Delphi

For the modern town, see Delphi (modern town).

For other uses, see Delphi (disambiguation).

Delphi
Δελφοί (Greek)
The Athena temple complex, including the Delphic Tholos. The background is the Pleistos River Valley.
Delphi Location within Greece
38°28′56″N 22°30′05″E
Type	Ruins of an ancient sacred precinct
Cultures	Ancient Greece
Location	Phocis, Greece
Site notes
Height	Top of a scarp 500 metres (1,600 ft) maximum off the valley floor
Archaeologists	French School at Athens
Owner	Hellenic Republic
Management	Ministry of Culture and Sports
Public access	Accessible for a fee
Website	E. Partida (2012). "Delphi". Odysseus. Ministry of Culture and Sports, Hellenic Republic.
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Official name	Archaeological Site of Delphi
Type	Cultural
Criteria	i, ii, iii, iv and vi
Designated	1987 (12th session)
Reference no.	393
Region	Europe

Delphi among the main Greek sanctuaries

Delphi (/ˈdɛlfaɪ, ˈdɛlfi/; Greek: Δελφοί [ðelˈfi]), in legend previously called Pytho (Πυθώ), was an ancient sacred precinct in central Greece. It was the seat of Pythia, the major oracle who was consulted about important decisions throughout the ancient classical world. The ancient Greeks considered the centre of the world to be in Delphi, marked by the stone monument known as the Omphalos of Delphi. The term omphalos was the Greek word for "navel."

According to the Suda, Delphi took its name from the Delphyne, the she-serpent (drakaina) who lived there and was killed by the god Apollo (in other accounts the serpent was the male serpent (drakon) Python). The sacred precinct occupies a delineated region on the southwestern slope of Mount Parnassus. It is now an extensive archaeological site, and since 1938, it has been a part of Parnassos National Park.

The precinct is recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in having had a great influence in the ancient world, as evidenced by the various monuments built there by most of the important ancient Greek city-states, demonstrating their fundamental Hellenic unity.