Temple of Apollo, Delphi

This article is about the temple of Apollo in Delphi. For other uses, see Temple of Apollo.

The Temple of Apollo within the Sanctuary of Delphi in Phokis was one of the most significant and important temples dedicated to the god Apollo in Greece. In classical antiquity, it served as the seat of the Pythia, the most famous Oracle of Apollo.

History

The temple, as the rest of the Sanctuary, was under the control of the Cult of Kosmos during the 5th century BCE. As the 'home' of the Pythia, the temple was a pilgrimage site which drew in numerous people seeking her counsel, including the historian Herodotos.

In 480 BCE, king Leonidas of Sparta visited the temple, coming face to face with the Pythia at the time, as well as members of the Cult of Kosmos. Following the meeting in which both the Pythia and the Cultists urged Leonidas to cease hostilities with the Achaemenid Empire's Xerxes I, Leonidas disagreed and left, telling his officer Dienekes to rally their troops.

Following the birth of Kassandra, Leonidas' granddaughter, her mother Myrrine took her to see the Pythia at the Temple of Apollo in order to have the child's future foretold. The Pythia remarked that the baby held promise. Years later, when Myrrine similarly brought Kassandra's brother, Alexios, to see the acting Pythia, the oracle's words were more dire, dooming the child to death.

Decades later in 431 BCE, Kassandra was urged by her friend Barnabas to seek out the counsel of the Pythia at the time. Pushing past the line to enter the temple, Kassandra consulted the Pythia on the whereabouts of her family. The Pythia, recognising Kassandra as the child on Mount Taygetos, warned her about the Cult of Kosmos before being taken away by her guards. Kassandra was chased out of the temple before she could find out more.

Behind the scenes

In Assassin's Creed: Odyssey, the temple interior is seen only in cutscenes. In Discovery Tour: Ancient Greece as well as over the course of the "Sokrates' Trial" questline in The Lost Tales of Greece, the interior of the temple can be freely explored, including visiting the chamber below the main hall, supposedly the place where the Pythia was historically said to receive her visions.

Gallery

• 
  Concept art of the interior of the temple by Hugo Puzzuoli
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  Leonidas meeting the Pythia in 480 BCE
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  Kassandra, Herodotos and Barnabas outside the temple
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  The interior of the temple
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  The ruins of the temple in modern times

Appearances

• Assassin's Creed: Odyssey (first appearance)
  • The Lost Tales of Greece
• Discovery Tour: Ancient Greece
• Echoes of History (mentioned only)