The story of Klaros begins with a downfall. When seven-gated Thebes was taken by the Epigoni and fell, its people were offered to Delphi as slaves. Among these captives were Apollo's famous seer Teiresias and his daughter Manto. The god commanded the Thebans to found a new homeland, and gave Manto a special charge — to go to the land of Colophon and found an oracle in his name.
When Manto reached Ionia the region was in turmoil: Rhacius, leader of the Cretan settlers, was at war with the native Carians. Learning the newcomers' story, Rhacius married Manto — most likely to forge an alliance against the Carians. Thus the two peoples were united.
And Manto, at the command of Apollo of Delphi, founded the sanctuary. According to ancient writers such as Pausanias, Apollonius of Rhodes and Pomponius Mela, the founder of the centre was Manto, and its founding reaches back to the Mycenaean age.
One account traces the sanctuary's spring to a tear: where Manto wept, burning with homesickness, the sacred spring was born. That water is still there today — in the underground adyton of the Hellenistic temple, at the bottom of the sacred well.
