Philosophy:Delphic Idea

Eva Palmer, Angelos Sikelianos and others in 1930 at the Second Delphic Festival.

The Delphic Idea was a universal vision of the Greek poet Angelos Sikelianos for the formation of a global spiritual community with the aim of spiritual elevation and brotherhood of peoples by placing the ideals of ancient Greek civilization at the center. The Delphic Idea refers to the revival of the spirit of ancient Delphi as a center of global unity, cultural renaissance and spiritual awakening through art, science, tradition and humanitarian values. The Delphic Idea is the condensation of the basic principles of ancient Greek thought and philosophy, in particular freedom of thought, the cultivation of scientific excellence, the promotion of culture and spiritual life in general. The University of Athens, in collaboration with the Municipality of Delphi, established in 2005 the revival of the Delphic Idea, continuing the work of Angelos Sikelianos.

Background

The ancient Greek spiritual atmosphere deeply concerned Sikelianos and he conceived the idea, the Delphic Idea, to create in Delphi a global spiritual core capable of synthesizing the contradictions of the peoples. To this end, Sikelianos, with the support and financial assistance of his wife Eva Palmer, gave numerous lectures and published studies and articles. At the same time, he organized the Delphic Festivals in Delphi, where the tragedies of Aeschylus were presented in the ancient theater of Delphi, Prometheus Bound in 1927 at the First Delphic Festival, and The Suppliants in 1930 at the Second Delphic Festival. During the Second Delphic Festival, the poet also delivered the Delphic Appeal. The Delphic Idea, in addition to the ancient performances, also included the Delphic Union, a world association for the brotherhood of peoples, and the Delphic University, whose goal would be to synthesize the traditions of all peoples into a single myth. For these initiatives, in 1929, the Academy of Athens awarded Sikelianos the silver medal for his valiant effort to revive the Delphic Games. Of this ambitious plan, the only one that was ultimately realized was the Delphic Festival, but even this led to financial ruin and the couple's separation, since Eva Palmer had since settled in America and returned only after the poet's death.

The European Cultural Delphi Centre (E.C.D.C.) was officially founded in 1977 with the aim of creating a global intellectual hub in Delphi, continuing Sikelianos’ vision.