A guide to the Temple of Apollo at Delphi

Temple of Apollo

The Temple of Apollo | A shrine to the patron god of Delphi & its Oracle

In Greek mythology, Apollo, the god of prophecy and more, claimed Delphi as the site of his sanctuary after slaying Pytho, the serpent who guarded it. He established his Oracle, Pythia, at Delphi, which then grew into the Panhellenic religious sanctuary dedicated to him. Several temples were built in honor of Apollo at Delphi. The ruins of the 4th century BCE temple are visible today.

How to access the Temple of Apollo?

Access to the Temple of Apollo is included in the Delphi tickets.

Temple of Apollo, Delphi | Quick facts

Also known as: The Apollonion

Address: Delphi 330 54, Delfi 330 54, Greece | Find on map

Location: The Delphi archaeological site, within the sanctuary complex

Function: Shine to the Greek god Apollo

Built in: 650 BCE, 510 BCE, 330 BCE

Architect(s): Spintharos, Xenodoros, and Agathon, and funded by the wealthy Alcmaeonidae family of Athens.

Highlights: Delphic maxims, the cella, the adyton

Highlights of the Temple of Apollo

Delphic maxims

Inscribed above the temple entrance, just below the pediment, you can see three famous moral principles known as the Delphic maxims. “Know yourself”, “Nothing in excess”, and “A pledge means ruin” – these ancient lines of wisdom are said to have been devised by seven Greek philosophers and statesmen in the 6th or 5th century BCE. These maxims have been studied as part of philosophy for over 2,500 years.

Cella – the inner chamber

The first room inside the Temple of Apollo was the cella, the inner chamber. This is where pilgrims who wanted to consult the Oracle waited to hear her response. The room is believed to have held a golden statue of Apollo and the Omphalos, the stone Zeus used to mark Delphi as the center of the world. It also had altars to the Greek gods Poseidon (god of the sea) and Hestia (goddess of hearth and home).

Adyton – the sacred sanctum

The adyton was the most sacred room in the entire temple complex, which no one but Pythia and the priests of Apollo could enter. Located either behind or beneath the cella, this was where Pythia sat on a three-legged stool, inhaled the vapors that arose from a chasm in the floor, and received the prophecy from Apollo.

Worship of Dionysus

Strangely for a Temple of Apollo, he wasn’t the only god worshipped here in ancient times. For three months in the winter, the temple became the domain of Dionysus, the Greek god of wine, pleasure, festivity, and more. During this time, Dionysus’ followers held festivals and rituals to honor him. The tomb of Dionysus is also said to be located within the Temple of Apollo.

A brief history of the Temple of Apollo

According to Greek mythology, there were a total of six temples built to Apollo. The first three were made of laurel tree branches, wax and bees’ feathers, and bronze respectively. The fourth, fifth, and sixth temples have historical and archaeological evidence, and so are considered the actual first, second, and third temples instead.

Around 800 BCE: Delphi became a sanctuary of Apollo and a site of religious significance. Pythia, the high priestess of Apollo, was established as the Oracle of Delphi.
650 BCE: The first Temple of Apollo was built at Delphi. It was made of poros stone.
548 BCE: The first temple was destroyed in a fire.
510 BCE: The second Temple of Apollo was constructed.
373 BCE: The second temple was destroyed in an earthquake. The construction of the third temple began some years later.
356–346 BCE: The third Sacred War, fought between the Phocians and the Amphictyonic League (an ancient religious association of tribes), interrupted the construction of the third temple.
330 BCE: The construction of the third Temple of Apollo was completed. It is the ruins of this temple that we see at Delphi today.
393 AD: Roman Emperor Theodosius I ordered all pagan sanctuaries in Greece to be closed. The Oracle of Delphi made its last prophecy. With the decline of Pagan worship and the rise of Christianity in Greece, the temple of Apollo and the Delphi sanctuary were abandoned and forgotten.
1892 AD: The site of the Temple of Apollo was discovered during modern archaeological excavations at Delphi by the French Archaeological School of Athens.

Architecture of the Temple of Apollo, Delphi

The Temple of Apollo in Delphi was built on a terrace about halfway up the slope of Mount Parnassus. It was the core around which the “temenos” – the precinct of the sanctuary – was built.
The temple was rectangular, measuring 60 meters in length and 20 meters in width. It stood on a manmade platform called the crepidoma and had an access ramp leading up to the main entrance.
It was peripteral in design, which means it was surrounded by a porch on all four sides of the temple building. The porch was lined with columns along its perimeter. The temple had six columns each across its front and back facades, and 15 columns along the longer sides.
The temple was built in the Doric architectural style, which featured sturdy yet elegant columns, with simple and unadorned capitals – the top part of a pillar that supports the structure above it.
The entire structure was built from Parian marble and local limestone. The floors of the temple were paved with local grey stone.
The upper portion of the temple’s facades was decorated with pediments, which depicted the arrival of Apollo in Delphi. Below the pediments, you can see the Delphic maxims – a set of moral principles – inscribed into the stone. The temple’s exterior also featured metopes — decorative panels with carved or painted scenes – which depicted Greek gods fighting and defeating monsters, including Apollo slaying Python.
The temple structure included a vestibule, which led to the cella – the inner chamber, and the adyton – the sacred room where the Oracle made her prophecies.

Frequently asked questions about the Temple of Apollo at Delphi

Why was the Temple of Apollo at Delphi important?

The Temple of Apollo at Delphi was the seat of Apollo’s high priestess and Oracle, Pythia, who communicated his prophecies to his worshippers. It was the main shrine around which the entire sanctuary of Delphi was built. Delphi became a major religious and cultural center in Ancient Greece, and attracted people from across the known world.

Does the guided tour of the Delphi archaeological site include the Temple of Apollo as well?

The Temple of Apollo was the main structure around which the entire sanctuary was built. Guided tours of Delphi cover the entire archaeological site, including the temple ruins.

Do I need to book tickets in advance, or can I purchase them on the day of my visit?

We recommend booking your Delphi tickets online at least a week in advance so you can visit on the time and date you prefer. Delphi is one of Greece’s most popular historical attractions and tickets sell out fast.

Are audio guides available for self-guided tours of the sanctuary and how can I obtain one?

If you want to take a self-guided tour of the Temple of Apollo, opt for entry tickets to the Delphi archaeological site and museum. They include an audio guide in English and cover ruins of the temple.