How the crowds must have roared in the now-ancient stadium dating back to the fifth century B.C, set high above the sanctuary once thought of as the center of the world.

Throngs of robed spectators some 7,000 strong watched as 17 or 18 runners per race ran various distances on the grassy track one stade long—about 200 yards—with the winners awarded a wreath of laurel.

Today, the stone stadium doesn’t see racers but there are still throngs of tourists hiking up the Mount Parnassos’ Sacred Way to the well-maintained ruins of Delphi. They come to see the stadium perched at the highest point in the city, once known as a place to seek wisdom from the oracle, Apollo’s terrestrial spokesman.

About 100 miles northwest of bustling Athens, Delphi is indeed a stop on the must-see list of those visiting the land of fascinating ruins called Greece. It’s also necessary for those interested in being immersed in history, lore, archaeology, early sport, and heaps of imagination.

Pilgrims would make their way to the stone city to get advice from the Delphi Oracle on matters ranging from fortunes to religion. It was believed Apollo, god of the sun, spoke through the oracle.

Now a UNESCO World Heritage site, the archaeological location hosts what’s left of the Sanctuary of Apollo and many impressive monuments around the temple.

Also striking is the theater dating back to the fourth century B.C. Home to the Pythian Festival, the theater is where musicians with flutes and lyres would come to play hymns honoring Apollo.

And it’s also a place where tourists from all over the world stand tall with mighty columns as a backdrop to have their photos taken or seemingly stop in mid-stride for a selfie, oblivious that the planet has other people on it.

Still, the trek to the site’s top is well worth it, as often umbrella-carrying visitors using the parasol to repel the sun’s glare don’t reach there.

On an early afternoon spring trip, the roped-off stadium didn’t have many gawkers and those there were respectful in their quietness of their surroundings. What it must have been like to sit in that stadium. Originally, there were either no seats or ones constructed of wood. It wasn’t until the second century A.D. that the marble (some accounts say limestone) seats now in place were constructed.

On the north side, it looked like it was cut into rock while terraced walls supported the south side. Judges sat at the north side of the stadium. In the east, a monumental three arches marked the entrance. The three arches were supported by four pillars with the two central ones affixed with niches for statues.

Near those arches were the starting point for the races.

An ancestor to the modern Olympic games, the stadium held the Pythian Games every four years. As one of four Panhellenic Games of Ancient Greece, they were held in honor of Apollo and also featured performances in the theater. The athletic contests were held on the fifth day of the festivities, which lasted between six and eight days.

On that field, runners ran the long-distance dolichos of 24 stades, the sprint one-stade sadion, and the two-stade diaulos.

Competitors tried their skills in the pentathlon, consisting of running, wrestling, jumping, discus throwing, and javelin tossing.

The final competition must have been something. It was called a hoplite. Military in origin, athletes raced two to four stades wearing only a helmet, shin protectors called greaves, and carried a shield.

Talk about must-see.

Images by Marty Basch