In 448 BC, the Second Sacred War began, as the Lacedaemonians, Phocians, Athenians, and Delphians all fought over who would control the oracle. Eventually, the war ended in 421 in the Peace of Nicias, allowing the Delphians to retain the oracle. In 373 BC, the temple was once again destroyed, this time by an Earthquake. A second international effort rebuilt the temple.

Third Sacred War occurred when Phocians seized Delphi after being fined for cultivating a part of the Krisaean plain. Philip of Macedon intervened and the temple was given back to the Amphictyonic League in 346. The Fourth Sacred War was started when the Amphissans were accused of cultivating the Krisaean plan and were crushed by Philip of Macedon in 338 BC.