DELOS, di'-/Cs, also called Lagia, Ortygia, Asterla, Chlamidia, Pelasgla, Cyn thus, and Om,thus, was the central isle of the Cyclades, north of Naxos, and called Delos from its suddenly appearing on the surface of the sea by Neptune's power, to give Latana v.) a place for the birth of Apollo and Diana, with whose divinities it was especially associated. The isle was reckoned sacred, and the Persians left it untouched in their invasion. It was unlawful for a dog to enter it, or a man to die or a child be born on it ; and when the Athenians were ordered to purify it, 426 B.C„ they removed all the human bones they could find to the neighbouring islands, and transferred to the adjacent isle, Rhenea, all labouring under dangerous diseases. Asteria (q. v.) was said to have been changed into this isle. It was peopled by Ionians, and was the seat of the trea sury (afterwards transferred to Athens) of the Greek confederacy against Persia, 47o-46i B.C. DELPHI, delc„Ohi, or Pyrrio, 0'4/0 (from the Py.hon killed there by Apollo), a town of Phocis, in a valley on the south-west of Mount Parnassus, named from Delphus, the son of Apollo, was famous for Apollo's temple and Oracle, whose authority was unquestioningly accepted throughout the ancient world, and which was regarded as of remote antiquity even in the days of Homer. According to
some, Terra, Neptune, and Themis gave, oracles there before Apollo. The Oracle was discovered by a shepherd, who observed that his goats were affected by a vapour ascending from a fissure in Mount Parnassus: and he himself, going near it, was seized with a fit of enthusiasm, and uttered wild expressions which passed for prophecies. For the manner of delivering the oracles see PrrritA. The temple was destroyed and rebuilt several times. Rich presents were made by those who consulted it, and it was the storehouse of the wealth of many of the Greek states. It was plundered by the Phocians (see SACRUM BELLUM), Nero, and Constantine the Great. Delphi was sup posed to be in the centre of the earth, and therefore styled the terra umbilicus (ryijc "navel of the earth."