the South section of the Sanctuary of Apollo
the South Section of the Sanctuary of Apollo
3) The Bronze bull of the Corkyrans
Period: First half of the 5th c. B.C.
Entering the Temenos*, on the right, a large rectangular stone pedestal can be seen, which is parallel to the Sacred Way. This is where the Corkyrans (islanders of Kerkyra -Corfu-) dedicated the monumental Bronze Bull, a power symbol, after their victory against the Syracuse (490-470 B.C.).
The rectangular stone pedestal of the Bull of the Corkyrans. In the background the columns of the Temple of Apollo.
The Bronze bull of the Corkyrans - a modern reconstruction
Temenos: In Ancent Greece the temenos was a piece of land assigned as an official domain for or dedicated to the gods.
the South Section of the Sanctuary of Apollo
4) The Admirals of the Spartans (37 statues)
Period: approx. 404 B.C.
Across from the Corkyrans’ bronze bull, Sparta placed an imposing votive offering with thirty-seven bronze statues, commemorating their victory at the Battle of Aegospotami (405 B.C.), which marked the end of the Peloponnesian War with the defeat of Athens.
The votive offering was placed in the most publicly visible place of the sanctuary close to the entrance, so it would be situated in front of the Athenian’s monument commemorating their victory in Marathon. The Athenian’s monument was set a little more to the west and had been there for years.
With nearly three times the number of statues, which came from the spoils of their victory against the Athenians, the Spartans wanted to overshadow the Athenian’s monument, so it wouldn’t be seen first upon entering the Delphi sanctuary.
the South Section of the Sanctuary of Apollo
5) Ex-voto of the Arcadians (9 statues)
Period: approx. 371 B.C.
A nine meter oblong base made of stone, belonging to the Arcadian votive offering, with nine bronze statues: Apollo, Nike, Callisto, Arkas, Elatus, Apheidas, Azan, Triphyllos and Erasos as the inscriptions attest to according to the position of each statue.
The names of the respective artists are also mentioned: Pausanias of Apollonia, Antiphanes of Argos, Samolas from Arcadia and Daedalus from Sicyon.
The location of the monument with the Arcadian gods and heroes is not coincidental: it is located opposite the Spartan votive, perpetually stating their victory in Leuktra, in 371 B.C., which exonerated them from Spartan rule.
the South Section of the Sanctuary of Apollo
6) The Statue of mounted Philopoimen
Period: approx. 207 B.C.
The statue of the General of the Achaean League Philopoemen from Megalopolis, Arcadia, was dedicated by the Achaean public, which is indicated on the votive inscription of the pedestal glorifying the bravery of the Arcadian men from Megalopolis:
ΤΟ)ΚΟΙΝΟΝ ΤΩΝ ΑΧΑΙΩΝ ΦΙ
ΛΟ) ΠΟΙΜΕΝΑ ΚΡΑΥΓΙΟΣ ΜΕ
ΓΑΛΟΠΟΛΙΤΑΝ, ΑΡΕΤΑΣ ΕΝΕ
ΚΕΝ ΚΑΙ ΕΥΝΟΙΑΣ ΤΑΣ ΕΣ Α(Υ
ΤΟΥΣ
=
the Achaean League
Philopoemen from Megalopolis, son of Kraugias
for his vertues
In Philopoemen’s biography, both Plutarch and Polybius mention that the statue was made from bronze and portrays Philopoemen casting his javelin spear and killing Machanidas -a Spartan leader-, dead to the ground, in front of his horse.
Philopoemen was named by an anonymous Roman as «the last of the Greeks» for his action before the Roman conquest.
The statue depicts the confrontation between the Achaean League and the Spartans in Mantinea during 207 B.C. and the defeat of the last tyrant of Sparta.
the South Section of the Sanctuary of Apollo
7) Stoa
Period: approx. 405 - 407 B.C.
Unknown stoa (portico).
the South Section of the Sanctuary of Apollo
8) Ex-voto of the Athenians to commemorate their victory at Marathon
Period: approx. 460 B.C.
The monument is comprised of 13 statues created by Phidias, during approx. 456 B.C.
The precise location of the monument is not specified. Based on the archaeological findings and the claim by Pausanias that he have seen it "under the Trojan Horse".
It can be concluded that the Ex-voto of the Athenians would had been found along the path of the Sacred Way. Just behind it, would be standing on a highest pedestal the bronze Trojan Horse. A total of sixteen bronze statues were included, depicting a movement which connected them all towards the direction of the Sacred Way.
According to Pausanias, the thirteen statues were works of the then young Phidias. The statue of victorious Miltiades stood between those of Apollo and Athena together with the statues of the mythical heroes and kings of Athens: Codrus, Theseus, Phileus (perhaps Neleus or Menestheas). Another seven famous athenaean heroes of the old Athenian tribes continued in the same line.
The monument was dedicated much later to the Battle of Marathon, during the years of Cimon, Miltiades' son, around 460 B.C., when Athens wanted to rectify the injustice that had been done to the glorious victor who died as a prisoner in jail.
None of these early classical period works were found in Delphi. However, in 1972, two exceptional pieces of artwork -2 bronze statues- that were recovered from the bottom of the sea near the ancient Regio of Calabria in Sicily, were attributed to this monument. It is believed that the statues depict a hero from one of the old Athenian tribes and either Miltiades of Phileus. All special votive offerings were dedicated to the Tithe after the victories against the Spartans, at Oinoi (460 B.C.), at Thyrea (414 B.C.) and at Leuktra (371 B.C.), and included about 30 bronze statues and groups.
With this offering Athens seeks 1) its connection with its mythical ancestors and heroes, the mythical expeditions and the Trojan War, 2) to perpetuate its glory and to strengthen its ties with Thebes, after the victory with Epameinondas, but also 3) to overshadow Sparta's votive.
the South Section of the Sanctuary of Apollo
9) Bronze «Trojan Horse»
Period: approx. 414 B.C.
The city of Argos dedicated a bronze Trojan Horse to Apollo at Delphi after their victory against the Spartans in Thyrea’s frontier war (414 B.C.).
It acted as a reminder of the renowned incident of the Trojan War and their participation in it together with Agamemnon and Diomedes.
Antiphanes of Argos was the creator of the monument, who later worked for Sparta’s votive, as well as for the votive of the kings of Argos and the Arcadians.
the South Section of the Sanctuary of Apollo
10) Statues of the «Seven against Thebes»
Period: approx. 456 B.C.
In 460 B.C. the Argives along with the Athenians defeated the Spartans in the battle of Oenoe and removed the prestigious icon of the «invincible» army.
With a tenth of the spoils, they created a votive called «Seven on Thebes». It presented the statues of the leaders of the mythical Argos expedition against Thebes with Polynices and Adrastus, Tydeus, Capaneus, Hippomedon, Parthenopeus, as well as Amphiaraus with his chariot and Baton the charioteer.
According to Pausanias, the statues were created by the artists Hypatodoros and Aristogeiton.
the South Section of the Sanctuary of Apollo
11) Statues of the «Epigones»
Period: approx. 456 B.C.
There was a third Argive votive with the “Epigones”, the name given to the sons of Generals who fell during the siege of Thebes. It stood to the west of the «Seven of Thebes» offering, on a semi-circular pedestal.
On the pedestal is an inscription that reads in large letters: "ARGEOI ANETHEN TO APOLLONI" (Offering of the inhabitants of the city of Argos to Apollo) a dedication to the god Apollo.
Thus, the previous story continued, the children taking revenge on the death of their fathers: Aegialeus, son of Adrastus; Alcmaeon, son of Amphiaraus; Amphilochus, son of Amphiaraus; Diomedes, son of Tydeus; Euryalus, son of Mecisteus; Promachus son of Parthenopaeus; Sthenelus son of Capaneus; Thersander son of Polynices. They all campaigned against and took over Thebes.
The semi-circular votive offering with the slate on which the Epigiones statues stood has a diameter of 12.70 meters . It dates back to the early 5th century B.C. and is the oldest of the four votive offerings of the city of Argos at the Sacred Way.
the South Section of the Sanctuary of Apollo
12) The Kings of Argos
Period: approx. 369 B.C.
In front of the semi-circular platform with the Statues of «Epigones», is another similar one. The two semi-circular platforms are forming a cercle separated in two by the Sacred Way between them, enclosing and perpetuating the mythical glory of the city of Argos.
This second semi-circular platform, with the inscription: ARGEION – Argives, is the fourth dedication of the city of Argos with the heroes and kings of Argos.
The semi-circular platform with the Statues of the Kings of Argos
It included, as the inscriptions show, nine or ten statues: beginning from Danaus, the mythical Danean leader and King of Argos, in the middle of the platform. The lineage would continue to the left, with Hypermnestra, «Lynceus and the whole breed of heroes, up to Heracles, and even before that to Perseus» as Pausanias writes.
On the podiums of the statues are the names: Lynceus, Abas, Acrisius, Danaë, Perseus, Electryon, Alcmena and Heracles, at the beginning on the left, with the signature of the artist Antiphanes of Argos: «Αντιφάνης εποίησε Αργείος» (Antiphanis from Argos made).
The votive with the heroes and kings of Argos was made for the occasion of the foundation of Messina in 369 B.C., but activities were perhaps interrupted during the Third Sacred War * (355-346 B.C.) without their completion.
The platform is larger than the opposite one, with a diameter of 13.72 m, but it seems that there were no statues on the right side.
Sacred Wars: A series of wars
First Sacred War or Cirraean War: was fought between the Amphictyonic League of Delphi and the city of Kirrha. The conflict arose due to Kirrha's frequent robbery and mistreatment of pilgrims going to Delphi and their encroachments upon Delphic land. The war, which culminated with the defeat and destruction of Kirrha, is notable for the use of chemical warfare at the Siege of Kirrha, in the form of hellebore being used to poison the city's water supply. The war's end was marked by the organization of the first Pythian Games.
Second Sacred War (Part of the First Peloponnesian War) - 440s B.C. was a conflict over the occupation of the Temple of Apollo at Delphi: Spartans quickly removed the Athenian-backed Phocians and returned stewardship to the Delphians. After the Spartans left, however, an Athenian army—led by Pericles—took the city and re-installed Phocian rule.
Third Sacred War: (356–346 B.C.) was fought between the forces of the Delphic Amphictyonic League, principally represented by Thebes, and latterly by Philip II of Macedon, and the Phocians. The war was caused by a large fine imposed in 357 BC on the Phocians by the Amphictyonic League (dominated at that moment by the city of Thebes), for the offense of cultivating sacred land; refusing to pay, the Phocians instead seized the Temple of Apollo in Delphi, and used the accumulated treasures to fund large mercenary armies.
the South Section of the Sanctuary of Apollo
13) Ex-voto of the Tarentines
Period: approx. 473 B.C.
In this area, a 12 meter long pedestal and votive inscriptions were discovered. These were erected in Delphi by the Spartan colony of Taras (Taranto, in South Italy), in 473 B.C. after a victory against the native tribes of the Messapions.
the South Section of the Sanctuary of Apollo
14) the Treasury of the Sicyonians
Period: approx. 6th c. B.C.
Sicyon, was a city on the Peloponnesian coasts of the Corinthian Sea, which flourished during the Archaic period and the early 6th century B.C.
The name of "Sicyonian Treasury" is a generic name given to three different and successive buildings of the 6th century BC. The treasury itself replaced two former buildings as mentioned by Pausanias, namely the tholos and the monopteros, built by the same city at an earlier stage within the 6th century.
The earlier buildings were related to the victories of the tyrant Cleisthenes of Sicyon in the course of the First Sacred War. Their replacement probably marks the change in tide in Sicyonian politics.
The Treasury of the Sicyonians on the left of the Sacred Way (direction to the Temple of Apollo).
This open-sided, roofed structure was supported by fourteen small columns of doric order *: five columns on each longer side and four others on the smaller sides. They held a Doric frieze where triglyphs were placed only over the columns, resulting in fourteen metopes of unusual width sculpted in high relief and painted; detail was added with contrasting color and sometimes incision.
On the inside, there was no alcove and open as it was the building looked more like a shelter and thus it led to the conjecture that it hosted the chariot with which Cleisthenes, the tyrant of the Sicyon, won at the first Pythian games of 582 B.C.
This building, with its sculptural decorations, is the oldest one found in Delphi- including its five metopes that survived, which are of great importance to the history of art.
Of the original fourteen metopes, substantial portions of four as well as smaller fragments of others were found in 1894, scattered around the foundations of the later treasury. They show: 1) the Dioscuri, twins worshipped at the town of Sicyon, returning with others from a cattle raid; 2) The boar of Kalydon; 3) Zeus in the guise of a bull abducting Europa; 4) Jason’s ship Argo (illustrated). These myths have particular meaning for Sicyon but were still unusual subject matter, which is maybe why the names of the characters were originally added in paint. The sculptures are very inventive for their date. The Europa relief in particular is notable for capturing a fleeting moment, and for the female figure being in proportion to the animal; most archaic sculpture of this period was not concerned with the accuracy of relative sizes.
doric, ionian and corinthian order: are Greek architectural orders regarding the structure of an entablature. In each order the proportions of the subdivisions (architrave, frieze, cornice) are defined by the proportions of the column.
doric order
ionic order
corinthian order
monopteros: is a circular colonnade supporting a roof but without any walls. Unlike a tholos (in its wider sense as a circular building), it does not have walls making a cella or room inside.
the South Section of the Sanctuary of Apollo
15) Statues of the Knidians
Period: approx. 6th c. B.C.
Next to the Treasure of Sikyon, there are remains of the bases where statues had been dedicated to Apollo at Delphi by the inhabitants of the Asia Minor town of Knidos in the 6th century B.C.
the South Section of the Sanctuary of Apollo
16) Votive offering of the Aetolians
Period: approx. 3rd c. B.C.
On the rectangular stone pedestal, across from the Sacred Way, there was a monument dedicated by the Aitolians around the 3rd century B.C.
It included, as it appears from the sculptured bases, some statues from the time of the Aetolian hegemony in Delphi.
the South Section of the Sanctuary of Apollo
17) Treasury of the Siphnians
Period: 530 B.C.
The Treasury of the Siphnians is the most important in Delphi. It is dated precisely around 530 B.C., a truly prosperous period for the island of Siphnos, thanks to the gold and silver mines which were discovered there. They dedicated the tithe of their income to Apollo at Delphi.
Sideview of the Siphnian Treasury
With an Ionian-like style, it was the first building made entirely by marble on Mainland Greece. It is among the finest monumental buildings in Delphi. The preserved decorative wealth are unique examples of Ionic architectural sculpture. The entrance of the treasury is located in the west, where was a small courtyard entoured by polygonal walls.
the Siphnian treasury - reconstruction by A. Tournaire
Two female statues - Caryatids* – between the pilasters replaced the columns of the gateway, according to the prototype of the Oriental temples.
The eastern and northern sides of the frieze were in an optimum place and could be seen through the entrance which was visible by the pilgrims ascending the Sacred Way. The stormy scenes of the Trojan War and the Gigantomachy * were considered to be the peak of archaic sculptures, as was the pediment with the Delphic legend of Heracles' dispute with Apollo over Pythia's divine tripod.
the East frieze of the treasury (exposed at the Archaeological Museum of Delphi)
the North frieze of the treasury (exposed at the Archaeological Museum of Delphi)
At the entrance of the imposing Treasure, which Herodotus describes as «immensely rich», a Delphian resolution was engraved in the 4th century B.C.:
DELPHOI APEDOKAN SIFNIOIS TAN PRO)MANTIAN ARXONTOS ARISTOMAXOY
which states that the Promanteia's * right was given to the island of Siphnos when the island was under the leadership of Aristomahos (in the 6th century B.C.).
Caryatid: is a sculpted female figure serving as an architectural support taking the place of a column or a pillar supporting an entablature on her head.
Gigantomachy one of the most popular myths in Greece, is the battles between the Olympian gods and Giants in antiquity. According to the myth, the Giants attacked the gods, but the Olympians learned that they could only emerge victorious if a mortal helped them. The gods therefore called Heracles to aid them, and they won the battle.
Promanteia: In the course of the classical period the priests of Delphi established a series of honours bestowed upon those who offered benefactions to the sanctuary, whether they were cities or individuals. The institution of promanteia was one of the privileges offered initially to cities which had offered aided the sanctuary financially. Promanteia was in fact the right to acquire an oracle before the others (yet still after the priests and the citizens of Delphi). Given the fact that oracle-giving was taking place on specific – and limited – periods of time, this right could actually be very important.
the South Section of the Sanctuary of Apollo
18) Ex-voto of the Liparians
Period: approx. 3rd c. B.C.
Τhe statues of the Liparians are located on the sculptured bases west of the Treasury of the Siphnians.
The settlers, originating from the small Asia Minor island of Knidos, lived on the Aeolian Islands *, as mentioned in the Homeric poems.
On one of them, Lipari, they built a city where they settled permanently. However, they still were facing the raids of the pirates of the Tyrrhenian Sea, as shown by the dedications to Delphi regarding their victories. Only the dedicatory inscriptions were preserved:
LIPARAIOI APO TYRSANNNON APPOLONI
KNIDIOI TOI EL LIPARAI
TODE TO MNAMA APO TYRSANON
A tribute to Apollo, from the settlers of Knidos when they fought the Tyrrhenian * pirates
Aeolian Islands: sometimes referred to as the Lipari Islands or Lipari group (after their largest island), are a volcanic archipelago in the Tyrrhenian Sea north of Sicily, said to be named after Aeolus, the mythical ruler of the winds.
Tyrrhenians: or Tyrsenians was the name used by the ancient Greeks authors to refer, in a generic sense, to non-Greek people, in particular pirates.
the South Section of the Sanctuary of Apollo
19) Treasury of the Thebans
Period: about 371 B.C.
In the southwest corner of the Temenos, are the ruins of the Treasure of the Thebans. It was founded in Delphi after the victory of the beotian coalition, led by the Thebans, against the Spartans at the Battle of Leuctra, in 371 B.C.
It was built with local stone of the Prophet Elias quarries * and on the walls are engraved honorable inscriptions for the Thebes, some of which have been found.
Prophet Elias quarries: The limestones of the Parnassus Massif constitute the majority of the rock volume in the site of Delphi; a specific facies of Maastrichtian limestone called “Profitis Ilias limestone” has been used for the more prestigious edifices such as the Apollo Temple. The corresponding ancient quarry is located few kilometers west of the sanctuary near the actual Monastery of Prophet Elias.
the South Section of the Sanctuary of Apollo
20) Treasury of the Beotians
Period: 6th century B.C.
The Treasure was perhaps the oldest of all the treasures found. It was built before 548 B.C. with material that pilgrims carried to Delphi from Boeotia.
On the south side of the building, there is a stone with the name of the person who transferred it engraved in boustrophedon * style.
Boustrophedon: is a style of writing in which alternate lines of writing are reversed, with letters also written in reverse, mirror-style. This is in contrast to modern European languages, where lines always begin on the same side, usually the left.
the South Section of the Sanctuary of Apollo
21) The omphalos - navel stone
Period: 6th century B.C.
This navel-stone, conically carved, without any engraved jewelry, resembles the sacred worshipped stones that were found in Delphi. However, it seems that it does not come from the older worship period associated with the myth of the center of the world in Delphi.
The Omfalos. View from the North with mount Kirfi in the background.
In ancient Greek history and mythology, Delphi was referred to as the geographical center of the world, its navel (in Greek "ομφαλός" / omfalos). According to the ancient Greek myth, Zeus set two eagles free to find the center of the world. They soared through the skies westward and eastward and their paths crossed in Delphi. The Omfalos was the exact point where Zeus' eagles meet.
Another navel-stone, with engraved jewels, has been transferred and is exhibed in the lobby-hall of the Delphi Archaeological Museum .
The Omfalos exposed at the Archaeological Museum of Delphi
the South Section of the Sanctuary of Apollo
24) Treasury of the Megarians
Period: 6th century B.C.
The Treasury of the city of Megara is located to the north of the Siphnian Treasury along the Sacred Way. On its facade have been engraved 26 inscriptions referring to the citizens of Megara, a fact which led to the secure identification of the monument.
The building consists of two parts: the earlier phase (end of the 6th B.C.) was of the Doric order, made of local lime stone. It had a vestibule 2 meters long and a cella of 5 meters. Parts of the foundation were maintained at the beginning of the 4th century B.C. when was erected a second building of a trapezoid plan. Its facade was made of dark limestone. Inscriptions were carved on it, mostly honorary, of which the majority (26 in number) refer to the city and the citizens of Megara.
In 1975–76 the so called Wall of the Megarians and part of the building was restored at the expense of the actual Municipality of Megara.
the South Section of the Sanctuary of Apollo
25) Aeolian Treasury
Period: 5th century B.C.
An Aeolian treasury dating from the 5th c. B.C.
Previous: the Entry of the Sanctuary
The reconstruction map of Delphi, by the Archaeological Guide of Greece
Designed and produced for a convenient and handy use in site and at home, it will assist you to visualize the Sanctuary of Apollo, where the Oracle of Delphi was, the Ancient Theater, the Stadion, the Gymnasion of Delphi and the Sanctuary of Athena Pronaia.
The accurate map legend will give you information so you can place the monuments in their historical frame.
The Delphi reconstruction map is :
- a superb wall poster (85X56cm - 34X22in)
- an original gift for your family and friends
- an excellent souvenir of your travel
- a rich source of information
- a handy tool for your Delphi visit
Price €20.00
