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Delphi: A History of the Center of the Ancient World
The oracle and sanctuary of the Greek god Apollo at Delphi were known as the "omphalos"--the "center" or "navel"--of the ancient world for more than 1000 years. Individuals, city leaders, and kings came from all over the Mediterranean and beyond to consult Delphi's oracular priestess; to set up monuments to the gods; and to take part in competitions.
In this richly illustrated account, Michael Scott covers the history and nature of Delphi, from the literary and archaeological evidence surrounding the site, to its rise as a center of worship, to the constant appeal of the oracle despite her cryptic prophecies. He describes how Delphi became a contested sacred site for Greeks and Romans and a storehouse for the treasures of rival city-states and foreign kings. He also examines the eventual decline of the site and how its meaning and importance have continued to be reshaped.
A unique window into the center of the ancient world, Delphi will appeal to general readers, tourists, students, and specialists.
In this richly illustrated account, Michael Scott covers the history and nature of Delphi, from the literary and archaeological evidence surrounding the site, to its rise as a center of worship, to the constant appeal of the oracle despite her cryptic prophecies. He describes how Delphi became a contested sacred site for Greeks and Romans and a storehouse for the treasures of rival city-states and foreign kings. He also examines the eventual decline of the site and how its meaning and importance have continued to be reshaped.
A unique window into the center of the ancient world, Delphi will appeal to general readers, tourists, students, and specialists.
440 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2014
54 people are currently reading
922 people want to read
About the author
Michael Scott
12 books70 followersMichael Scott SFHEA (born 1981) is a British classical scholar, ancient historian, and presenter. He is professor of classics and ancient history at the University of Warwick.
In 2015 he was a foundation fellow of the Warwick International Higher Education Academy; he was appointed a senior fellow of the Higher Education Academy in 2016. He was a National Teaching Fellow in 2017, and in 2017–2018 was a Leverhulme Research Fellow.
In 2020 he became the co-director of the Warwick Institute of Engagement.
He is president of the Lytham Saint Annes branch of the Classical Association.
He was awarded the Classical Association Prize in 2021, this is awarded to the individual who has done the most to raise the profile of Classics in the public eye.
He was named as the International Lego Classicist of the Year in 2022.
He was appointed as Pro-Vice-Chancellor (International) at the University of Warwick in 2023.
Source: wikipedia
In 2015 he was a foundation fellow of the Warwick International Higher Education Academy; he was appointed a senior fellow of the Higher Education Academy in 2016. He was a National Teaching Fellow in 2017, and in 2017–2018 was a Leverhulme Research Fellow.
In 2020 he became the co-director of the Warwick Institute of Engagement.
He is president of the Lytham Saint Annes branch of the Classical Association.
He was awarded the Classical Association Prize in 2021, this is awarded to the individual who has done the most to raise the profile of Classics in the public eye.
He was named as the International Lego Classicist of the Year in 2022.
He was appointed as Pro-Vice-Chancellor (International) at the University of Warwick in 2023.
Source: wikipedia
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
April 28, 2014
My theory: this book is a doctoral thesis. The topic is interesting, the facts are detailed and fascinating, but the text presupposes a high level of knowledge and is written in pretty dense prose. It's a slog, but I found the details and ideas presented interesting enough to keep chipping away at it. Despite having 422 pages, the text is actually 290 pages. That's how extensive the notes and index are, plus a brief textual "guided tour" of the site. But it felt like reading a book of 422 pages.
The biggest problem is that the text assumes a great deal of knowledge from the reader in Greek (Roman, etc) history and archaeology. Many Greek and Latin terms are given without translation, and major historical figures (to someone familiar with the era) are given no introduction or context. Even technical terms like the archaic and classical periods for Delphi are thrown around without any explanation as to when those periods are or why there is a distinction between them.
Other major beef: pictures and portrayals are not dated or contextualized. I also wish the pictures had been more big-picture. There are some watercolors of what it might have looked like, but they're hard to imagine. Also, some major topics of discussion have no portrayal at all, such as a view from the Athena temple that is the "popular tourist vision" of Delphi. But I have no idea what that picture is.
My guess is that the central thesis of this project is looking at the dedications (statues, inscriptions, etc) placed around Delphi's religious structures and how those dedications show an attempt to re-cast history by the person/group who dedicated it. The discussions of how groups used statues to effectively re-write history is fascinating, but it's also incredibly detail-oriented about who purchased what, where the materials came from, inscription text, etc. That's the main slog. Similarly, I found the historical context to be very shallow, only enough to justify the author's theory about a particular dedication. I would have liked a more reader-friendly general view of Delphi. This is a textbook supplement, not something you're going to curl up with at the fireplace. However, hardcore nerds and history buffs can probably get through the minutiae, especially if you have some background in Greek history.
I hope the author attempts this subject again with a more "pop culture" version because occasionally, the author's personality comes through with really great turns of phrase and a really nuanced perspective. But his voice is usually buried underneath wordy, convoluted academic-speak. Main exception: the chapter about the modern re-discovery of Delphi, which I found really enjoyable.
The biggest problem is that the text assumes a great deal of knowledge from the reader in Greek (Roman, etc) history and archaeology. Many Greek and Latin terms are given without translation, and major historical figures (to someone familiar with the era) are given no introduction or context. Even technical terms like the archaic and classical periods for Delphi are thrown around without any explanation as to when those periods are or why there is a distinction between them.
Other major beef: pictures and portrayals are not dated or contextualized. I also wish the pictures had been more big-picture. There are some watercolors of what it might have looked like, but they're hard to imagine. Also, some major topics of discussion have no portrayal at all, such as a view from the Athena temple that is the "popular tourist vision" of Delphi. But I have no idea what that picture is.
My guess is that the central thesis of this project is looking at the dedications (statues, inscriptions, etc) placed around Delphi's religious structures and how those dedications show an attempt to re-cast history by the person/group who dedicated it. The discussions of how groups used statues to effectively re-write history is fascinating, but it's also incredibly detail-oriented about who purchased what, where the materials came from, inscription text, etc. That's the main slog. Similarly, I found the historical context to be very shallow, only enough to justify the author's theory about a particular dedication. I would have liked a more reader-friendly general view of Delphi. This is a textbook supplement, not something you're going to curl up with at the fireplace. However, hardcore nerds and history buffs can probably get through the minutiae, especially if you have some background in Greek history.
I hope the author attempts this subject again with a more "pop culture" version because occasionally, the author's personality comes through with really great turns of phrase and a really nuanced perspective. But his voice is usually buried underneath wordy, convoluted academic-speak. Main exception: the chapter about the modern re-discovery of Delphi, which I found really enjoyable.
April 28, 2021
I have mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand, it was informative and detailed, and it covered lots of interesting topics. However, I found it difficult to get through, either due to an often overwhelming litany of “so-and-so, King of such-a-place, son of this-guy, who fought in the battle of what’s-it, came to Delphi in this century”, or due to a simple lack of focus on my part - probably a bit of both. The historical aspect was often terribly dry, and the description of the monuments and dedications would have been vastly improved by the addition of some decent illustrations.
The blurb calls it “richly illustrated”... I beg to differ. A handful of plates in the middle, and a few illustrations and maps are about all there is until you reach the final few chapters, where there is suddenly a wealth of very welcome archaeological photos. The illustrations provided are also VERY small, and hard to make out in their black and white, in-text format. I was left wishing for detailed views, elevations, anything to give us a better idea. While it is, of course, impossible to say exactly what Delphi looked like, there is plenty of archaeological and literary evidence to give us clues.
Also, the book is laser-focused on the history of Delphi and situating it in the larger Greek world, particularly explaining its rise to prominence and how it achieved that. This aspect is covered well and in depth. However, there is a notable lack of explanation of the oracle’s activities or even the day to day activities of Delphi. It was almost as if the Pythia was herself missing from the history. I was disappointed not to read more about the oracles themselves, or even about the priests, the villagers, the attendants...
Overall, I enjoyed the book, but be prepared for a long history lesson.
The blurb calls it “richly illustrated”... I beg to differ. A handful of plates in the middle, and a few illustrations and maps are about all there is until you reach the final few chapters, where there is suddenly a wealth of very welcome archaeological photos. The illustrations provided are also VERY small, and hard to make out in their black and white, in-text format. I was left wishing for detailed views, elevations, anything to give us a better idea. While it is, of course, impossible to say exactly what Delphi looked like, there is plenty of archaeological and literary evidence to give us clues.
Also, the book is laser-focused on the history of Delphi and situating it in the larger Greek world, particularly explaining its rise to prominence and how it achieved that. This aspect is covered well and in depth. However, there is a notable lack of explanation of the oracle’s activities or even the day to day activities of Delphi. It was almost as if the Pythia was herself missing from the history. I was disappointed not to read more about the oracles themselves, or even about the priests, the villagers, the attendants...
Overall, I enjoyed the book, but be prepared for a long history lesson.
October 1, 2021
Un trabajo de documentación increíble, pero creo que no hay necesidad de escribirlo de forma taaaaan densa. Aún así, como el tema es interesante te lo vas leyendo.
April 13, 2019
Interestingly, while some readers thought the book a little dry, mainly because it presupposes a decent knowledge of ancient Greek history and culture going into it, I thought it was a little on the pop culture side. Early chapters seemed more thematic, exploring what went on at Delphi and the art and architectural styles on display at the sanctuary, but it quickly transitioned into chronological narrative and ran with that format for the majority of the text. That’s great for putting things in context, and much needed for the newcomer to the subject, but it makes it harder to draw out thematic patterns across time, leaving such discussions somewhat patchwork over a series of chapters. Nevertheless, not a bad read by any means.
6 out of 10
September 17, 2014
This is a very interesting and comprehensive account of Delphi from its earliest days through the present, written in the sort of flat, artless prose that suggests an adapted dissertation. Parts of the book were really fascinating, driven by the sheer propulsiveness of the historical role of the site. Other parts drag interminably, particularly the cataloging of archaeological digs that makes up the epigraph. Overall, I came away fascinated by the role that Delphi played in the wider culture of antiquity, and how the success and usefulness of the oracle came not from definitive predictions of the future, but through responses that encouraged further discussion and political debate before taking action. I also was shocked to learn that the Pythia really only took consultations for a handful of days in the year (one day a month for nine months of the year). It's clear that the purpose of the oracle is to slow down and inject some deliberation into decision-making, not to offer a shortcut answer. I think that really turns on its head the modern concept of what an oracle would be like. Also fascinating is the Amphictyony (the counsel of poleis that partially governed the shrine) and its interplay with the city of Delphi. The political structures that surround an institution that lasted over a thousand years were both pliable and yet remarkably consistent. This book is worth reading for even a handful of insights into topics like this.
May 16, 2015
This book is a pretty fascinating read, although – as others have remarked – the language is rather dry and at times boring. The writer is too much of a scientist, and too little of a storyteller. The history of the ancient Delphi is exciting and fascinating and that’s why I in no way regret reading the book. The book tells the story of Delphi in chronological order. I summarize and give some of my thoughts on the lecture.
Chapter 1 gives an impression of how the Oracle of Delphi ‘worked’ and what rituals surrounded it. The fact that the Oracle was active only 9 days a year was a big surprise to me, as was the fact that during the winter months Apollo was ‘on holiday’ and that another Greek god, Dionysus, took his place as it were (for me it raises questions about the relationship between these two Olympic gods). Also an eye-opener was that the Oracle did not really answer questions about the future: she was not as much a seer as an ‘ancient management consultant’, as Scott puts it. The Oracle actually stimulated wise decision-making in difficult matters instead of blind belief.
(My thoughts on this: visiting the Oracle – from distant places in the Greek world – in itself already gave the time to think things over, apart from the answer that the Pythia would give. By analogy: when you go on a pilgrimage to Santiago, you would be crazy not to visit the Cathedral and the grave of St Jacob once you got there; but the true learning happens on the road. It’s a pity the author hardly makes use of these kinds of ‘modern’ parallels and analogies, to make his account more vivid and understable for modern readers.)
Chapter 2 discusses the origins of the Delphi Oracle. It presents the different ancient myths of the god Apollo and how he came to be Apollo Pythios. Important is the account in the Homeric Hymn to Apollo (6th c. B.C). Other accounts include those of Alcaeus, the tragic writers Aeschylus and Euripides, and Ephorus. The myths appear products of their own times (7th to 5th c. B.C.), in which the oracle had already become an incredible successful phenomenon.
Chapter 3 makes clear that the Oracle was often used regarding colonisation issues. Before taking on the adventure, a Greek city would go to Delphi to visit the ‘colonisation god’ Apollo. The Oracle was used by city states and individuals, by Greek tyrants and Eastern kings. All these people brought donations and made offerings: tripods, kettles, shields, statues, etc. Delphi became a rich and wealthy settlement, but still small and relatively unprotected.
(My thoughts on this: the great richness sacred Delphi gathered reminds me of the Catholic Church, and many more parallels with Catholicism can be drawn. And by that I do not only mean the material wealth as a result of a multitude of offerings and donations and the building of great monuments and shrines, but also – as told in Chapter 5 – the spiritual richness, consisting of several cults and numerous ‘saints’, so that everybody can have their own religious experience and devotion. As Delphi grew and gained popularity, the number of gods and heroes that were venerated increased with the amount of visitors).
Chapter 4 tells the story of the birth of the Amphictiony, the religious alliance of cities that – from now on – guarded and protected the Delphic Shrine. They were also the founders of the Pythian Games (591-590 B.C). The combination of (oracle) shrines and games made Delphi more and more attractive for visitors to come. In this period the first Temple of Apollo was built. Famous Athenians like Solon and Cleisthenes visited the Delphic Oracle and asked advice. But the most famous story concerns the Lydian King Croesus. Croesus doubted whether he should take up arms against the Persian Empire. The Oracle answered that if he did, he would destroy a great army. Croesus was already imagining the defeat of the Persian army, but unfortunately the Pythia had meant his own. Around 570 B.C. the people of Naxos donated one of the most famous monuments to the Delphic Shrine, a giant marble Sphinx. It also became popular to build large treasure houses, in which stunning golden and silver gifts could be stored.
Chapter 5 is about the destruction of the Shrine by fire in 548 B.C. The Amphictiony, who undertook the rebuilding project, made the new Shrine larger and more spectacular. The project was finished not until 506 B.C. In this period the Oracle became involved in the rivalry between two powerful aristocratic families from Athens: the Alcmaeonids and the Peisistratids. The Alcmaeonids increased – by large donations – their influence in Delphi during the second half of the 6th century. Peisistratus on the other hand, much unlike other Greek tyrants, never made any donations. It’s intriguing that, whenever the Spartans in these years visited the Oracle, the Pythia ordered them in clear language to liberate Athens (from its tyrant). How easy the Oracle could be manipulated or even bribed is a question that reoccurs and fascinates.
In this period Delphi became more and more international. Accordingly Delphi became a place where an increasing number and variety of gods, goddesses and heroes was venerated (as Athena, Dionysus, Gaea, the Muses, Heracles, etc). The inhabitants of the isle of Sifnos donated one of the most exuberant treasure houses Delphi had ever seen. Other cities did not want to stay behind, and thus began a weird competition in years to come to build even larger and more abundant monuments. During the Persian Wars (490-479 B.C.) Delphi seems to have had a pro-Persian mindset. (Why that should have been the case does not become clear to me from the storyline.) Famous is the answer the Pythia gave to the Athenians, that they should trust their wooden walls. Themistocles, the Athenian general, concluded that the Athenians should use their mighty fleet to beat the enemy.
Chapter 6 recounts how after the Persian Wars Delphi really became the centre of the Greek world. Every city wanted to commemorate their role in the battle by means of a monument. Delphi became the place to write history, but also the place to re-write it: some cities collaborated with the Persians but now presented themselves as victors. This process of rewriting history by means of art is a really exciting one. Meanwhile the Pythian games were expanded with painting, dancing and acting. The poet Pindar became famous with his victory odes and hymns. In this period Athens dominated the Greek world. In Delphi they also had a lot of influence. During the Pelopponesian War between Athens and Sparta (431-404 B.C.) Delphi stood on the side of Sparta and the Peloponnesian Bond. The Athenians were very disappointed about this. In Athenian tragedies and comedies of this period we find a lot of sarcasm towards oracles in general. The Spartans started to build great monuments in Delphi to overclass those built earlier by their Athenian enemies.
Chapter 7 shows that the Delphic community was very dependent on the oracle, and therefore easy to manipulate: the Spartan general Lysander wanted the Pythia to proclaim that the king should be appointed by election and not by descendence (so that he could be king hemself). Where Lysander did not succeed, another Spartan, king Agesilaus, successfully manipulated the Oracle to receive support for his attack on Argos. In the year 373 B.C. Delphi was hit by a huge earthquake. The temples of Apollo and Athena were destroyed. It took the oracle a century to recover. In 356 B.C. the inhabitans of Phocis – in a feud with Thebe – decided to take hold of the Delphic shrine. They were driven out by Philippus of Macedonia, who was celebrated as liberator and who soon gained power over Greece.
Chapter 8 is about the changes after the death of Alexander the Great – Philippus’ successor. His empire fell apart and in his place came Hellenistic monarchs, who had absolute power and did not need such things as oracles. They also didn’t make any donations to the shrine, so that it lost its prominent position. The oracle was now taken over by the Aetolians (from the north of Greece), who would control the oracle for more than a century.
Chapter 9 shows that the decline of the Oracle went on in the 2nd century B.C. The Delpians wished to be liberated from their Aetolian rulers. At last ‘freedom’ was brought by a Roman victor: Flaminius. The Romans reformed the Amphictiony and the Delphians fared well under that. The Roman conqueror guaranteed independence for Delphi and ‘freedom’ for Greece. Some Greek cities, like Corinth, turned against Rome and were punished with destruction. Delphi survived and became – ironically – the place where Roman victories over Greece were celebrated. In the first century B.C. Roman general Sulla plundered the Delphic Shrine, and barbarian tribes did the same afterwards.
Chapter 10 is about the remarkable ‘renaissance’ Delphi made through during the age of Augustus. Emperor Augustus reformed the Amphictiony, which he imagined to be ‘the great council of Greece’. In reality the organ never had been a representation of all Greek city states. By this reform – in fact based on a Roman misunderstanding – Delphi regained its high position. The Delphians honoured the Roman Emperors by means of statues in the shrine of Apollo. Claudius was the first Emperor who showed a permanent interest in Delphi. The Delphians made sure this high attention was never lost, by erecting momuments that showed their connection with the Emperor. Nero was the first Roman emperor to actually visit Delphi. He plundered the shrine and took around 500 statues to place them in his Golden House. The Flavian Emperors Titus and Domitian followed the example of Claudius. Domitian copied the Pythian games by introducing the so-called Capitoline Games in Rome.
A famous inhabitant of Delphi was the Greek-Roman writer Plutarch, who became a priest of Apollo in the sanctuary. In his treatises he discusses interesting issues like: why was the mysterious letter ‘E’ attached to the Appolo temple and from where does the Pythia get her inspiration? From Plutarchs writings it becomes clear, that Delphi had become a popular destination for tourists (like it still is today) and a place for religious pilgrimage (a great amount of festivals was held there), but also a place full of history and commemoration.
Chapter 11 starts with the happy relationship between Delphi and Emperor Hadrian. Hadrian soon visited the Oracle and introduced the cult of Antinoos, his deceased gay lover and declared god. Delphi honoured the Emperor for ‘bringing peace to the universe’. Hadrian dreamt of a united Greece and founded the so-called Panhellenion in the year 131. Delphi would – again – be the centre of the Greek world. Delphi also gained a reputation as a place for philosophical discussions, thanks to a unique combination of history, oracle, philosophical heritage and games in sports and music. The priesthood of Plutarch and the spreading of his writings helped this reputation a lot. In his Description of Greece another important writer, Pausanias, presents us what he wished to see in Delphi: the picture of a united Greece. He focusses largely on the stories, places and monuments that underlined the panhellenic thought, promoted by Hadrian. But Pausianias didn’t reach his literary goals. His book wasn’t read much in antiquity.
From 180 A.D. onwards the Pythian games were copied to different cities around the Roman Empire and served to honour the Emperor. Apollo – the god behind the Pythian Games – was suitable for this, as his Roman equivalent Sol Invictus (the Invincible Sun) was the guardian god of the emperors. When Emperor Constantine and his succcessors turned to christianity, their statues were still placed in the ‘pagan’ sanctuary of Delphi. In 365 A.D. Delphi (as the whole of Greece) was shaken by a heavy earthquake again. The christian Emperors Valens and Valentinus came to help, and were therefore venerated by a monument.
Chapter 12 makes clear, that the pagan days of Delphi were not that suddenly cut off, and that the transition to christianity in fact took place in a more subtle and gradual manner. In years to come three christian basilicas were built. The christian community that inhabited Delphi did not destroy the sanctuary of Apollo but they also made no efforts at all to conserve it. What fascinates me most about this period is the intermingeling of pagan and christian elements, as can be seen in the iconography. We have examples of Christ crushing a snake (just like Apollo). Also the battle of St. George with the dragon has a clear connection with the myth of Apollo, beating ‘Pytho’.
In the beginning of the 7th century Delphi finally was destroyed and abandoned. The story does not continue until 1436 A.D., when the Italian mercant Cyriacus of Ancona visited the spot. The village was then known as ‘Castri’ and the inhabitants seemed to know nothing of its glorious past. It’s a wonderous thing that such an important past can be ignored and forgotten for so long. After centuries in which the desire to discover the ancient Greek world in general and Delphi in particular grew, in 1892 finally the excavation began. It would become a turning point in the history of archeology.
Chapter 1 gives an impression of how the Oracle of Delphi ‘worked’ and what rituals surrounded it. The fact that the Oracle was active only 9 days a year was a big surprise to me, as was the fact that during the winter months Apollo was ‘on holiday’ and that another Greek god, Dionysus, took his place as it were (for me it raises questions about the relationship between these two Olympic gods). Also an eye-opener was that the Oracle did not really answer questions about the future: she was not as much a seer as an ‘ancient management consultant’, as Scott puts it. The Oracle actually stimulated wise decision-making in difficult matters instead of blind belief.
(My thoughts on this: visiting the Oracle – from distant places in the Greek world – in itself already gave the time to think things over, apart from the answer that the Pythia would give. By analogy: when you go on a pilgrimage to Santiago, you would be crazy not to visit the Cathedral and the grave of St Jacob once you got there; but the true learning happens on the road. It’s a pity the author hardly makes use of these kinds of ‘modern’ parallels and analogies, to make his account more vivid and understable for modern readers.)
Chapter 2 discusses the origins of the Delphi Oracle. It presents the different ancient myths of the god Apollo and how he came to be Apollo Pythios. Important is the account in the Homeric Hymn to Apollo (6th c. B.C). Other accounts include those of Alcaeus, the tragic writers Aeschylus and Euripides, and Ephorus. The myths appear products of their own times (7th to 5th c. B.C.), in which the oracle had already become an incredible successful phenomenon.
Chapter 3 makes clear that the Oracle was often used regarding colonisation issues. Before taking on the adventure, a Greek city would go to Delphi to visit the ‘colonisation god’ Apollo. The Oracle was used by city states and individuals, by Greek tyrants and Eastern kings. All these people brought donations and made offerings: tripods, kettles, shields, statues, etc. Delphi became a rich and wealthy settlement, but still small and relatively unprotected.
(My thoughts on this: the great richness sacred Delphi gathered reminds me of the Catholic Church, and many more parallels with Catholicism can be drawn. And by that I do not only mean the material wealth as a result of a multitude of offerings and donations and the building of great monuments and shrines, but also – as told in Chapter 5 – the spiritual richness, consisting of several cults and numerous ‘saints’, so that everybody can have their own religious experience and devotion. As Delphi grew and gained popularity, the number of gods and heroes that were venerated increased with the amount of visitors).
Chapter 4 tells the story of the birth of the Amphictiony, the religious alliance of cities that – from now on – guarded and protected the Delphic Shrine. They were also the founders of the Pythian Games (591-590 B.C). The combination of (oracle) shrines and games made Delphi more and more attractive for visitors to come. In this period the first Temple of Apollo was built. Famous Athenians like Solon and Cleisthenes visited the Delphic Oracle and asked advice. But the most famous story concerns the Lydian King Croesus. Croesus doubted whether he should take up arms against the Persian Empire. The Oracle answered that if he did, he would destroy a great army. Croesus was already imagining the defeat of the Persian army, but unfortunately the Pythia had meant his own. Around 570 B.C. the people of Naxos donated one of the most famous monuments to the Delphic Shrine, a giant marble Sphinx. It also became popular to build large treasure houses, in which stunning golden and silver gifts could be stored.
Chapter 5 is about the destruction of the Shrine by fire in 548 B.C. The Amphictiony, who undertook the rebuilding project, made the new Shrine larger and more spectacular. The project was finished not until 506 B.C. In this period the Oracle became involved in the rivalry between two powerful aristocratic families from Athens: the Alcmaeonids and the Peisistratids. The Alcmaeonids increased – by large donations – their influence in Delphi during the second half of the 6th century. Peisistratus on the other hand, much unlike other Greek tyrants, never made any donations. It’s intriguing that, whenever the Spartans in these years visited the Oracle, the Pythia ordered them in clear language to liberate Athens (from its tyrant). How easy the Oracle could be manipulated or even bribed is a question that reoccurs and fascinates.
In this period Delphi became more and more international. Accordingly Delphi became a place where an increasing number and variety of gods, goddesses and heroes was venerated (as Athena, Dionysus, Gaea, the Muses, Heracles, etc). The inhabitants of the isle of Sifnos donated one of the most exuberant treasure houses Delphi had ever seen. Other cities did not want to stay behind, and thus began a weird competition in years to come to build even larger and more abundant monuments. During the Persian Wars (490-479 B.C.) Delphi seems to have had a pro-Persian mindset. (Why that should have been the case does not become clear to me from the storyline.) Famous is the answer the Pythia gave to the Athenians, that they should trust their wooden walls. Themistocles, the Athenian general, concluded that the Athenians should use their mighty fleet to beat the enemy.
Chapter 6 recounts how after the Persian Wars Delphi really became the centre of the Greek world. Every city wanted to commemorate their role in the battle by means of a monument. Delphi became the place to write history, but also the place to re-write it: some cities collaborated with the Persians but now presented themselves as victors. This process of rewriting history by means of art is a really exciting one. Meanwhile the Pythian games were expanded with painting, dancing and acting. The poet Pindar became famous with his victory odes and hymns. In this period Athens dominated the Greek world. In Delphi they also had a lot of influence. During the Pelopponesian War between Athens and Sparta (431-404 B.C.) Delphi stood on the side of Sparta and the Peloponnesian Bond. The Athenians were very disappointed about this. In Athenian tragedies and comedies of this period we find a lot of sarcasm towards oracles in general. The Spartans started to build great monuments in Delphi to overclass those built earlier by their Athenian enemies.
Chapter 7 shows that the Delphic community was very dependent on the oracle, and therefore easy to manipulate: the Spartan general Lysander wanted the Pythia to proclaim that the king should be appointed by election and not by descendence (so that he could be king hemself). Where Lysander did not succeed, another Spartan, king Agesilaus, successfully manipulated the Oracle to receive support for his attack on Argos. In the year 373 B.C. Delphi was hit by a huge earthquake. The temples of Apollo and Athena were destroyed. It took the oracle a century to recover. In 356 B.C. the inhabitans of Phocis – in a feud with Thebe – decided to take hold of the Delphic shrine. They were driven out by Philippus of Macedonia, who was celebrated as liberator and who soon gained power over Greece.
Chapter 8 is about the changes after the death of Alexander the Great – Philippus’ successor. His empire fell apart and in his place came Hellenistic monarchs, who had absolute power and did not need such things as oracles. They also didn’t make any donations to the shrine, so that it lost its prominent position. The oracle was now taken over by the Aetolians (from the north of Greece), who would control the oracle for more than a century.
Chapter 9 shows that the decline of the Oracle went on in the 2nd century B.C. The Delpians wished to be liberated from their Aetolian rulers. At last ‘freedom’ was brought by a Roman victor: Flaminius. The Romans reformed the Amphictiony and the Delphians fared well under that. The Roman conqueror guaranteed independence for Delphi and ‘freedom’ for Greece. Some Greek cities, like Corinth, turned against Rome and were punished with destruction. Delphi survived and became – ironically – the place where Roman victories over Greece were celebrated. In the first century B.C. Roman general Sulla plundered the Delphic Shrine, and barbarian tribes did the same afterwards.
Chapter 10 is about the remarkable ‘renaissance’ Delphi made through during the age of Augustus. Emperor Augustus reformed the Amphictiony, which he imagined to be ‘the great council of Greece’. In reality the organ never had been a representation of all Greek city states. By this reform – in fact based on a Roman misunderstanding – Delphi regained its high position. The Delphians honoured the Roman Emperors by means of statues in the shrine of Apollo. Claudius was the first Emperor who showed a permanent interest in Delphi. The Delphians made sure this high attention was never lost, by erecting momuments that showed their connection with the Emperor. Nero was the first Roman emperor to actually visit Delphi. He plundered the shrine and took around 500 statues to place them in his Golden House. The Flavian Emperors Titus and Domitian followed the example of Claudius. Domitian copied the Pythian games by introducing the so-called Capitoline Games in Rome.
A famous inhabitant of Delphi was the Greek-Roman writer Plutarch, who became a priest of Apollo in the sanctuary. In his treatises he discusses interesting issues like: why was the mysterious letter ‘E’ attached to the Appolo temple and from where does the Pythia get her inspiration? From Plutarchs writings it becomes clear, that Delphi had become a popular destination for tourists (like it still is today) and a place for religious pilgrimage (a great amount of festivals was held there), but also a place full of history and commemoration.
Chapter 11 starts with the happy relationship between Delphi and Emperor Hadrian. Hadrian soon visited the Oracle and introduced the cult of Antinoos, his deceased gay lover and declared god. Delphi honoured the Emperor for ‘bringing peace to the universe’. Hadrian dreamt of a united Greece and founded the so-called Panhellenion in the year 131. Delphi would – again – be the centre of the Greek world. Delphi also gained a reputation as a place for philosophical discussions, thanks to a unique combination of history, oracle, philosophical heritage and games in sports and music. The priesthood of Plutarch and the spreading of his writings helped this reputation a lot. In his Description of Greece another important writer, Pausanias, presents us what he wished to see in Delphi: the picture of a united Greece. He focusses largely on the stories, places and monuments that underlined the panhellenic thought, promoted by Hadrian. But Pausianias didn’t reach his literary goals. His book wasn’t read much in antiquity.
From 180 A.D. onwards the Pythian games were copied to different cities around the Roman Empire and served to honour the Emperor. Apollo – the god behind the Pythian Games – was suitable for this, as his Roman equivalent Sol Invictus (the Invincible Sun) was the guardian god of the emperors. When Emperor Constantine and his succcessors turned to christianity, their statues were still placed in the ‘pagan’ sanctuary of Delphi. In 365 A.D. Delphi (as the whole of Greece) was shaken by a heavy earthquake again. The christian Emperors Valens and Valentinus came to help, and were therefore venerated by a monument.
Chapter 12 makes clear, that the pagan days of Delphi were not that suddenly cut off, and that the transition to christianity in fact took place in a more subtle and gradual manner. In years to come three christian basilicas were built. The christian community that inhabited Delphi did not destroy the sanctuary of Apollo but they also made no efforts at all to conserve it. What fascinates me most about this period is the intermingeling of pagan and christian elements, as can be seen in the iconography. We have examples of Christ crushing a snake (just like Apollo). Also the battle of St. George with the dragon has a clear connection with the myth of Apollo, beating ‘Pytho’.
In the beginning of the 7th century Delphi finally was destroyed and abandoned. The story does not continue until 1436 A.D., when the Italian mercant Cyriacus of Ancona visited the spot. The village was then known as ‘Castri’ and the inhabitants seemed to know nothing of its glorious past. It’s a wonderous thing that such an important past can be ignored and forgotten for so long. After centuries in which the desire to discover the ancient Greek world in general and Delphi in particular grew, in 1892 finally the excavation began. It would become a turning point in the history of archeology.
August 19, 2022
Interesting but dull. There is very little about the wonderful things you'll see at Delphi, more about the history of the ancient town. If you want to know about the Amphictyony this will tell you, but the beautiful charioteer is mentioned but not lingered over and the illustrations aren't great. Nearly a third of the volume is notes and bibliography, so I suppose that's a warning in itself. Also, there are quite a lot of typos, the copy-editing could have been better.
If you visit Delphi it's hard not to become passionate about it, so I'm seizing on any information I can get, and I was grateful to have this but it could have been a lot livelier and I would have liked a lot more about the art and architecture of Delphi. It does describe itself as a history, so I suppose I'm criticising it for not being a book it never set out to be.
If you visit Delphi it's hard not to become passionate about it, so I'm seizing on any information I can get, and I was grateful to have this but it could have been a lot livelier and I would have liked a lot more about the art and architecture of Delphi. It does describe itself as a history, so I suppose I'm criticising it for not being a book it never set out to be.
January 5, 2016
There was quite a lot of information in this book on a fascinating subject. However, the writing is a bit dry. I enjoyed learning the history of this site, and am glad I read the book. I would recommend this to some people who are interested in the subject matter, but not to the general public.
February 25, 2024
very smart
August 23, 2020
Como amante de toda la cultura helinística, sobre todo en el periodo arcaico y clásico, hay un lugar mágico que sobre sale de todos ellos: Delfos y sus vestigios arqueológicos. Desde el momento que lo visité, quedé impactado y maravillado de la gran historia que recoge todo el lugar.
Y gracias a este libro, que además incluye una pequeña guía de los monumentos y lugares más importantes, podemos vislumbrar toda la aventura que se esconde, desde sus cimientos, auge y decadencia, hasta las arduas excavaciones arqueológicas que han dado muchos quebraderos de cabeza, ya sea por negociar con los antiguos aldeanos llamados Castri o por los fenómenos naturales que siempre han asolado el lugar a base de terremotos.
En este periplo no faltarán grandes historiadores que en su día plasmaron toda la actividad que se realizaba, entre ellos se encuentran Heródoto, Plutarco o Pausanias. Un santuario que cambió muchos aspectos del mundo antiguo, no solo religioso sino que también influyó en lo político y social. Mitología, predilecciones, adoraciones y grandes riquezas surgieron en este lugar tan remoto y fascinante.
Libro recomendado para cualquier aficionado a la historia y más si cabe, para cualquier amante de la época griega.
Y gracias a este libro, que además incluye una pequeña guía de los monumentos y lugares más importantes, podemos vislumbrar toda la aventura que se esconde, desde sus cimientos, auge y decadencia, hasta las arduas excavaciones arqueológicas que han dado muchos quebraderos de cabeza, ya sea por negociar con los antiguos aldeanos llamados Castri o por los fenómenos naturales que siempre han asolado el lugar a base de terremotos.
En este periplo no faltarán grandes historiadores que en su día plasmaron toda la actividad que se realizaba, entre ellos se encuentran Heródoto, Plutarco o Pausanias. Un santuario que cambió muchos aspectos del mundo antiguo, no solo religioso sino que también influyó en lo político y social. Mitología, predilecciones, adoraciones y grandes riquezas surgieron en este lugar tan remoto y fascinante.
Libro recomendado para cualquier aficionado a la historia y más si cabe, para cualquier amante de la época griega.
March 12, 2018
An enjoyable and comprehensive account of Delphi from its origins to the present. Although it disappeared from view at the close of the Classical era for 800 years, in both its modern and ancient incarnations Delphi seems remarkably adept at absorbing huge amounts of other people’s money (the French paid handsomely for the privilege of excavating it in the late 19th century). The book follows the remarkable story of how Delphi negotiated the massive shifts in politics over its 1000 year active history. I particularly liked the way the book’s Delphi POV cast a refreshingly different take on important events in Greek history - from the development of Democracy in Athens, to the Peloponesian War, to the rise of Alexander the Great, and then throughout the Roman period, Delphi was always close to the centre of events. It even raised statues commemorating the early Christian emperors, before it was finally closed down.
June 4, 2022
Los primeros capítulos, centrados más en el oráculo en sí y en su 'magia' son muy interesantes. Al igual que los últimos, en los que explica cómo fueron las excavaciones del lugar a finales del s. XIX. Ahora bien, el resto (fácilmente 3/4 partes del libro) se hace a veces muy pesado, incluso para alguien interesado en la historia y, especialmente en la Grecia clásica. Contiene muchísima información, sí, pero no es nada ameno de leer. Soy generoso y le doy tres estrellas porque el trabajo de documentación del autor debió ser enorme.
December 24, 2018
A thoroughly enjoyable and readable chronological account of this fascinating place, from earliest times, through its heyday, to the Roman era and its decline and eventual excavation. I visited Delphi on a school trip to Greece in 1986, and it has fascinated me ever since. My favourite memory is getting up early to climb the hill above the site and watch the sunrise paint the rocky hillside in gold. A magical place.
December 30, 2019
This sweeping overview tells you everything you want to know about Delphi and the myth surrounding the Oracle. The author places Delphi in its proper historical context with enough background on the Greek world at large to understand how such an institution could become such a pivotal political player and pawn.
August 13, 2020
The writer is an entertaining and knowledgeable tv presenter of archaeological programmes, which is where he excels. Perhaps not so much on the page. Good comprehensive (but sometimes a little dry) account from ancient to modern times, on the history of Delphi.it raises lots of questions, and this emphasises how much we don't know about Delphi, in the end.
Made me want to visit though.
Made me want to visit though.
February 19, 2023
This book traces the history of the oracle of Delphi for almost a thousand years, and then looks at its modern influence, particularly as it was excavated by archaeologists in the late 19th / early 20th centuries. It is well-written, and a great introduction, although it was a little hard to follow in some places for someone with limited knowledge/background on the subject matter.
April 29, 2023
a good historical account of the sacred site of Delphi
History is there full of detailed facts.
I wish the author had discussed in more ample terms the influence of Delphi in shaping classical Greek culture and even architecture.
The building of Athens acropolis was in good part sponsored by Delphi treasures.
But was a worthwhile historical reading.
History is there full of detailed facts.
I wish the author had discussed in more ample terms the influence of Delphi in shaping classical Greek culture and even architecture.
The building of Athens acropolis was in good part sponsored by Delphi treasures.
But was a worthwhile historical reading.
April 6, 2024
Interesante, pero algo pedestre. Admiro su afán de exhaustividad, pero acabo por tener la impresión de que leo un largo inventario acerca de las modificaciones y las ofrendas añadidas y despojadas a lo largo de los siglos. Tiene observaciones interesantes (los Juegos Píticos, la Anfictionía), pero se hace un poco tedioso. Café para cafeteros.
May 22, 2017
Very, very interesting account of Delphi and its oracle. I fear most would find it too academic. I am completely fascinated by Delphi. I liked it.
July 6, 2024
Now my favorite Michael Scott
Read
March 23, 2025Read ‘Renewal’ chapter as part of studying A112. Hoping to read the rest of the text later in my studies, so no rating at present.
September 18, 2025
I read this history of Delphi on a trip to Greece. Lots of detail and very informative. No mention of Paul, though. Recommended.
November 8, 2020
If reading history is solely to find out information on a subject, this book does the job. I learned quite a bit about a subject I only knew in passing rather than in any depth. However, the author does not help make this quite the engrossing read that I was hoping for. Mostly a dry read from start to finish, although the end has a more interesting narrative learning about the discovery and recent excavations of Delphi. While we learn much about what made Delphi special to the ancients, the author spends too much time listing artifacts with no accompanying pictures. Whole paragraphs/pages can be devoted endless listing, which just ends up feeling like wasted space with no analysis.
December 14, 2025
Started reading on November 16th, 2025
Finished reading on December 13th, 2025
Finished reading on December 13th, 2025
January 17, 2016
Delphi - A History of the Center of the Ancient World by Michael Scott
3 Stars
The term Delphi evokes images of the seat of religious activity for the ancient Greeks with countless tales of Greek heroes and rulers making the trek to the city seeking sage advice from Apollo’s oracle that often turned out to be ambiguous, and, in hindsight, seemed to be a cruel jest on the petitioner. While the mysteries surrounding the oracle are the most well-known aspect of the city and much debate has centered on the mechanisms for its operations, Delphi is more than simply a location for the Apollo Pythia cult. In fact, there is evidence of cults for Athena, Dionysus, and Gaia as well. It was an influential force on the region for almost 1,000 years as not only the religious center for the Greeks, but a diplomatic and cultural center as well.
I would not recommend this work to just anyone. While the book is not very long – 300 pages of actual text when you subtract 200 pages worth of notes - it is a bit of a slog. Scott does an excellent job of discussing the theories of Delphi’s origins, providing a variety of options for how the oracle worked, showing the city’s influence during the golden age, how circumstances in Delphi influenced the political struggles between the rivaling city-states, Delphi’s situation under Roman rule, the demise of its power during the rise of Christianity, and the archaeological history of the Delphi’s rediscovery. But, he does presuppose a certain level of knowledge of Greek history on the reader’s part. I think if your knowledge of Greek history is defined solely through mythology this book will be a struggle. I also think anyone who wants to know the personal stories of history will be frustrated with the rapid introduction of figures without much context as to their importance in Greek history. But, I do think the book is a good choice for anyone with a firm foundation in the region’s history and those preparing for a trip to Greece. In addition to a thorough history of the city, Scott provides a guide for those who plan to tour the remains.
3 Stars
The term Delphi evokes images of the seat of religious activity for the ancient Greeks with countless tales of Greek heroes and rulers making the trek to the city seeking sage advice from Apollo’s oracle that often turned out to be ambiguous, and, in hindsight, seemed to be a cruel jest on the petitioner. While the mysteries surrounding the oracle are the most well-known aspect of the city and much debate has centered on the mechanisms for its operations, Delphi is more than simply a location for the Apollo Pythia cult. In fact, there is evidence of cults for Athena, Dionysus, and Gaia as well. It was an influential force on the region for almost 1,000 years as not only the religious center for the Greeks, but a diplomatic and cultural center as well.
I would not recommend this work to just anyone. While the book is not very long – 300 pages of actual text when you subtract 200 pages worth of notes - it is a bit of a slog. Scott does an excellent job of discussing the theories of Delphi’s origins, providing a variety of options for how the oracle worked, showing the city’s influence during the golden age, how circumstances in Delphi influenced the political struggles between the rivaling city-states, Delphi’s situation under Roman rule, the demise of its power during the rise of Christianity, and the archaeological history of the Delphi’s rediscovery. But, he does presuppose a certain level of knowledge of Greek history on the reader’s part. I think if your knowledge of Greek history is defined solely through mythology this book will be a struggle. I also think anyone who wants to know the personal stories of history will be frustrated with the rapid introduction of figures without much context as to their importance in Greek history. But, I do think the book is a good choice for anyone with a firm foundation in the region’s history and those preparing for a trip to Greece. In addition to a thorough history of the city, Scott provides a guide for those who plan to tour the remains.
April 17, 2022
Theme of this book - very interesting and unusual. Delphi was not only the centre of the Ancient world, but heart of Hellenistic culture. A lot of facts, dates, also plenty funny stories from the Antiquity. Despite this, first part of book is a bit academic. Style is a bit dry. But the other part is perfect and you even won't feel how the last page will come. I recommend to read this book to all, who love history of Ancient Greece and want to know their religion system much better. By the way, you will know why Greeks hate Macedonians. :)
April 13, 2014
Well I now know a great deal more about Delphi and realise what little I thought I knew about it was hopelessly in error, or on shaky ground at best (much likely Delphi itself considering its unfortunate habit of being wrecked by earthquakes). A great study and it is totally accessible, even to folk like myself who occasionally dip into ancient history without a scintilla of expertise in the subject.
November 9, 2019
Para entender la historia de este importantísimo lugar sagrado para los antiguos griegos, este libro es el ideal. Quizás para empezar a leer género histórico no sea el mejor: se mete demasiada paja incluso para quien está acostumbrado al género y hay momentos en los que no se economiza demasiado el lenguaje. Igualmente es un libro recomendable y muy interesante para cualquier persona que quiera aprender historia de forma autónoma.
January 29, 2015
A biography of a city through its mythical roots to its modern rediscovery. A great idea that worked well. It is easy to read and enjoyable. I felt like I was there again while reading the tour of the current site. The discussion of the ancient wars and political rivalries was just enough to understand the situation without getting bored.
June 29, 2014
An excellent history of the sanctuary and its significance. Scott's grasp of the subject is formidable, but he wears his erudition lightly, and makes the subject easy to approach even for those with little knowledge of archaeology and ancient history. The only minus is the quality of the black and white illustrations.
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