Delphi, Greece
Itea, the port of Delphi is usually a little noisy and loud. Docking very early in the morning therefore gave us a unique experience as the only thing we could hear was the seagulls. It was a little bit dark and I could make out the sun hesitating to make its entry.
This is an amazing contrast to the noisy, crowded, ancient port that once existed here. Thousands of pilgrims and merchants would have surrounded me if I had happened to arrive here in antiquity. Their aim would have been identical to mine; a visit to the most powerful, wealthiest and celebrated oracle of the ancient world, Delphi, “the Omphalos,” the navel of the world.
We followed the passage to the site in order to find Apollo and I have to admit that buses make a difference. The temple was waiting for us and we wandered towards Pythia, passing by the treasuries and pedestals. I always stop to admire the Athenian stoa, a monument that brings back memories of the battle of Marathon and the victory of Athens.
After seeing the sight we visited the exquisite museum. I look at the powerful statues of the 6th Century BC, the prehistoric artifacts, the gold and ivory statues of the ancient “holy trinity” and I stand amazed in front of the very handsome Agias paying my respects to his beauty as well as the art of the great Lysippos.
It is very inspiring to study how the Greeks made humans resemble the gods. We enjoy the passage to the Roman era by looking at Antinoos and then we are attracted to something shining in the distance. The bronze Charioteer. He survived so that we could admire his beauty and elegance and the natural light in the room enhances his long eyelashes and his curly hair.
We took a second pathway to the Pronaia to learn about the rules of the sanctuary and then we drove through a beautiful olive grove back to the ship.
Humans can not only create beautiful art but also transform the landscape. A great example was our next adventure – sailing through the korinth canal. Built in 1881, it changed the shipping routes dramatically and today offers us a lot of fun as well. It led us into the Saronic gulf and towards Athens.
And although we have almost reached our own Ithaka, Athens, I hope that I “have acquired such wisdom, so much experience that I will already have realized what these Ithakas mean” as the great poet Kavafir wrote.
