The Athenian Treasury at Delphi was constructed by the Athenians to house dedications and votive offerings made by their city and citizens to the sanctuary of Apollo. The entire treasury including its sculptural decoration is built of Parian marble.

What was the Athenian Treasury and what did it function as?

The Athenian Treasury was a votive building in the form of a reduced scale temple, designed to hold the multitude of Athenian offerings to the Delphi oracle. ... The building was constructed entirely of Parian marble and had a Doric frieze decorated with 30 metopes.

Who dedicated the Athenian Treasury to Delphi?

As far as the Athenian treasury's date is concerened, many scholars now accept a date shortly after the battle of Marathon in 490. This is due to Pausanias' dictum that the Athenians dedicated the treasury “from those spoils taken from the army that landed with Datis at Marathon” (10.11.

What was the purpose of the treasuries along the Sacred Way at Delphi?

Given that Delphi was a pan-Hellenic sanctuary, it was not controlled by any one Greek city-state and instead was a sanctuary for all Greeks — city-states constructed the treasuries as offerings to Apollo and to show off their power and wealth.

Was the oracle of Delphi accurate?

Some of the predictions were surprisingly accurate, according to legend. Croesus, the richest man of his time, performed a kind of scientific test on oracles, when he had messengers go out to all of them and ask what he would be doing on a certain date. Delphi got the only correct answer - cooking a tortoise in a pot.

Siphnian Treasury, Delphi

What was Athens once the center of?

During the time of the Ancient Greeks it was the center of power, art, science, and philosophy in the world. Athens is one of the oldest cities in the world as well, with recorded history going back over 3400 years. It is the birth place of democracy and the heart of the Ancient Greek civilization.

What is a metope in Greek?

In classical architecture, a metope (μετόπη) is a rectangular architectural element that fills the space between two triglyphs in a Doric frieze, which is a decorative band of alternating triglyphs and metopes above the architrave of a building of the Doric order.

How was the Pythia chosen?

A Pythia was chosen among the priestesses of the temple upon the death of the previous Pythia. Moral character was of utmost importance, and even if the newly-chosen Pythia was married and had a family, she had to relinquish all familial duties in order to fill her role in the temple.

What is the architectural order or style of the Athenian treasury?

In ancient Greece, capitals came in three different styles; Doric, Ionic and Corinthian. The Athenian Treasury has Doric columns —the simplest of the three orders.

What were Treasuries in ancient Greece?

The Treasuries at Olympia were a series of small temple-shaped buildings located to the north side of the Altis or sanctuary at the site of Olympia in Greece. All but two were erected by Greek colonies to store valuable votive offerings. The Treasuries were built on a natural terrace at the foot of the Hill of Cronus.

What is the top of the Parthenon called?

The Parthenon is a resplendent marble temple built between 447 and 432 B.C. during the height of the ancient Greek Empire. Dedicated to the Greek goddess Athena, the Parthenon sits high atop a compound of temples known as the Acropolis of Athens.

What building was constructed after the Battle of Marathon?

After the victory at Marathon the Athenians began construction at the Propylaia and the building of another temple next to the old temple of Athena Polias (fertility goddess). This new temple was dedicate to the Athena Pallas, or Parthenos (virgin) and is known as the first Parthenon.

What was a cultural impact of the Greek civilization that appeared today?

Literature and theatre was an important aspect of Greek culture and influenced modern drama. The Greeks were known for their sophisticated sculpture and architecture. Greek culture influenced the Roman Empire and many other civilizations, and it continues to influence modern cultures today.

Why was the Delian League often referred to as the Athenian League?

The League's modern name derives from its official meeting place, the island of Delos, where congresses were held in the temple and where the treasury stood until, in a symbolic gesture, Pericles moved it to Athens in 454 BC.

Where is the Areopagus in Athens?

The Areopagus (/æriˈɒpəɡəs/) is a prominent rock outcropping located northwest of the Acropolis in Athens, Greece. Its English name is the Late Latin composite form of the Greek name Areios Pagos, translated "Hill of Ares" (Ancient Greek: Ἄρειος Πάγος).

Was the Pythia a virgin?

In the old days, Pythia was a virgin, young girl, but after Echecrates of Thessaly kidnapped and violated a young and beautiful Pythia in the late 3rd century BC, a woman older than fifty years old was chosen, who dressed and wore jewelry to resemble a young maiden girl.

Why was the Pythia always a woman?

The Pythia's female biological sex might have been a nod to the ancient past in that the oracles used to be under the guidance of Gaia or Themis. Plutarch described that it was believed that the oracle used to belong to Earth but that she “became inferior to the god [Apollo] and lost her august position.”

Who killed Niobe's children?

According to Homer's Iliad, Niobe had six sons and six daughters and boasted of her progenitive superiority to the Titan Leto, who had only two children, the twin deities Apollo and Artemis. As punishment for her pride, Apollo killed all Niobe's sons and Artemis killed all her daughters.

Are metopes reliefs?

The metopes of the Parthenon feature reliefs with different subjects on each side of the building but together with the rest of the sculptures in the temple represented a complex cosmology in art.

What's the difference between frieze and metope?

Metopes (rectangular slabs carved in high relief) were placed above the architrave (the lintel above the columns) on the outside of the temple. ... The frieze (carved in low relief) ran around all four sides of the building inside the colonnade.

When was Athens at its peak?

The peak of Athenian hegemony was achieved in the 440s to 430s BC, known as the Age of Pericles.

What did the Athenians invent?

The Athenians invented democracy, a new type of government where every citizen could vote on important issues, such as whether or not to declare war. All public officials and even generals commanding the army were elected or chosen through a lottery.

Who founded Athens?

According to Greek mythology, the first city of Athens was Phoenician and Cecrops was the king who founded it. The city of Athens was officially created the day the Gods decided to have a contest: the growing city would be named after the deity who would offer to mortals the most useful gift.