The first thing that the viewer of the new, interactive tour of the Delphic Sanctuary, created by the Greek World Cultural Center, must answer if he has ever been to the “navel of the earth” as a visitor. The answer is given by pressing the appropriate button on the seat of the “Dome”, the hemispherical virtual reality theater of the “Greek World” where the tour is presented, and, frankly, what is answered does not matter much. Because, whether he sets foot in Delphi or not, he will follow a complete virtual journey for young and old through the space and time of the Delphic sanctuary and oracle, which for centuries has been a cult center and a symbol of unity. ancient Greek world.

The beginning is the same as in ancient times: from the meeting place of religious processions at the beginning of the “Sacred Way”, the central axis of the Delphic sanctuary. On it, especially from 6 to 4 BC. century, when the Delphic oracle prospered, citizens, nobles and representatives of entire cities marched who came to ask for the oracle and who expressed their gratitude to Apollo with impressive offerings. These tributes survived only in the descriptions of Pausanias, on which the interactive tour of the “Hellenic world” at Delphi was based (as well as on the excavation finds). And, as it turned out, these were brilliant vows: a bronze bull, which the people of Corfu dedicated to the god after a great success in fishing in 480 BC, a statue of a Trojan horse commissioned by the Argives in 414 BC. in commemoration of their victorious battle with the Spartans at Tyreus, they are represented here with the help of technology in all its glory.

“Let’s now turn our gaze to the left,” admonishes at one point a Hellenic World museum educator, who took on a live “tour” of Delphi from the microphone and during which she asks educational questions to galvanize audience participation. What we see now is the “Treasure of the Siphnians”, one of the most brilliant and decorated buildings of the Delphic sanctuary, which functioned as a treasury for the inhabitants of Sifnos and their own offerings. The best-preserved part of the building is the north side of its frieze, which depicts the battle of the giants. However, with the help of virtual reality, other depictions of the frieze, such as the Judgment of Paris or the abduction of the Leucippides, can be clearly seen in their real colors. In the corresponding building in Athens, the “Treasury of the Athenians”, the viewer has the opportunity to go inside and admire the many vases, weapons and other offerings, as well as another impressive Athenian vow, the “Stoa of the Athenians”. also presented in its original form.

The interactive tour of the “Hellenic World” was based on the descriptions of Pausanias and the findings of the excavations.

And when they arrive at the temple of Apollo, when they “observe” the bronze statue of the god (dedicated to him by the Greeks after the naval battle of Salamis), when they “surprise” the Plataean tripod (which was transferred to Constantinople in 324 AD), when they admire A column with dancers, the Sphinx of the Naxians and a number of other important monuments, when he especially enters the sanctuary of the temple (leaving behind inscriptions with the sayings of the seven wise men of antiquity or the mysterious Delphic “E” in the pronaos), when he “meets” the Pythia and hears a sample of her oracles, then he now feels, as far as technology allows, that Delphi is here, whole, in front of him. The ancient theater is presented in every detail, and from its upper part a magnificent view of the Delphic landscape opens up. Finally, only selective footage of the archaeological site as it exists today dissolves the virtual reality that was presented in the previous 40 minutes and which was worked on by a team consisting of 3D modelers, programmers, archaeologists, as well as the managing director Foundation of Greater. Hellenism and the head of its research and scientific programs Dimitris Efraimoglou.

Screenings will begin on Thursday, January 5th at the Greek Peace Dome (Piraeus 254).