Editing Delphi (section)

===Religious significance of the oracle===
[[File:Delphi Temple of Apollo.jpg|thumb|Ruins of the ancient temple of Apollo at Delphi, overlooking the valley of Phocis]]
Delphi became the site of a major temple to [[Apollo|Phoebus Apollo]], as well as the Pythian Games and the prehistoric oracle. Even in Roman times, hundreds of votive statues remained, described by [[Pliny the Younger]] and seen by [[Pausanias (geographer)|Pausanias]]. Carved into the temple were three phrases: {{lang|grc|γνῶθι σεαυτόν}} (''gnōthi seautón'' = "[[know thyself]]"),  {{lang|grc|μηδὲν ἄγαν}} (''mēdén ágan'' = "nothing in excess"), and {{lang|grc|Ἑγγύα πάρα δ'ἄτη}} (''engýa pára d'atē'' = "make a pledge and [[Atë|mischief]] is nigh").<ref>Plato, ''[[Charmides (dialogue)|Charmides]]'' 164d–165a.</ref> In antiquity, the origin of these phrases was attributed to one or more of the [[Seven Sages of Greece]] by authors such as [[Plato]]<ref>[[Plato]], ''[[Protagoras (dialogue)|Protagoras]]'' [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Plat.%20Prot.%20343a&lang=original 343a–b] at the [[Perseus Project]].</ref> and Pausanias.<ref>Pausanias, Description of Greece, Phocis and Ozolian Locri, [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0160%3Abook%3D10%3Achapter%3D24%3Asection%3D1 10.24.1] at the Perseus Project.</ref> Additionally, according to [[Plutarch]]'s essay on the meaning of the ''"E at Delphi"''—the only literary source for the inscription—there was also inscribed at the temple a large letter [[Epsilon|E]].<ref>Hodge, A. Trevor. "The Mystery of Apollo's E at Delphi", ''American Journal of Archaeology'', Vol. 85, No. 1. (Jan., 1981), pp. 83–84.</ref> Among other things epsilon signifies the number [[5 (number)|5]]. However, ancient as well as modern scholars have doubted the legitimacy of such inscriptions.<ref>H. Parke and D. Wormell, ''The Delphic Oracle'', (Basil Blackwell, 1956), vol. 1, pp. 387–389.</ref> According to one pair of scholars, "The actual authorship of the three maxims set up on the Delphian temple may be left uncertain. Most likely they were popular proverbs, which tended later to be attributed to particular sages."<ref>Parke & Wormell, p. 389.</ref>

According to the Homeric hymn to the Pythian Apollo, Apollo shot his first arrow as an infant that effectively slew the serpent Pytho, the son of Gaia, who guarded the spot. To atone the murder of Gaia's son, Apollo was forced to fly and spend eight years in menial service before he could return forgiven. A festival, the Septeria, was held every year, at which the whole story was represented: the slaying of the serpent, and the flight, atonement, and return of the god.<ref name="article on Delphic Oracle">Cf. Seyffert, ''Dictionary of Classic Antiquities'', {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20070202074730/http://www.ancientlibrary.com/seyffert/0178.html article on "Delphic Oracle"]}}</ref>

The Pythian Games took place every four years to commemorate Apollo's victory.<ref name="article on Delphic Oracle"/> Another regular Delphi festival was the "[[Theophany|Theophania]]" (Θεοφάνεια), an annual festival in spring celebrating the return of Apollo from his winter quarters in [[Hyperborea]]. The culmination of the festival was a display of an image of the deities, usually hidden in the [[sanctuary]], to worshippers.<ref>James Hall, ''A History of Ideas and Images in Italian Art'', pp 70–71, 1983, John Murray, London, {{ISBN|0719539714}}</ref>

The ''theoxenia'' was held each summer, centred on a feast for "gods and ambassadors from other states". Myths indicate that Apollo killed the chthonic [[serpent (symbolism)|serpent]] [[Python (mythology)|Python]] guarding the [[Castalian Spring]] and named his priestess [[Pythia]] after her. Python, who had been sent by [[Hera]], had attempted to prevent [[Leto]], while she was pregnant with Apollo and [[Artemis]], from giving birth.<ref name="GrantHazel2004">{{cite book |author1=Michael Grant |author2=John Hazel |title=Who's Who in Classical Mythology |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EC-DAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA61 |date=2 August 2004 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-134-50943-0 |page=61}}</ref>

The spring at the site flowed toward the temple but disappeared beneath, creating a cleft which emitted chemical vapors that purportedly caused the oracle at Delphi to reveal her prophecies. Apollo killed Python, but had to be punished for it, since he was a child of Gaia. The shrine dedicated to Apollo was originally dedicated to Gaia and shared with [[Poseidon]].<ref name="article on Delphic Oracle"/> The name Pythia remained as the title of the Delphic [[oracle]].

[[Erwin Rohde]] wrote that the Python was an earth spirit, who was conquered by Apollo, and buried under the [[omphalos]], and that it is a case of one deity setting up a temple on the grave of another.<ref>Rodhe, E (1925), ''Psyche: The Cult of Souls and the Belief in Immortality among the Greeks'', trans. from the 8th edn. by W. B. Hillis (London: Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1925; reprinted by Routledge, 2000). p. 97</ref> Another view holds that Apollo was a fairly recent addition to the Greek [[Pantheon (gods)|pantheon]] coming originally from [[Lydia]].{{citation needed|date=February 2013}}