DELPHI

Παρουσίαση

For a place to be held sacred, to be hallowed, certain "signs", usually unforeseen natural phenomena like earthquakes, deluges, lightning and thunderstorms and suchlike, must first have revealed the divine presence, which primitive man felt as a mysterious power that was always hostile and sometimes, depending on the harshness of the natural world around him, was a terrifying threat to his very existence.
These factors -the place, the "signs", the primitive terrors- were the original causes for the presence of the Sanctuary and Oracle at Delphi. They formed the roots of the profound religious spirit that flowered in this great ancient Sanctuary. In the course of its long-lived existence the external aspects changed: the natural 'signs' became personal, benevolent gods, the natural world around was tamed and men grew more peaceful. In spite of all these changes, however, the Sanctuary never forgot its roots, nor did the feeling that had first generated it become alien, for essentially, at least, the form of the place did not alter. [...] (From the publisher)