The development of the sanctuary and oracle, began in the
8th century B.C. with the establishment of the cult of Apollo.
Under the protection and administration of the Amphictyony,
the sanctuary continued to be autonomous after the First
Sacred War and, as a result, increased its panhellenic religious
and political influence. The Pythian Games were re-organized,
the sanctuary was enlarged and it was enriched with nice
buildings, statues, and other offerings. The ruins of Delphi
were uncovered by the systematic excavations of the French
Archaeological School, which began in 1893
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The excavations revealed more than five thousands inscriptions
of all kinds, statues, several miniature objects, architectural
decorative pieces, all exquisite works of art, representing the
major cities of Greek antiquity. Outside the area of the Sanctuary,
the Stadium, the Gymnasium, the settlement of Delphi and its cemeteries
have also been excavated.
Some of the most important monuments of the site are:
The Temple of Apollo.
The visible ruins belong to the last temple, dated to the 4th
century B.C., which was peripteral, in Doric order. Inside was
the "adyton", the centre of the Delphic oracle and seat
of Pythia.
The Treasury of the Athenians. Small building in Doric order, with two columns in antis,
and rich relief decoration. It was built by the Athenians at the
end of the 6th century B.C. in order to house their offerings
to Apollo. After its restoration, in 1903-1906, it is the best
preserved building on the site.
The Altar of the Chians.
The large altar of the sanctuary, in front of the temple of Apollo,
was paid for and erected by the people of Chios, in the 5th century
B.C., according to an inscription cut on the cornice .
The Stoa of the Athenians.
The stoa, built in the Ionic order, has seven fluted columns,
each made from a single stone. According to an inscription cut
on the stylobate, it was erected by the Athenians, after 478 B.C.,
to house the trophies taken in their naval victories over the
Persians.
The Theatre of sanctuary.
It was originally built in the 4th century B.C. but the ruins
we see today date from the Roman Imperial period. The cavea had
35 rows of stone benches.
The Stadium was constructed in the 5th century B.C.
and was remodelled in the 2nd century A.D. at the expense of Herodes
Atticus. It was in this Stadium that the panhellenic Pythian Games
took place.
The Castalia spring.
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 and the Roman
era. The later one is cut in the rock and has niches cut high
in the cliff, which probably held the offerings to the Nymph Castalia.
The Tholos.
Circular building in Doric order, built in ca. 380 B.C. Its function
remains unknown but It must have been an important building, judging
from the multi-coloured stone, the fine workmanship and the high-standard
relief decoration.
The Gymnasium
The Gymnasium was a complex of buildings used by the youths of
Delphi for their education and practice. It was constructed in
two levels: on the upper was a stoa and a free open space used
for running practice, and on the lower was the palaestra, the
pool and the baths (thermae).
The Temple of Athena Pronea
The museum is actually an integral part of the sanctuary and contains
exclusively finds from the site of Delphi, mostly offerings and
architectural parts.
Some of the most important exhibits are:
Cleobis and Biton. Archaic statues representing two brothers
from Argos, Cleobis and Biton or, according to a second interpretation,
the Dioskouroi. They are the work of the Argive sculptor (Poly)medes.
Dated between 610 and 580 B.C.
Chryselephantine statues. Two life-size heads made of
ivory and gold, from the chryselephantine statues of gods, interpreted
as Apollo and Artemis.
The frieze from the Treasury of the Siphnians decorated
with relief representations of mythological scenes. On the north
side, which is the finest and best preserved, there is a representation
of Gigantomachy, the war of the gods of Olympus against the Giants.
Metopes from the Treasury of the Athenians.
Marble metopes from the facade of the Treasury, with representation
of Amazonomachy, the Labours of Herakles and the Exploits of Theseus.
White-ground kylix decorated with a unique representation
of Apollo. The god is seated on a stool, holds his lyre in
his left hand and with his right pours the libation from a bowl.
It is the work of an unknown skilled painter, dated to 480-470
B.C.
The Charioteer.
Bronze statue of a charioteer, originally belonging to a larger
group, which represented a chariot drawn by four horses. It was
dedicated to Apollo by Polyzalos, the tyrant of Gela, in 478 B.C.
when he won the chariot-race at the Pythian Games.
Marble statue of Aghias, an athlete of the pankration (a
kind of wrestling), famous for his victories in the 5th century
B.C. It is a copy of a bronze original which was made by Lysippos
and belongs to the group of statues offered to Apollo by the Thessalian
Daochos II.
Bronze incense-burner.
A wonderful vessel in the shape of a young woman wearing a peplos
("peplophoros"). In her upraised hands she holds a hemispherical
cauldron in which the incense was placed. It is an original work
of a skilled artist, dated to ca. 460-450 B.C.
The "Column of the Dancers"
Statues of three young women forming the upper part of a column
encircled with acanthus leaves. The figures are dancing, all wear
a short, transparent chiton and bear a basket-like polos on their
heads. They supported a bronze tripod cauldron. The column is
an Athenian offering to the sanctuary, dated to ca. 330 B.C.
Statue of Antinoos.
Marble statue of Antinoos, a youth famous for his beauty, and
the favourite of emperor Hadrian. This is one of the best "cult"
statues of the young man, who is portrayed as a god. It is a typical
example of the "Rennaisance" style of the 2nd century
A.D.
