ARACHOVA DELPHI Major events c. 1400 BC: first settlement at the site of Delphi. 7th century BC: the seat of the Amphictyony (an association of Greek states) was transferred to Delphi, which was now declared an independent town no longer under the control of the Phocians in whose territory the sanctuary was located. c. 650 BC: the first temple of Apollo was built. 601-591 BC: the First Sacred War: the Amphictyony declared war on the Phocians of Crisa, a neighboring town levying heavy taxes on visitors to the Delphic sanctuary. The Amphictyony defeated the Crisaians and dedicated their territory to the Delphic deities. 582 BC: the Pythian festival was reorganized, now being held every four years. 548 BC: the temple of Apollo was accidentally destroyed by fire. It was rebuilt by the Amphictyony with international contributions (including from the Egyptian king Amasis and the Lydian king Croesus). The contractors for the construction were the Alcmaeonids, a wealthy Athenian family. 480 BC: Xerxes' invading army headed for Delphi to plunder its rich temple, and was supposed to have been warded off by Apollo's divine intervention in the form of a rock fall. 447 BC: the Second Sacred War: the Amphictyony successfully fought the Phocians to restore the independence of Delphi, which had been taken over by the Phocians. 373 BC: the second temple of Apollo was destroyed by an earthquake. It was rebuilt with pan-Hellenic contributions (369-339 BC). 356-345 BC: the Third Sacred War: the neighboring Phocians once again occupied Delphi and plundered the temple of Apollo to finance their war against Thebes. The Amphictyony finally appealed to Philip of Macedon for help, who drove out the Phocians, but not without appropriating the two votes allotted to Delphi in the Amphictyonic council. 339 BC: the Fourth Sacred War: the Amphictyony, again led by Philip of Macedon, defeated the Locrians. 279 BC: Gauls plundered the sanctuary. 86 BC: Sulla plundered the sanctuary. 83 BC: Barbarians from Thrace plundered the sanctuary and set fire to the temple. Early 2nd century AD: The sanctuary enjoyed a brief period of renewed interest on the part of the philhellenic emperor Hadrian, who undertook some building. 4th century AD: Constantine's (312-337 AD) conversion to Christianity gave further impetus to the decline of Delphi's significance, a decline that couldn't be reversed by Julian's (361-363 AD) brief attempt to revive 'pagan' religion. 394 AD: Theodosios prohibited the cult of Apollo and the celebration of the Pythian games.

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