Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
ture comprised 20 columns on a three-stepped podium; three of its columns were re-erec-
ted in the 1940s. The white portions of each column are the original marble; the darker
portions are new material. To its west, the foundations of the Temple of Athena Pronea
are all that remain of a rectangular structure that was heavily damaged by the same rock-
slides and earthquake that levelled much of the
tholos
.
Delphi Museum
MUSEUM
( 22650 82312;
www.culture.gr
;
adult site or museum €6, combined adult/student €9/5;
9am-4pm summer, 8am-2.45pm winter)
From around the 8th century BC, Ancient Delphi
managed to amass a considerable treasure trove, much of it reflected in its magnificent
museum.
Upon entering the museum, you'll first notice (in room 5) the
Sphinx of the Naxians
,
dating from 560 BC. Also residing here are well-preserved parts of the frieze from the
Siphnian treasury, which depicts not only the battle between the gods and the giants, but
also the Judgment of Paris (far-left corner as you enter), who was called upon to decide
which goddess was most beautiful (he chose Aphrodite). In room 3 are two fine ex-
amples of 6th-century BC
kouroi
(statues of young men), the 'twins of Argos'.
In the rooms to the left are fragments of metopes (figures within the frieze) from the
Athenian treasury depicting the Labours of Hercules, the Exploits of Theseus and the
Battle of the Amazons (room 7). Further on you can't miss the tall Acanthus Column of
Dancers (room 11), with three women dancing around its top. Next to it is the omphalos,
a sculpted cone that once stood at what was considered the centre of the world. In the end
room is the celebrated, life-size Bronze Charioteer, which commemorates a victory in the
Pythian Games of 478 or 474 BC.
Activities
Two popular
day hikes
, both part of the E4 European long-distance path, start and end at
Delphi. The first connects two ancient sites, the
Temple of Apollo
and
Korykeon Cave
,
a sacred mountain cave-shrine for Pan. This wonderful cavern comprises a natural am-
phitheatre filled with stalactites and stalagmites. You can walk as far as 80m inside (cau-
tion: it can be slippery). Many hikers hire a taxi in Arahova as far as Kalyvia (around
€25), hike to the cave (500m) and return to Delphi along a well-marked path (four
hours). Along the way, there are awesome views of Delphi, the Amfissa plain and
Galaxidi.
