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In this Hall, visitors enjoy an exquisite example of small-scale sculpture, a nude male figurine, 19.7cm in height, retrieved in the sanctuary of Delphi, dating back to 630–620 BC. It illustrates elements of the so-called “Daedalic style”, which lasted until the mid-7th century BC and marked the dawn of the Archaic period, combining rigidity with […]

In the 6th century BC Delphi enjoyed a period of prosperity. The immovable property of the sanctuary increased, while concurrently, the Amphictyony, the politico-religious association formed of city-states of Central Greece, took over the administration of the sanctuary and reorganized the Pythian Games, the musical competition held in honour of Apollo. The priests of Delphi […]

The oracle had gained great fame already in the 8th century BC that spread beyond the borders of the Greek world, as attested by the Homeric epics and the excavated works of art. Kings of the East, such as Gyges and Croesus of Lydia and Midas of Phrygia consulted the oracle asking for prophecies, offering […]

As a result of the great religious and political power acquired during the 6th century BC, the oracle was transformed into a place suitable for the display of wealth and potency by the powerful people of the time, through the dedication of precious votive offerings, statues, even entire buildings. Large numbers of pilgrims, athletes and […]

The centre of the Delphic cult and the provision of oracular utterances was the temple of Apollo. According to a tradition, six temples had been successively built on the same site: the first one was made of laurel branches, the second was built of bees’ wax and wings, the third building was bronze and the […]

One of the most significant buildings of the sanctuary of Delphi was the Athenian Treasury, a sort of treasure house of Athens, where the spoils gained from the city’s victories and other objects dedicated to the sanctuary were kept. This small Doric building, made of Parian marble, was erected in a prominent position along the […]

In ancient Greek mythology, Apollo was the god of music, poetry and the arts, and exemplified moderation and harmony. In this capacity, he is pictured on a white-ground kylix on display at the Archaeological Museum of Delphi: the god with elaborate hairstyle, crowned with a laurel wreath, sits on a foldable stool (diphros okladias), holding […]