Temple of Apollo| Myth | Delphi

“In this place I am minded to build a glorious temple to be an oracle for men, and here they will always bring perfect hecatombs, both they who dwell in rich Peloponnesus and the men of Europe and from all the wave-washed isles, coming to question me. And I will deliver to them all counsel that cannot fail, answering them in my rich temple”.

Homeric Hymn to Pythian Apollo

According to one of the Homeric Hymns to Apollo, the god was born on the island of Delos in Cyclades. He was looking for a place to settle until finally he arrived at Mount Parnassus. There are many and different mythological interpretations about Apollo choosing Delphi. According to one, the site was dedicated to Mother Earth (Gaia) and was guarded by the terrible serpent Python, who was later killed by Apollo. Another aspect supports that Apollo's sanctuary was built by Cretans who arrived at the port of Delphi, accompanied by the god in the form of a dolphin. This myth survived in plays presented during the various Delphic festivals, such as the famous Pythia, which celebrated the death of Python and comprised musical and athletic competitions.