The Temple of Apollo at Delphi

 February 15, 2026

After a bumpy descent into strong southwest winds at Athens, we got a car and headed west-north-west toward Delphi. The electronic signs on the highway said in English: "Strong Winds, Slow Down." The same message in Greek filled the whole sign and was about four times as many words and letters. Just east of Delphi, the Town of Arachova was very busy on this Sunday afternoon, with big tourist buses trying to pass on the narrow roads (1), while dogs wandered in and out of traffic.

Delphi was the site of the Ancient Greek Oracle, known for her ambiguous predictions about the future (2). The Delphi archeological site sits at the bottom of steep cliffs. One of the best-preserved buildings at the Delphi Archeological site was the Treasury of the Delian League. Also here are the remnants of the Temple of Apollo and a theater from Antiquity in which Classic Greek Plays have been staged. The site closed at 3:30 on this Winter day (3), and we were shooed out by a guide blowing a whistle. We sat outside for dinner in Delphi, but inside for dessert as the wind shifted and brought in cold air off the Gulf of Corinth. Delphi seemed very quiet, so we headed back to Athens for the night.

(1) Mount Parnassos is nearby for skiing, and (as we soon discovered) this Sunday was free admission to the Delphi Site. Being less than three hours from Athens, the area is popular for weekend trips. 

(2) One of the best-known is her prediction to Croesus: "If you make war on the Persians, you will destroy a great empire." Taking this as a sign that he would defeat Persia, Croesus went to war; unfortunately, the Great Empire that fell was Croesus' own empire, not Persia.

(3) Although there was still plenty of daylight left; sunset is just after 6:00.

On the road to Delphi

The "Navel," unusual rock that made Delphi an auspicious site

Cliffs above the site

The well-preserved Treasury at Delphi

At Delphi

Still readable 2,500 years later

Capital at Delphi

Birds kettling on the cliffs above

Temple of Apollo

Black redstart at Delphi Theater

Theater at Delphi

Western Rock Nuthatch calling a warning of a nearby cat

Temple of Athena, east of the Delphi site

The Gymnasium, east of the Delphi site

Lots of large stray dogs live in the area

Tomb outside the Delphi Museum (Pre-Christian era)

Cold wind rolling in from the Gulf of Corinth, to the east

Late day at Arachovo on the ride back to Athens