Location:
Greece
Coordinates:
38.4824, 22.5016
Events at Delphi (15)
1400 BC
ID: 5903
Oracle site first sacred - Mycenaean worship at Delphi spring, Earth goddess Gaia venerated before Apollo
ID: 5903
800 BC
ID: 5904
Apollo's oracle formally established - first Pythia appointed, vapor-induced prophecies begin, becomes Panhellenic sanctuary
ID: 5904
750 BC
ID: 4167
Apollo slays Python at Delphi - massive serpent guarding the oracle, Apollo establishes temple after victory (Greek histories)
ID: 4167
595 BC
ID: 5905
First Sacred War over Delphi - Amphictyonic League destroys Crisa for taxing pilgrims, establishes international protection
ID: 5905
560 BC
ID: 5906
Croesus tests all oracles - sends messengers to ask what he's doing on specific day, only Delphi correctly says 'cooking lamb and tortoise in bronze pot'
ID: 5906
560 BC
ID: 5908
Oracle declares Tellus happiest man - Solon asks who is happiest, oracle names obscure Athenian who died for his city, not rich Croesus
ID: 5908
547 BC
ID: 5907
Croesus receives fatal prophecy - 'if you attack Persia, a great empire will fall' - attacks and destroys his own empire
ID: 5907
481 BC
ID: 230
Delphic Oracle prophecies 'wooden walls' will save Athens - Themistocles interprets as navy
ID: 230
440 BC
ID: 5909
Oracle declares Socrates wisest - Chaerephon asks if anyone wiser than Socrates, oracle says no, launches Socrates' philosophical mission
ID: 5909
359 BC
ID: 5910
Philip of Macedon consults oracle - told 'fight with silver spears and you will conquer everything,' begins bribing Greek cities
ID: 5910
336 BC
ID: 5911
Alexander forces prophecy - arrives on inauspicious day, drags Pythia to temple, she cries 'You are invincible, young man!'
ID: 5911
67
ID: 5912
Nero consults after matricide - oracle refuses to speak to mother-killer, finally warns 'Beware the 73rd year' - Galba, age 73, overthrows him
ID: 5912
125
ID: 5913
Hadrian receives prophecy - asks about his future, told he'll reach greatest power, oracle at height of 2nd century revival
ID: 5913
362
ID: 5914
Last prophecy to Julian the Apostate - 'Tell the king the fair hall has fallen, Apollo has no shelter, prophetic laurel is silent, speaking water stilled'
ID: 5914
393
ID: 5915
Theodosius closes Delphi Oracle - bans all pagan oracles, ends 1,200+ years of prophecy, site abandoned
ID: 5915