Greece: Home of the Parthenon & Temple of Apollo at Delphi

Two Pillars of Ancient Greek Civilization

The Parthenon (Athens)

• 447–432 BC; Pericles' project; Ictinus & Callicrates architects; Phidias sculptures
• Doric temple to Athena Parthenos; optical refinements (entasis, curved stylobate)
• Survived as church, mosque, powder magazine; Elgin Marbles controversy
• Acropolis UNESCO site; 3M+ visitors/year

Temple of Apollo (Delphi)

• 6th c. BC (rebuilt 330 BC); "Navel of the World" (omphalos)
• Oracle (Pythia) prophesied from adyton; political, personal, colonial decisions
• Sanctuary complex: theater, stadium, treasuries, Sacred Way
• Delphi UNESCO site; 500k+ visitors/year

Greece's Tourism Engine

18M+ annual visitors. Beyond Athens/Delphi: Santorini, Mykonos, Crete, Meteora, Olympia, Thessaloniki. Antiquity + islands + cuisine + hospitality = enduring magnet.