Corycian Cave

In modern times, the cave has been a place of refuge for the surrounding population during foreign invasions e.g. from the Persians (Herodotus, 8.36) in the 5th century BC, the Turks during the Greek War of Independence, and from the Germans in 1943.

According to author Jeremy McInerney, "Delphi and Mt.Parnassus became, through myth and ritual, landscape in which tensions between wilderness and civilizations... could be narrated, enacted, and organized".

This could be seen in the ritual and in topography where Mt.Parnassus is split into the zones of harsh wilderness at its peaks in contrast to the plateau below that was used for cultivation, and in the center of this, as McInerney says, "... the deeper movement from chaos to order..."[3] was the Corycian Cave.

[4] Some ancient texts describe Corycian Cave as being located in, "…a large oval depression with high rocky walls, where the best saffron grew; it was filled with an agreeable, shady woodland…and at the bottom there opened an underground cavern.

This included 22,000 astragals, which were primarily from sheep and goats, that were made out of talus, a large bone that protrudes from the ankle.

Also in the Corycian Cave, archeologists found a variety of rings, bronze figurines, ceramics, metal objects, as well as several wind instruments such as the auloi.

The earliest evidence of human inhabitance in Corycian Cave dates back to the Neolithic period—around 4000 years BCE.

[6] During the Greek-Persian Wars (499–448 BCE), the inhabitants of ancient Delphi used Corycian Cave as a place to hide from Persian invaders.

As a result, those who traveled from other places to see the monuments of Delphi would occasionally stop by Corycian Cave and leave small votives.

An article by George C. Boon referencing Mela's work reads," 'It terrifies those entering by the sound of cymbals clashing by divine agency and with a great din…Within is a space greater than anyone has ventured to cross, so dreadful it is, and on that account is unknown.'

"[5] Mela's work, as referenced by Boon, suggests that worshipers visiting Corycian Cave may feel fear due to the loud noises, darkness, and vastness of the space.

[5] Worshipers also would have seen water dripping from the ceiling and oozing out of the ground, which gave Corycian Cave a sparkling appearance in areas where light was present.

A shrine to Poseidon was located near the entrance to Typhon's lair, and worshipers felt that this would prevent the monster from escaping and wreaking havoc.

But Typhon twined about him and gripped him in his coils, and wresting the sickle from him severed the sinews of his hands and feet, and lifting him on his shoulders carried him through the sea to Cilicia and deposited him on arrival in the Corycian cave.

(1.6.3)The Corycian nymphs are a mythological group of three sisters who live on Mount Parnassus, and they are the daughters of Pleistus—a river god.

When Apollo killed Delphyne (a monster) near Mount Parnassus, it was said that the Corycian nymphs shouted to support the god and give him strength.

[9] Aided by the intercession of the Corycian Nymphs during his battle with Delphyne, Apollo was able to achieve the power of divination.

This ritual is associated with Pan's involvement in the mythic battle between Zeus and Typhon—which culminated in Typhon being banished to Corycian Cave.

Typhon was a mythological beast, born of Earth and Tartarus and he battled the gods, most notably Zeus.

This transition process involved the maidens of Delphi (assumed to be Thyiades) being sent to the cave and then help escort the god into the sanctuary and honor Dionysus in Apollo’s Temple.