DELPHI ARCHEOLOGICAL AREA An ancient Greek city mentioned in Homeric years by the name of Pytho developed into a pan-Hellenic center and a holy city of the ancient Greeks. In ancient times was a sacred precinct that served as the seat of Pythia the major oracle who was consulted about important decisions throughout the ancient classical world. Perhaps Delphi is best known for its oracle, the Pythia, or sibyl, the priestess prophesying from the tripod in the sunken adyton of the Temple of Apollo. The Pythia was known as a spokesperson for Apollo. She was a woman of blameless life chosen from the peasants of the area. Alone in an enclosed inner sanctum (Ancient Greek adyton – "do not enter") she sat on a tripod seat over an opening in the earth (the "chasm"According to legend, when Apollo slew Python its body fell into this fissure and fumes arose from its decomposing body. Intoxicated by the vapors, the sibyl would fall into a trance, allowing Apollo to possess her spirit.