Siphnian Treasury
| Siphnian Treasury | |
|---|---|
| General information | |
| Type | Treasury |
| Architectural style | Ionic |
| Location | Delphi, Greece |
| Construction started | 530 BCE |
| Completed | 525 BCE |
| Design and construction | |
| Owner | Delphi Archaeological Museum |
The Siphnian Treasury was a dedicated building to the Greek polis, or city-state, of Delphi, by the Greek city-state of Siphnos. Such dedications were common among city-states in order to win the favor of the gods.
The people of Siphnos had gained enormous wealth from their silver and gold mines (Herodotus III.57) and used this wealth to erect the treasury, the first religious structure made entirely out of marble. The building was used to house many lavish gifts given to the priests to be offered to Apollo, among other gods and goddesses. These gifts consisted of gold and silver votive offerings.
The Treasury fell to ruin over the centuries. Currently, the sculpture and a reconstruction of the Treasury reside in the Delphi Archaeological Museum.
Contents |
[edit] Design and Decoration
The treasury building is in two parts; a pronaos, or porch, and a cella, or enclosure. The pronaos is distyle-in-antis, i.e., the side walls extend to the front of the porch, and the pediment is supported by two caryatids instead of plain pilasters. Above the pediment runs a continuous frieze.
The pediment of the treasury shows the story of Herakles stealing Apollo’s tripod which was strongly associated with his oracular inspiration. The treasury was also one of the first Greek buildings to utilize falling and reclining figures to fill the corners of the pediment. The sculptural friezes that run around the building depict various scenes from Greek Mythology. The Southern side depicts scenes that support the East side, where the gods sit watching the Greeks raid the village of Troy. The West side shows the story of the Judgment of Paris, depicting three chariots groups (each attributed to Athena, Aphrodite, and Hera). The north side displays the Gigantomachy.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
[edit] Online Sources
- Hendrix, Andrea. "Siphnian Treasury". Coastal Carolina University. http://www.coastal.edu/ashes2art/delphi2/sanctuary/siphnian_treasury.html. Retrieved 2009-04-19.
- "Siphnian Treasury, Delphi Museum". Ancient Greece.org. http://ancient-greece.org/museum/muse-delphi-siphnos.html. Retrieved 2009-04-19.
[edit] External links
- Delphi: The Bellybutton of the Ancient World. Michael Scott. BBC 4. 26:06 minutes in. Retrieved on 23 Nov 201.
