Delphi, The Sacred Way, VII – The Athenians Treasury.
The treasury dedicated by the Athenians at Delphi is a representative example of the votive buildings that reproduced on a much smaller scale the form of a temple, with sculpted decoration on the highest parts of the structure (metopes, pediments, acroteria). The small like Doric temple building measures 6,60 m x 8,75 m; the cella opens to east onto a pronaos, distyle in antis. It stood on a high podium without steps, and metal grates ran across the entire front, from the antae to the columns and between the columns themselves. The treasury rests on a triangular terrace, presumably for holding larger votives, but had no steps and was not meant to be regularly entered. Three retaining walls backed onto the hillside; immediately above was the temple terrace, with the temple itself looming over all.
The building’s metopes, 6 x 9, showed the deeds of Herakles (North side) and Theseus (South side). Three compositions extended over multiple panels: the Geryonomachy (six panels on the West side), and the Amazonomachies of Herakles and of Theseus (eight or nine panels total on the East side). The cycle of the Athenian hero Theseus dominated the south side, which was seen by pilgrims as they made their way up to the temple of Apollo. The west pediment depicted a battle; the east, the epiphany of a goddess between chariots.
The entire building, as well as its sculptural decoration, was of white Parian marble. It was built by the Athenians after 490 B.C. with spoils form the Battle of Marathon; the new building replaces an older Treasury of the Athenians of unknown plan.
Source: R. Neer, “The Athenian Treasury at Delphi and the Material of Politics”
Archaic Period
510 BC - 480 BC
Delphi, Archaeological Site
Delphi, The Sacred Way, VII – The Athenians Treasury.
The treasury dedicated by the Athenians at Delphi is a representative example of the votive buildings that reproduced on a much smaller scale the form of a temple, with sculpted decoration on the highest parts of the structure (metopes, pediments, acroteria). The small like Doric temple building measures 6,60 m x 8,75 m; the cella opens to east onto a pronaos, distyle in antis. It stood on a high podium without steps, and metal grates ran across the entire front, from the antae to the columns and between the columns themselves. The treasury rests on a triangular terrace, presumably for holding larger votives, but had no steps and was not meant to be regularly entered. Three retaining walls backed onto the hillside; immediately above was the temple terrace, with the temple itself looming over all.
The building’s metopes, 6 x 9, showed the deeds of Herakles (North side) and Theseus (South side). Three compositions extended over multiple panels: the Geryonomachy (six panels on the West side), and the Amazonomachies of Herakles and of Theseus (eight or nine panels total on the East side). The cycle of the Athenian hero Theseus dominated the south side, which was seen by pilgrims as they made their way up to the temple of Apollo. The west pediment depicted a battle; the east, the epiphany of a goddess between chariots.
The entire building, as well as its sculptural decoration, was of white Parian marble. It was built by the Athenians after 490 B.C. with spoils form the Battle of Marathon; the new building replaces an older Treasury of the Athenians of unknown plan.
Source: R. Neer, “The Athenian Treasury at Delphi and the Material of Politics”
Archaic Period
510 BC - 480 BC
Delphi, Archaeological Site