Castalian Spring

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The Castalian Spring, in the ravine between the Phaedriades at Delphi, is where all visitors to Delphi — the contestants in the Pythian Games, and especially suppliants who came to consult the Delphic Oracle — stopped to wash their hair; and where Roman poets came to receive poetic inspiration. This is also where Apollo killed the monster, Python, and that is why it was considered to be sacred.

Two fountains, which were fed by the sacred spring, still survive. The early 6th century BCE fountain house has a marble-lined basin surrounded by benches. There is also a Hellenistic or Roman fountain with niches hollowed in the rock to receive votive gifts. The Castalian Spring itself predates classical Delphi. The ancient guardian of the spring was the serpent Python, which was killed by Apollo in its lair beside the spring.

This spring in a ravine once provided drinking and washing water for the priestesses who pronounced the oracles here. The spectres of three women are said to sometimes wander the area, which is now closed off to visitors - supposedly because of falling rocks. However, a channel filled with water running from the spring comes out to the pathway.

Other uses

The Castalian Spring became a type for much poetic inspiration, partly by confusing it with the Spring of Pieris. The Castalian Band, a group of poets who supported James VI of Scotland, drew their name from this source.

There is a town named Castalian Springs, Tennessee

Castalia, Ohio: There is a well known Ohio tourist attraction here. The site was named after the famed site in Mythology due to the Blue Hole limestone configurations. These were tourist attractions for many years and are now fish hatcheries for the deptof wildlife. The blue holes are of a constant temperature and never freeze over despite northern Ohio's cold temperatures. The water which averages 30,000 gallons an hour was first use to supply a local mill and was of great value in the early days of the area.

External links

• Livius.org: Castalian Spring

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Last updated on Wednesday March 05, 2008 at 13:50:46 PST (GMT -0800)
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