The cave consists of two main chambers and continues deeper through a narrow tunnel. The first chamber is especially impressive, reaching a height of up to 50 meters and measuring approximately 90 × 60 meters. It is filled with stalactites, while clusters of stalagmites appear around its perimeter. One prominent formation, with a broad flat surface, is known as the “Table” and is believed to have served as a place where ancient pilgrims left offerings, as worship at the cave continued throughout antiquity.
Archaeological excavations conducted in 1970–1971 by Pierre Amandry uncovered thousands of finds, including ceramic vessels and clay objects, as well as more than 25,000 animal bones, likely associated with ritual and divinatory practices. Many of these discoveries are now displayed in the Archaeological Museum of Delphi.
During the Persian invasion of 480 BC, the inhabitants of Delphi reportedly sought refuge in the Corycian Cave, as its small and inconspicuous entrance could easily escape the attention of invading forces. To the right of the entrance, a rock inscription can still be seen today, reading:
“Eustratos, son of Alkidemos, of Ambryssos, together with fellow worshippers, [dedicates this] to Pan and the Nymphs,”
dated to the 4th–3rd century BC. Inside the cave, another engraved inscription reads:
“Pausanias and I came to Delphi.”
The Corycian Cave remains one of the most evocative natural and sacred sites of Mount Parnassus, combining mythology, archaeology, and dramatic natural beauty in a setting that has inspired awe for millennia.
