Delphi/Korinth Canal, Greece
Off to another early start, we drove from the small port of Itea in the Gulf of Korinth up the winding mountain road to the sacred pilgrimage site of Delphi. The omphalus, or navel, of the Ancient Greek world, Delphi was the site of the famous oracle that counseled wisdom and prescience with its famous Temple of Apollo. The fates and futures of families and empires were foretold here at the small crevasse where gasses seeped out of rock fractures and were inhaled and interpreted by chosen priestesses.
Even without gasses and oracles, who could not be awed by the spectacular setting of Delphi, embedded in the mountainside and overlooking the vast valleys below? Every important city in the Ancient Greek world knew that it had to send offerings to Delphi to ensure its future, and the site is a collection of treasuries and monuments donated by the far reaches of the Greek world. Some excellent illustrations on board the Panorama allowed us to recreate the treasures of the impressive site, and the exceptionally well-displayed museum showed us a great sampling of the treasures found here.
Back on board Panorama (in Greek “Pan Orama” or wide vista), we departed through the Gulf of Korinth. Our newly acquired Greek guide Laura gave a riveting overview of the history of Greece from the Cycladic period 5000 years ago, through the Minoan then Mycenean periods, the Trojan War, Homer’s times, the rise of Athens, the Peleponnesian Wars, the empire of Alexander the Great, Roman rule and so much more all the way to the present day. We were spellbound for an hour, absorbing the depth and relevance of this historic cradle of civilization.
And no sooner was she done, when we moved out on deck for our spectacular transit of the Korinth Canal. It was an unexpected highlight in a voyage of highlights.
Off to another early start, we drove from the small port of Itea in the Gulf of Korinth up the winding mountain road to the sacred pilgrimage site of Delphi. The omphalus, or navel, of the Ancient Greek world, Delphi was the site of the famous oracle that counseled wisdom and prescience with its famous Temple of Apollo. The fates and futures of families and empires were foretold here at the small crevasse where gasses seeped out of rock fractures and were inhaled and interpreted by chosen priestesses.
Even without gasses and oracles, who could not be awed by the spectacular setting of Delphi, embedded in the mountainside and overlooking the vast valleys below? Every important city in the Ancient Greek world knew that it had to send offerings to Delphi to ensure its future, and the site is a collection of treasuries and monuments donated by the far reaches of the Greek world. Some excellent illustrations on board the Panorama allowed us to recreate the treasures of the impressive site, and the exceptionally well-displayed museum showed us a great sampling of the treasures found here.
Back on board Panorama (in Greek “Pan Orama” or wide vista), we departed through the Gulf of Korinth. Our newly acquired Greek guide Laura gave a riveting overview of the history of Greece from the Cycladic period 5000 years ago, through the Minoan then Mycenean periods, the Trojan War, Homer’s times, the rise of Athens, the Peleponnesian Wars, the empire of Alexander the Great, Roman rule and so much more all the way to the present day. We were spellbound for an hour, absorbing the depth and relevance of this historic cradle of civilization.
And no sooner was she done, when we moved out on deck for our spectacular transit of the Korinth Canal. It was an unexpected highlight in a voyage of highlights.
