|Archaeological Site of Delphi| |Name as inscribed on the World
Heritage List| The theatre, seen from above |Criteria||i, ii,
iii, iv, v and vi| |Inscription||1987 (12th Session)| Delphi was
the site of the Delphic oracle, the most important oracle in the
classical Greek world, and became a major site for the worship
of the god Apollo after he slew Python, a dragon who lived there
and protected the navel of the Earth. Python (derived from the
verb pythein, "to rot") is claimed by some to be the original
name of the site in recognition of Python which Apollo
defeated.2 The Homeric Hymn to Delphic Apollo recalled that the
ancient name of this site had been Krisa.3 Apollo's sacred
precinct in Delphi was a panhellenic sanctuary, where every four
years, starting in 586 BC4 athletes from all over the Greek
world competed in the Pythian Games, one of the four panhellenic
(or stephanitic) games, precursors of the Modern Olympics. The
victors at Delphi were presented with a laurel crown (stephanos)
which was ceremonia