Games成立于公元前6世纪，并以艺术和舞蹈比赛为特色。
     • 希臘化時代（英语：Hellenistic period）在亞歷山大征服波斯帝國之後不久開始。通常起始點視為亞歷山大大帝於公元前323年逝世開始，並結束於羅馬共和國在前146年征服希臘本土，或前30年最後的繼業者王國——托勒密王國滅亡為止[1]。這段時期，19世紀後西方史學界認為古希臘文明主宰整個地中海東部沿岸的文明，所以稱此地這段時期為希臘化時代。希臘化時代被認為是希臘古典時代和羅馬文化間的過渡時期，與希臘古典時代相比，被認為文化上呈現下降或衰退的趨勢[1]。希臘化時期的特點是新的一波的希臘殖民活動，並主要以埃及和西亞的各希臘化王國內建立殖民城市為主[2]。
   • According to mythology, it is here that the two eagles sent out by Zeus from the ends of the universe to find the navel of the world met. The sanctuary of Delphi, set within a most spectacular landscape, was for many centuries the cultural and religious centre and symbol of unity for the Hellenic world.

2. architecture

   • Description
     • The archaeological site of Delphi includes two sanctuaries, dedicated to Apollo and Athena, and other buildings, mostly intended for sports.
     • Visitors arriving from Athens first encountered the sanctuary of Athena Pronaia - that is, Athena who is before the temple of Apollo.
     • Outside its walls spread the settlement of Delphi. Within the walls were the famous Tholos, the symbol of Delphi today, and the remains of three temples dedicated to the goddess.
     • The two earlier temples were built of tufa on the same location.
       • Tufa石灰华，又称“钙华”，是碳酸钙含量较多的河流、湖泊或泉水所形成的碳酸钙沉积物。
       • These date to the middle of the seventh century and to c. 500 BC.
     • The third temple, made of limestone, was built at the west end of the sanctuary after the earthquake of 373 BC.
     • This sanctuary also includes the altars of Zeus Polieus, Athena Ergane, Athena Zosteria, Eileithyia and Hygeia, the remains of two buildings dedicated to the cult of the local heroes Phylakos and Autonos, who routed the Persians from Delphi, and two treasuries with marble roofs, one Doric and the other Aeolian.
       • 艾莉西亞[1]（古希腊语：Εἰλείθυια , Eileithyia)希腊神话中的助产女神。
       • 许癸厄亚（Hygieia，古希腊语：Ὑγιεία）希腊神话中的健康女神。
     • The Aeolian Treasury of Massalia preserves a characteristic palm-leaf capital. Finally, the sanctuary included a memorial to the routing of the Persians, a statue of Emperor Hadrian, and a building known as the "house of the priests".
     • To the northwest of the sanctuary of Athena Pronaia lay the gymnasium, a place for exercise and learning, the palaestra and the baths. Further up the slope was the Castalian spring, the sacred spring of Delphi, were travellers quenched their thirst after a long voyage and purified themselves before consulting the oracle.
     • The central, most important part of the site was the sanctuary of Apollo, which was surrounded by the usual peribolos, or enclosure wall, with a main gate at its southeast corner. From here visitors entered the Sacred Way, the street that led to the temple of Apollo with its famous adyton, where Pythia delivered her oracles. With the temple and the Sacred Way as its centre, the sanctuary grew larger, spreading over artificial terraces supported by monumental walls, bordered by porticoes (of Attalus, of the Aetolians, of the Athenians) and accessed through corresponding gates in the enclosure wall.
       • 在古希腊和罗马建筑中，peribolos是一个被围墙包围的宫殿，特别是围绕神圣区域的寺庙，如寺庙，神殿或祭坛。 Peribolos墙有时由石柱和由多孔门槛支撑的板组成。 着名的例子包括： 宙斯圣所中的peribolos墙和门，位于希腊奥林匹亚宙斯神庙的北面; 围绕雅典集市北端的十二神祭坛的peribolos;
     • Scattered among these buildings and along the Sacred Way were numerous votive monuments dedicated by Greek cities or wealthy individuals on the occasion of socio-political events, or simply to express gratitude to the god and his oracle. These monuments are representative of artistic achievement from the East to the coasts of the Mediterranean and indicate the wealth of their patrons. They vary from bronze and silver tripods (one of the oracle's symbols) to complex groups of sculptures in bronze or marble.
     • The luxurious and impressive, however small, votive buildings known as treasuries were used for storing smaller votive offerings, but above all for displaying the art and splendour of the city which commissioned them. The imposing temple of Apollo dominated the sanctuary from atop a large terrace supported by a remarkable polygonal wall. In front of its entrance visitors could admire a series of impressive votive monuments dedicated mostly by wealthy individuals. Above the temple is the theatre where the theatrical and musical contests of the Pythian Games took place, while even higher up the slope, beyond the sacred enclosure, lies the stadium where the athletic contests were held.
     • Outside and around the two sanctuaries are the remains of the settlement and cemeteries of Delphi, which developed mainly in the Classical and Roman period.
   • background
     • The magnificent monumental complex is a human-made environment in perfect harmony with the rare natural environment, the principal features of which gave rise to the organisation of the cults. This harmonious relationship, which has remained undisturbed from ancient times to the present day, makes Delphi a unique monument and a priceless legacy bequeathed by the ancient Greek world to following generations.
     • The layout of Delphi is a unique artistic achievement. Mt. Parnassus is a veritable masterpiece and is where a series of monuments were built whose modular elements – terraces, temples, treasuries, etc. – combine to form a strong expression of the physical and moral values of a site which may be described as magical.
     • The Sanctuary at Delphi, the object of great generosity and the crossroads of a wide variety of influences, was in turn imitated throughout the ancient world. Its influence extended as far as Bactria, following the conquest of Asia by Alexander the Great. Even pillaging of the Sanctuary by the emperor Nero and by Constantine the Great, who transported spoils from it to Rome and Constantinople, added to the artistic influence of Delphi.
     • Delphi, situated in a magnificent natural setting which is still intact, is an outstanding architectural ensemble and an example of a great Pan-Hellenic sanctuary.
     • According to the ancients, the Temple of Apollo was where the Omphalos was located, that is, the navel of the universe, the centre of the earth. Delphi is consequently directly and tangibly associated with a belief of manifest universal significance.
     • The monuments of the site meet the criteria of authenticity, since they have undergone mild interventions with absolute respect to material, form and design. These consist of relocating ancient architectural material in its original place or of restoring the monuments by using mainly authentic material, in order to obtain their original plan. Furthermore, ancient building material was used for the restoration of certain monuments and offerings of the site. The site still preserves the authenticity of the landscape. Modern visitors arriving along the Holy Road from the Roman Market up to the Stadium can perceive the same feeling as the person who visited the area in the antiquity.
     • At the foot of Mount Parnassos, within the angle formed by the twin rocks of the Phaedriades, lies the Pan-Hellenic sanctuary of Delphi, which had the most famous oracle of ancient Greece. Delphi was regarded as the centre of the world.

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