Description

The sanctuary and oracle of Apollo at Delphi was known as the omphalos, the ‘belly-button’ of the ancient world for more than 1000 years. A divine location ruled by Apollo, but where a plethora of other gods were also honoured, Delphi was the predominant oracular site of the Greek world.

Consulted by individuals and communities, the Delphic oracle played a major role in Greek polis and inter-state politics, society and warfare, and the process of colonisation.  But the site also hosted other manifestations of religious worship such as the Pythian Games, numerous festivals, monumental dedications, and competitive interaction.

In this course, we will unpack the rich history and changing character of Delphi as a centre of worship through a wide range of material and literary sources. We will examine the physical remains of the sanctuary, discuss how it developed over time, and how the visitors and the different Greek communities interacted with the sacred space.

This class will meet on Zoom on Tuesdays for 8 weeks from 14th January 2024 at 19:30-21:00 (GMT). Dates for the spring term: Tuesday 14th January, 21st January, 28th January, 4th February, (mid-term break on 11th February), 18th February, 25th February, 4th March, and 11th March 2025. All material will be provided and no knowledge of ancient Greek is required.

Tutor: Dr Katerina Kolotourou.

This course complements the OCR Classical Civilisation GCSE and A level qualifications in the UK, and as such would be of value to students and teachers, as well as being of interest to anyone fascinated by the ancient Greek world.

The class will proceed subject to a minimum number of enrolments.

Cancellation policy: students will receive a full refund if the student cancels their registration more than two weeks before the class begins. Students will receive 50% refund if the student cancels their registration 8-14 days before the class begins.