Delphi was an important ancient Greek religious sanctuary sacred to the god Apollo. Located on Mt. Parnassus near the Gulf of Corinth, it was home to the famous oracle of Apollo which gave cryptic predictions and guidance to both city-states and individuals. In addition, Delphi was also home to the panhellenic Pythian Games. Delphi is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
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Definition
Timeline
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1500 BCEThe site of Delphi is first settled.
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c. 800 BCEThe site of Delphi first acquires a religious significance.
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c. 650 BCEThe first temple in honour of Apollo is built at Delphi.
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c. 580 BCEThe kouroi of Argos, thought to represent Cleobis & Biton, are sculpted.
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560 BCEThe oracles of Delphi and Thebes both tell King Croesus of Lydia that if he attacks the Medes, he will destroy a great empire. Seeing this as a good omen, he goes to war, loses, and the Lydian Empire is destroyed.
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c. 560 BCENaxos dedicates a large column and sphinx to the oracle of Apollo at Delphi.
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c. 525 BCEThe Treasury of the Siphnians is built at Delphi which included Caryatid architecture.
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c. 510 BCEThe second temple to Apollo is constructed at Delphi, replacing the first temple destroyed by fire.
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490 BCEAthens builds a treasury at Delphi following their victory at Marathon against Persia.
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480 BCE - 460 BCEThe bronze charioteer of Delphi is sculpted.
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480 BCEPersian forces attack the sanctuary of Delphi.
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448 BCEPericles leads the Athenian forces in the Battle of Delphi.
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373 BCEAn earthquake destroys the temple of Apollo at Delphi.
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c. 330 BCEThe third temple to Apollo is constructed at Delphi, replacing the earlier temple damaged by earthquake.
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279 BCEGauls attack the sanctuary of Delphi.
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191 BCEDelphi comes under Roman control.
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c. 67 CEEmperor Nero competes at the panhellenic Games of Olympia and Delphi.
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393 CERoman Emperor Theodosius definitively ends all pagan Games in Greece.
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c. 591 CE - 585 CEThe Pythian Games of Delphi began.
