The
Castalian Spring, in the
ravineA ravine is a very small valley—almost like a canyon but narrower—which is often the product of streamcutting erosion. Ravines are typically classified as larger in scale than gullies, although smaller than valleys. A ravine is generally a slope landform of relatively steep sides, on the order...
between the
PhaedriadesIn Greece, the Phaedriades were the pair of cliffs, ca 700 m high on the lower southern slope of Mt. Parnassos, which enclose the sacred site of Delphi, the center of the Hellenic world. Strabo, Plutarch and Pausanias all mentioned the Phaedriades in describing the site, a narrow valley of the...
at
DelphiDelphi is both an archaeological site and a modern town in Greece on the south-western spur of Mount Parnassus in the valley of Phocis...
, is where all visitors to Delphi — the contestants in the
Pythian GamesThe Pythian Games were one of the four Panhellenic Games of Ancient Greece, a forerunner of the modern Olympic Games, held every four years at the sanctuary of Apollo at Delphi....
, and especially suppliants who came to consult the
Delphic OracleThe Pythia was the priestess presiding over the Oracle of Apollo at Delphi, located on the slopes of Mount Parnassus. The Pythia was widely credited with giving prophecies inspired by Apollo, giving her a prominence unusual for a woman in male-dominated ancient Greece. The Delphic oracle was...
— stopped to wash their hair; and where Roman poets came to receive poetic inspiration. This is also where
ApolloIn Greek and Roman mythology, Apollo , is one of the most important and many-sided of the Olympian deities...
killed the monster,
PythonIn Greek mythology Python, serpent, was the earth-dragon of Delphi, always represented in Greek sculpture and vase-paintings as a serpent. She presided at the Delphic oracle, which existed in the cult center for her mother, Gaia, Earth, Pytho being the place name that was substituted for the...
, and that is why it was considered to be sacred.
Two
fountainA fountain is a piece of architecture which pours water into a basin or jets it into the air either to supply drinking water or for decorative or dramatic effect....
s, which were fed by the sacred spring, still survive.
The
Castalian Spring, in the
ravineA ravine is a very small valley—almost like a canyon but narrower—which is often the product of streamcutting erosion. Ravines are typically classified as larger in scale than gullies, although smaller than valleys. A ravine is generally a slope landform of relatively steep sides, on the order...
between the
PhaedriadesIn Greece, the Phaedriades were the pair of cliffs, ca 700 m high on the lower southern slope of Mt. Parnassos, which enclose the sacred site of Delphi, the center of the Hellenic world. Strabo, Plutarch and Pausanias all mentioned the Phaedriades in describing the site, a narrow valley of the...
at
DelphiDelphi is both an archaeological site and a modern town in Greece on the south-western spur of Mount Parnassus in the valley of Phocis...
, is where all visitors to Delphi — the contestants in the
Pythian GamesThe Pythian Games were one of the four Panhellenic Games of Ancient Greece, a forerunner of the modern Olympic Games, held every four years at the sanctuary of Apollo at Delphi....
, and especially suppliants who came to consult the
Delphic OracleThe Pythia was the priestess presiding over the Oracle of Apollo at Delphi, located on the slopes of Mount Parnassus. The Pythia was widely credited with giving prophecies inspired by Apollo, giving her a prominence unusual for a woman in male-dominated ancient Greece. The Delphic oracle was...
— stopped to wash their hair; and where Roman poets came to receive poetic inspiration. This is also where
ApolloIn Greek and Roman mythology, Apollo , is one of the most important and many-sided of the Olympian deities...
killed the monster,
PythonIn Greek mythology Python, serpent, was the earth-dragon of Delphi, always represented in Greek sculpture and vase-paintings as a serpent. She presided at the Delphic oracle, which existed in the cult center for her mother, Gaia, Earth, Pytho being the place name that was substituted for the...
, and that is why it was considered to be sacred.
Two
fountainA fountain is a piece of architecture which pours water into a basin or jets it into the air either to supply drinking water or for decorative or dramatic effect....
s, which were fed by the sacred spring, still survive. The archaic 6th century BCE fountain house has a
marbleMarble is a non foliated metamorphic rock resulting from the metamorphism of limestone, composed mostly of calcite . It is extensively used for sculpture, as a building material, and in many other applications...
-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 a well of poetic inspiration, partly by confusing it with the Spring of Pieris. The
Castalian BandThe Castalian Band was a group of poets, or makars, in the Scottish court of James VI. It was consciously modelled on the French example of the Pléiade and flourished in the decades before the 1603 Union of Crowns. Music played an important part and many members of the circle were musicians...
, a group of poets or makars associated with the Court of James VI of
ScotlandScotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
(including the king himself) drew their name from this source.
There is a town named
Castalian SpringsCastalian Springs is an unincorporated community in Sumner County, Tennessee, United States. It is located along Tennessee State Route 25 about seven miles east of Gallatin, Tennessee. The area has its own post office. The Zip Code for Castalian Springs is 37031...
in
TennesseeTennessee is a state located in the Southeastern United States. According to the 2008 census, it has a population of 6,214,888, an increase of nearly 9.5% since 2000. Tennessee is the 14th fastest growing state in the US and is ranked 17th by population. It is ranked 36th by total land area. In...
.
In
Castalia, OhioCastalia is a village in Erie County, Ohio, United States. The population was 935 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Sandusky, Ohio Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Castalia is located at ....
, named after the famed site, the Blue Hole limestone configurations were tourist attractions for many years and are now fish hatcheries. Waters in 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 used to supply a local mill.
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