Editing Delphi (section)

==Architecture of the precinct==

[[File:Plan_Delphi_Sanctuary_of_Apollo.svg|thumb|upright=2|Site plan of the upper Sacred Precinct, Delphi. The outer wall that surrounds it is {{convert|190|m|ft}} long by {{convert|135|m|ft}} wide and is pierced by nine gates.<ref>{{cite journal | first1=Lazzari | last1=Maurizio | first2=Lazzari | last2=Silvestro | title=Geological and Geomorphological Hazard in Historical and Archaeological Sites of the Mediterranean Area: Knowledge, Forecasting, and Mitigation | journal=Disaster Advances | volume=5 | number=3 | date=July 2012 | page=69}}</ref>]]
Most of the ruins that survive today date from the most intense period of activity at the site in the sixth century BC.<ref name="a">{{cite web | first=Thomas | last=Sakoulas | title=Delphi Archaeological Site | url=http://www.ancient-greece.org/archaeology/delphi-archaeology.html | website=Ancient-Greece.org | access-date=16 November 2020}}</ref>

===Temple of Apollo===
{{main|Temple of Apollo (Delphi)}}
Ancient tradition refers to a succession of mythical temples on the site: first one built of olive branches from [[Vale of Tempe|Tempe]], then one built of beeswax and wings by bees, and thirdly one built by [[Hephaestus]] and [[Athena]]. The first archaeologically attested structure was built in the seventh century BC and is attributed in legend to the architects [[Trophonius|Trophonios]] and [[Agamedes]].<ref>{{cite book | first=C.M. | last=Bowra | title=Pindar | publisher=Oxford University Press | year=2000 | pages=373–75}}</ref> It burnt down in 548/7&nbsp;BC and the [[Alcmaeonidae|Alcmaeonids]] built a new structure which itself burnt down in the fourth century BC.

The ruins of the Temple of Apollo that are visible today date from the fourth century&nbsp;BC, and are of a [[peripteral]] [[Doric order|Doric]] building. It was erected by [[Spintharus of Corinth|Spintharus]], Xenodoros, and Agathon.<ref name="Sakoulas">{{cite web|last1=Sakoulas|first1=Thomas|title=Temple of Apollo at Delphi|url=http://ancient-greece.org/architecture/delphi-temple-of-apollo.html|website=Ancient-Greece.org|access-date=28 November 2016}}</ref>
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File:Delphi - panoramio (3).jpg
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File:15.Δελφοί GR-H07-0007.jpg
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===Treasuries===
[[File:Treasury house of Athens in Delphi (July 2018).jpg|thumb|The reconstructed Treasury of the Athenians, built to commemorate their victory at the [[Battle of Marathon]]]]
{{main|Athenian Treasury|Boeotian Treasury|Cnidian Treasury|Sicyonian Treasury|Siphnian Treasury|Theban Treasury (Delphi)|l6=Theban Treasury|Treasury of the Acanthians|Treasury of the Massaliots (Delphi)}}

From the entrance of the upper site, continuing up the slope on the Sacred Way almost to the Temple of Apollo, are a large number of [[votive deposit|votive]] statues, and numerous so-called treasuries. These were built by many of the Greek city-states to commemorate victories and to thank the oracle for her advice, which was thought to have contributed to those victories. These buildings held the offerings made to Apollo; these were frequently a "[[tithe]]" or tenth of the spoils of a battle. The most impressive is the now-restored [[Athenian Treasury]], built to commemorate their victory at the [[Battle of Marathon]] in 490&nbsp;BC.

The [[Siphnian Treasury]] was dedicated by the city of [[Siphnos]], whose citizens gave a tithe of the yield from their silver mines until the mines came to an abrupt end when the sea flooded the workings.

One of the largest of the treasuries was that of [[Argos, Peloponnese|Argos]]. Having built it in the late classical period, the Argives took great pride in establishing their place at Delphi amongst the other city-states. Completed in 380 BC, their treasury seems to draw inspiration mostly from the Temple of Hera located in the Argolis. However, recent analysis of the Archaic elements of the treasury suggest that its founding preceded this.

Other identifiable treasuries are those of the [[Sicyonian Treasury|Sicyonians]], the [[Boeotian Treasury|Boeotians]], [[Treasury of the Massaliots (Delphi)|Massaliots]], and the [[Theban Treasury (Delphi)|Thebans]].
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File:Treasury of the Boeotians.jpg|Boeotians
File:Treasury of Cnidus 1.jpg|Cnidians
File:The Treasury of the Sicyonians on the Sacred Way at the Sanctuary of Apollo (Delphi) on October 4, 2020.jpg|Sicyonians
File:Sideview of the Siphnian Treasury at the Sanctuary of Apollo (Delphi) on October 4, 2020.jpg|Siphnians
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===Altar of the Chians===
{{main|Altar of the Chians}}
Located in front of the Temple of Apollo, the main altar of the sanctuary was paid for and built by the people of [[Chios]]. It is dated to the fifth century BC by the inscription on its [[cornice]]. Made entirely of black marble, except for the base and cornice, the altar would have made a striking impression. It was restored in 1920.<ref name="ministry">[http://www.culture.gr/2/21/211/21110a/e211ja01.html Delphi] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050401090258/http://www.culture.gr/2/21/211/21110a/e211ja01.html |date=1 April 2005 }}, Hellenic Ministry of Culture.</ref>

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File:Replica of Serpent Column in Delphi and Altar of Apollo, 20M8126.jpg
File:GRIEKENLAND 023 (17669660608).jpg
File:Inscription delphi apollo.JPG|Ancient Greek inscription at the altar, naming Chios, "ΧΙΟΙΣ"
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===Stoa of the Athenians===
{{main|Stoa of the Athenians}}
[[File:Stoa of the Athenians at Delphi by Joy of Museums.jpg|thumb|View of the Athenian Treasury; the Stoa of the Athenians on the right]]
The [[stoa]], or open-sided, covered porch, is placed in an approximately east–west alignment along the base of the polygonal wall retaining the terrace on which the Temple of Apollo sits. There is no archaeological suggestion of a connection to the temple. The stoa opened to the Sacred Way. The nearby presence of the Treasury of the Athenians suggests that this quarter of Delphi was used for Athenian business or politics, as stoas are generally found in market-places.

Although the architecture at Delphi is generally Doric, a plain style, in keeping with the Phocian traditions that were Doric, the Athenians did not prefer the Doric. The stoa was built in their own preferred style, the [[Ionic order]], the capitals of the columns being a sure indicator. In the Ionic order they are floral and ornate, although not so much as the Corinthian, which is in deficit there. The remaining porch structure contains seven fluted columns, unusually carved from single pieces of stone (most columns were constructed from a series of discs joined). The inscription on the [[stylobate]] indicates that it was built by the Athenians after their naval victory over the Persians in 478&nbsp;BC, to house their war trophies. At that time the Athenians and the Spartans were on the same side.
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The [[Sibyl rock]] is a pulpit-like outcrop of rock between the Athenian Treasury and the [[Stoa of the Athenians]] upon the Sacred Way that leads up to the [[Temple of Apollo (Delphi)|temple of Apollo]] in the archaeological area of Delphi. The rock is claimed to be the location from which a prehistoric Sibyl pre-dating the Pythia of Apollo sat to deliver her prophecies. Other suggestions are that the Pythia might have stood there, or an acolyte whose function was to deliver the final prophecy. The rock seems ideal for public speaking.
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File:Sibyl stone in Delphi.jpg
File:The Rock of Sibyl at the Sanctuary of Apollo (Delphi) on October 4, 2020.jpg
File:Rock of Sibyl, Rock of Leto, Delphi, Dlfi403.jpg
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===Theatre===
[[File:Delfoi temple skyline view.jpg|thumb|The theatre at Delphi (as viewed near the top seats)]]

The ancient [[theatre]] at Delphi was built farther up the hill from the Temple of Apollo giving spectators a view of the entire sanctuary and the valley below.<ref>{{cite book | last=Bommelaer | first=J.-F. | publisher=Laroche, D. | title=Guide de Delphes: Le site | location=Paris | year=1991 | pages=207–212}}</ref> It was originally built in the fourth&nbsp;century&nbsp;BC, but was remodeled on several occasions, particularly in 160/159 B.C. at the expenses of king Eumenes II of Pergamon and, in 67 A.D., on the occasion of emperor Nero's visit.<ref name="b">[http://www.ancient-greece.org/architecture/delphi-theater.html Delphi Theater] at Ancient-Greece.org.</ref>

The koilon (cavea) leans against the natural slope of the mountain whereas its eastern part overrides a little torrent that led the water of the fountain Cassotis right underneath the temple of Apollo. The [[Theatre of ancient Greece#Orchestra|orchestra]] was initially a full circle with a diameter measuring seven meters. The rectangular scene building ended up in two arched openings, of which the foundations are preserved today. Access to the theatre was possible through the parodoi, i.e. the side corridors. On the support walls of the parodoi are engraved large numbers of [[Manumission inscriptions at Delphi|manumission inscriptions]] recording fictitious sales of the slaves to the deity. The koilon was divided horizontally in two zones via a corridor called diazoma. The lower zone had 27 rows of seats and the upper one only eight. Six radially arranged stairs divided the lower part of the koilon in seven tiers. The theatre could accommodate approximately 4,500 spectators.<ref>Bommelaer, J.-F. «Das Theater», in Maas, M. (ed), Delphi. Orakel am Nabel der Welt, Karlsruhe 1996, pp. 95–105</ref>

On the occasion of [[Nero]]'s visit to Greece in 67 A.D. various alterations took place. The orchestra was paved and delimited by a parapet made of stone. The [[proscenium]] was replaced by a low pedestal, the [[pulpitum]]; its façade was decorated in relief with scenes from myths about Hercules. Further repairs and transformations took place in the second century A.D. Pausanias mentions that these were carried out under the auspices of [[Herodes Atticus|Herod Atticus]]. In antiquity, the theatre was used for the vocal and musical contests that formed part of the programme of the Pythian Games in the late Hellenistic and Roman period.<ref>Mulliez, D., "Οι πυθικοί αγώνες. Οι μαρτυρίες των επιγραφών", in Κολώνια, Ρ. (ed.), Αρχαία Θέατρα της Στερεάς Ελλάδας, Διάζωμα, Αθήνα 2013, 147–154</ref> The theatre was abandoned when the sanctuary declined in Late Antiquity. After its excavation and initial restoration it hosted theatrical performances during the Delphic Festivals organized by A. Sikelianos and his wife, Eva Palmer, in 1927 and in 1930. It has recently been restored again as the serious landslides posed a grave threat for its stability for decades.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.diazoma.gr/200-Stuff-06-Theatres/DataSheet_Delfon.pdf\format=PDF|title=ΑΡΧΑΙΟ ΘΕΑΤΡΟ ΔΕΛΦΩΝ : Παρελθόν – Παρόν – Μέλλον : ΧΟΡΗΓΙΚΟΣ ΦΑΚΕΛΟΣ|website=Diazoma.gr|access-date=5 March 2022}}{{Dead link|date=September 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>Χλέπα, Ε.-Α., Παπαντωνόπουλος, Κ., «Τεκμηρίωση και αποκατάσταση του αρχαίου θεάτρου Δελφών», in Κολώνια, Ρ. (ed.), Αρχαία Θέατρα της Στερεάς Ελλάδας, Διάζωμα, Αθήνα 2013, 173–198</ref>

===Tholos===
[[File:Delphi tholos cazzul.JPG|thumb|upright|The [[Tholos (Ancient Rome)|Tholos]] at the base of [[Mount Parnassus]]: 3 of 20 [[Doric column]]s]]
[[File:Athina Pronaia Sanctuary at Delphi.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|Athena Pronaia Sanctuary at Delphi]]

{{main|Tholos of Delphi}}

<!--The Rough Guide to Greece, Geoff Garvey, John Fisher, Penguin, 2008, Thessaly and central Greece - Part I, The Marmaria, "The Marble Quarry"-->
The [[Tholos (architecture)|tholos]] at the sanctuary of [[Athena]] [[Pronaea]] (Ἀθηνᾶ Προναία, "Athena of forethought") is a circular building that was constructed between 380 and 360&nbsp;BC. It consisted of 20 [[Doric order|Doric]] columns arranged with an exterior diameter of 14.76&nbsp;meters, with 10 [[Corinthian order|Corinthian]] columns in the interior.

The Tholos is located approximately a half a mile (800 m) from the main ruins at Delphi (at {{Coord|38.48016|N|22.50789|E|type:landmark_region:GR|format=dms}}). Three of the Doric columns have been restored, making it the most popular site at Delphi for tourists to take photographs.

The architect of the "vaulted temple at Delphi" is named by [[Vitruvius]], in ''[[De architectura]]'' Book VII, as Theodorus Phoceus (not [[Theodorus of Samos]], whom Vitruvius names separately).<ref>{{cite web |first1=Marcus |last1=Vitruvius Pollio |title= de Architectura, Book VII|url=https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/e/roman/texts/vitruvius/7*.html|publisher=University of Chicago |website=Bill Thayer's Web Site |access-date=14 June 2017}}</ref>

===Gymnasium===
{{main|Gymnasium at Delphi}}
[[File:The Ancient Gymnasium at Delphi.jpg|thumb|The ancient [[Gymnasium at Delphi]]]]
The [[Gymnasium (ancient Greece)|gymnasium]], which is half a mile away from the main sanctuary, was a series of buildings used by the youth of Delphi. The building consisted of two levels: a [[stoa]] on the upper level providing open space, and a [[palaestra]], pool, and baths on lower floor. These pools and baths were said to have magical powers, and imparted the ability to communicate directly to Apollo.<ref name="ministry"/>

===Stadium===
{{main|Stadium of Delphi}}
[[File:Αρχαίο στάδιο Δελφών2.jpg|thumb|The mountain-top stadium at Delphi]]
The [[stadium]] is located farther up the hill, beyond the ''via sacra'' and the theatre. It was built in the fifth century&nbsp;BC, but was altered in later centuries. The last major remodelling took place in the second century&nbsp;AD under the patronage of [[Herodes Atticus]] when the stone seating was built and an (arched) entrance created. It could seat 6500 spectators and the track was {{Convert|177|m|abbr=on}} long and {{Convert|25.5|m|abbr=on}} wide.<ref name="d">{{Cite web |title=Delphi Stadium |url=http://www.ancient-greece.org/architecture/delphi-stadium.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240226050846/https://ancient-greece.org/architecture/delphi-stadium.html |archive-date=Feb 26, 2024 |website=Ancient-Greece.org}}</ref>

===Hippodrome===
It was at the Pythian Games that prominent political leaders, such as [[Cleisthenes of Sicyon|Cleisthenes]], tyrant of [[Sikyon]], and [[Hiero I of Syracuse|Hieron]], tyrant of [[Syracuse, Sicily|Syracuse]], competed with their chariots. The hippodrome where these events took place was referred to by [[Pindar]],<ref>Pindar: Pythian 3</ref> and this monument was sought by archaeologists for over two centuries.

Traces of it have recently been found at Gonia in the plain of [[Crissa|Krisa]] in the place where the original stadium had been sited.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/hippodrome-of-ancient-delphi-located.html#z06LKygAcwlc7Lmv.97|title=Hippodrome of ancient Delphi located|website=archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.co.uk|access-date=14 April 2018|archive-date=14 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180414233746/https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/hippodrome-of-ancient-delphi-located.html#z06LKygAcwlc7Lmv.97|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Polygonal wall===
[[File:Section of Polygonal Wall at Delphi.jpg|thumb|Section of polygonal wall at Delphi, behind a pillar from the Athenian Stoa]]
A retaining wall was built to support the terrace housing the construction of the second temple of Apollo in 548&nbsp;BC. Its name is taken from the [[polygon]]al masonry of which it is constructed. At a later date, from 200&nbsp;BC onwards, the stones were inscribed with the [[manumission]] (liberation) contracts of slaves who were consecrated to Apollo. Approximately a thousand manumissions are recorded on the wall.<ref>[http://www.coastal.edu/ashes2art/delphi2/sanctuary/manumission_wall.html Manumission Wall] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923205214/http://www.coastal.edu/ashes2art/delphi2/sanctuary/manumission_wall.html |date=2015-09-23 }} at ''Ashes2Art''; [http://www.attalus.org/docs/other/inscr_24.html Manumission of female slaves at Delphi] at ''attalus.org''.</ref>

===Castalian spring===
{{Main|Castalian Spring}}
{{See also|Castalia}}
The sacred spring of Delphi lies in the ravine of the Phaedriades. The preserved remains of two monumental fountains that received the water from the spring date to the [[Archaic period in Greece|Archaic]] period and the [[Ancient Rome|Roman]], with the latter cut into the rock.

===Roman Agora===

[[File:Roman agora (Delphi) 03.jpg|thumb]]
The first set of remains that the visitor sees upon entering the archaeological site of Delphi is the Roman Agora, which was just outside the ''peribolos'', or precinct walls, of the sanctuary of Apollo at Delphi. The Roman Agora was built between the sanctuary and the [[Castalian Spring]], approximately 500 meters away.<ref name="auto2">{{cite book |last1=Aimatidou-Argyriou |first1=Eleni |title=Delphi |date=2003 |publisher=Spyros Meletzis Archive |location=Athens |isbn=960-91259-4-8 |pages=52–53}}</ref> This large rectangular paved square used to be surrounded by [[Ionic order|Ionic]] porticos on its three sides.<ref name="auto1">{{cite book |last1=Petrakos |first1=Basil |title=Delphi |date=1977 |publisher=Clio Editions |location=Athens |page=15}}</ref> The square was built in the Roman period, but the remains visible at present along the north and northwestern sides date to the Late Antique period.

An open market was probably established, where the visitors would buy ex-votos, such as statuettes and small tripods, to leave as offerings to the gods. It also served as an assembly area for processions during sacred festivals.<ref name="auto1"/><ref name="auto2"/>

During the [[Roman Empire|empire]], statues of the emperor and other notable benefactors were erected here as evidenced by the remaining pedestals.<ref name="auto1"/><ref name="auto2"/> In late, Antiquity workshops of artisans were also created within the agora.

===Athletic statues===

[[Image:AurigaDelfi.jpg|thumb|upright|The ''Charioteer of Delphi'', 478 or 474 BC, Delphi Museum]]

Delphi is famous for its many preserved athletic statues. It is known that Olympia originally housed far more of these statues, but time brought ruin to many of them, leaving Delphi as the main site of athletic statues.{{sfn|Miller|2004|p=98}} [[Kleobis and Biton]], two brothers renowned for their strength, are modeled in two of the earliest known athletic statues at Delphi. The statues commemorate their feat of pulling their mother's cart several miles to the Sanctuary of [[Hera]] in the absence of oxen. The neighbors were most impressed and their mother asked Hera to grant them the greatest gift. When they entered Hera's temple, they fell into a slumber and never woke, dying at the height of their admiration, the perfect gift.{{sfn|Miller|2004|p=98}}

The [[Charioteer of Delphi]] is another ancient relic that has withstood the centuries. It is one of the best known statues from antiquity. The charioteer has lost many features, including his chariot and his left arm, but he stands as a tribute to athletic art of antiquity.{{sfn|Miller|2004|p=98}}