European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 13, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                The sacred Way an eight mile route from Livadias to the ancient Creek City of Delphi winds through the Rocky terrain. A amps file the Oracle s advice visit Delphi the ruins of the Temple of Apollo stand at the foot of Delphi s Amphitheater. By James Patrick a narrow twisting Road makes its Way slowly up mount Parnassus to the ancient greek City of Delphi. Tourists who follow the eight mile route known As the sacred Way Are travelling the same path used by ancient greeks Rich and poor who flocked to Delphi to seek the guidance of a mysterious Oracle. Questions of every sort a from affairs of state to affairs of the heart a were put before the ancient Oracle inside the Temple of Apollo. After paying a fee and providing an animal for sacrifice a supplicant waited while a priestess went into a trance to communicate with the Oracle. The noises uttered by the priestess were interpreted by a priest and the supplicant had his answer. There is no longer an Oracle to consult but a journey to Delphi today is no less fulfilling. The sacred Way begins in the town of Livadias. It leads up from the Valley past Groves of Olive Trees and along the Rock strewn slopes and the ionian sea gleams far in the distance. About Halfway up the Road is the triple Way where oedipus returning on foot from Delphi is said to have met and killed his father Laius King of Thebes. The Young Man went on to Thebes according to the Story and there married Jocasta a not knowing that she was his Mother. The last stretch of the sacred Way passes through the modern Village of Delphi a picturesque town with hotels restaurants and shops that Cater to tourists before it reaches the ruins of the agora a marketplace at the Edge of the ancient City. Visitors proceed on foot following a Zig Zag path that once was lined with monuments erected in the Oracle s Honor by greek City states. The route today is strewn with the Marble bases of those monuments. The path leads past the ruins of temples erected by Sukyon and siphons to the Treasury of the athenians that doric Temple was reconstructed in 1904 by French archaeologists who used the original blocks of Marble. It was erected in 490 . Following the Battle of Marathon and is said to be the oldest Marble edifice in Europe. Its Walls Are engraved with a hymn to Apollo and sculptures adorn its pediment. After passing the sparse ruins of the Delphi Senate pedestrians reach the Center of ancient Delphi and the Temple of Apollo. Only the altar Stone six doric columns and a support Wall have survived. The remaining Wall known As the polygonal Wall was constructed of precisely fitted Limestone blocks to retain the Terrace on which the Temple was built. It is inscribed with some 800 acts that granted Freedom to slaves during the hellenistic and roman periods. A Steep Amphitheater rises above the Temple of Apollo. It was built of Rock in the fourth Century . And was remodeler by the romans 200 years later and it remains in a Good state of preservation. Dramas and recitals in Apollo s Honor were performed there and As Many As 5,000 people filled the 35 terraces of seats. The top Row offers a sweeping View Over the ruins and across the plei Stos Valley to mount Kirchis. Even farther up set against a Cliff and surrounded by conifers is the stadium also Well preserved where the pythian games were staged. The greek City states competed in these events which included Chariot races cheered on by As Many As 7,000 spectators. Along another path from the Temple of Apollo a a downhill walk of about five minutes a Are the Kartalian Spring and other ruins including those of the Marmara marbles. That Cluster is marked by three elegant columns that stand on the Edge of what once was a round Temple built in the sixth Century . In Honor of the goddess Athena. The Spring is where the Nymph Castalia is said to have drowned herself to escape the attentions of Apollo and it was there that ancient pilgrims performed ablutions to purify themselves before entering Apollo s Sanctuary. And it was from the top of the nearby paid rides rocks that the fable Teller Aesop supposedly was hurled for mocking Delphi ans. Between the Temple of Apollo and the modern Village is the Delphi museum with exhibits from the archaic classical hellenistic and roman eras. Its most famous piece is the charioteer a 2,500-year-old life size Bronze statue that once stood on a Wall High above the Temple of Apollo. The museum opens at 8 45 . 10 . On sundays and holidays and closes at 3 . It is closed on tuesdays. Information on travel in Greece is available from Elli Nikos  Ameriki 2,gr-10564 Athens. To Contact the office in West Germany write to greek tourist office Neue Mainzer Strasse 22, d-6000 Frankfurt 1. Patrick an american who lives and works in Mainz West Germany is a free Lance travel writer. 10 stripes Magazine september 13, 1990