Preview
Creation Year
1978
Image ID
DH.029
Subcollection
DH: Delphi
Abstract
View of the Siphnian (back) and Sicyonian (front) Treasuries on the Sacred Way through the Sanctuary of Apollo. Treasuries like these would store and showcase sacred offerings in the form of money, art, or spoils from war, giving a public display of the wealth and virtue of the city-states.
Description
View of the Siphnian (back) and Sicyonian (front) Treasuries from the East. The Sicyonian Treasury is a relatively small Doric style structure in antis dating from the 5th century BCE. Below this foundation were discovered two earlier 6th century buildings, believed to be given by Cleisthenes of Sikyon, winner of the chariot race in the Pythian games of 582. The Siphnian Treasury is far more famous and well studied, being one of the most ornate treasuries at Delphi. Constructed between 530 and 525 BCE, it was the first delphic treasury to be constructed entirely of marble, sourced from Siphnos, Naxos, and Paros. Its style was Ionic distyle in antis, with caryatid columns and a continuous frieze wrapping along the top depicting several mythological themes (DH.77,DH.78,DH.79). Everything about this treasury conveyed wealth and excess, and the Siphnians were able to finance such an expensive project by taking a tenth of the production from their famous gold and silver mines, according to Herodotus.
Image Notes
Creation date unknown. Photograph processed July 1978. Notes written on the slide or index: Delphi - Treasury of Siphinians?.
Image Format
35 mm slide
Geographic Reference
Delfoi, Greece
Keywords
Stone, Ashlar, Masonry, Treasury, Sixth Century BC, Archaic Period, Sanctuary of Apollo at Delphi
Image Location
Rights Statement
