PANORAMIC VIEW OP DELPHI 



The oracle of Apollo at Delphi shared with that of Zeus at Dodona first rank among 

 those of the ancient world. A splendid temple was erected over a deep fissure in the ground, 

 which emitted stupefying vapors thought to be the inspiring breath of Apollo. A priestess 

 seated upon a tripod, overpowered by the exhalations, delivered the messages of the god. 

 No colony was founded without the superintendence of the Delphian god. Croesus was 

 informed that if he undertook an expedition against Persia he would destroy an empire. 

 The end justified the prophecy — his own went down. 



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