Phocis

Phocis is an ancient region in central Greece, named for the Phocians, a Greek people who inhabited the interior of the mainland. Its heartland lay around Mount Parnassus, with the sanctuary at Delphi shaping its political and cultural prominence. The terrain is largely mountainous, with valleys that supported agriculture and religious centers.

Delphi, located on the slopes of Parnassus, was the most famous site in Phocis, housing the oracle of Apollo and a major Panhellenic cult center. Phocian influence extended through the Amphictyonic Council, a religious association that controlled the sanctuary and coordinated regional cults, temple maintenance, and religious games across the Greek world.

In classical times, Phocis played a central role in regional politics and religion. The most significant event was the Sacred War (mid-4th century BCE), in which Phocis attempted to use Delphi’s treasury to extend its control over surrounding areas. A coalition of other Greek states opposed them, and the conflict ended with Phocis losing influence and altering the balance of power in central Greece, with Thebes and later Macedon rising to prominence.

Under Hellenistic and Roman rule, Phocis remained a recognized geographic and political area within the broader Greek world. In modern times, Phocis is a regional unit of Central Greece, with Amfissa as its capital. Delphi remains a major archaeological site and a key attractor for tourism and scholarship, reflecting the region’s enduring historical and cultural significance.