April 25, 2025 - Greece
Delphi Museum
French Artist Albert Tournaire's conception of the Sanctuary of Apollo aat its ancient peak, painted in 1894.
   

After destruction of the Sanctuary of Apollo by Roman Emperor Theodosius I in 390. the village of Kastri was established on the site, consisting of about 100 houses and 200 people.   They mined the stone for re-use in their own buildings.

Much later, British and French travelers visiting the site suspected it was ancient Delphi. Before a systematic excavation of the site could be undertaken, the village had to be relocated, but the residents resisted.  The opportunity to relocate the village occurred when it was substantially damaged by an earthquake, with villagers offered a completely new village in exchange for the old site.

In 1893, the French Archaeological School removed vast quantities of soil from numerous landslides to reveal both the major buildings and structures of the sanctuary of Apollo and of the temple to Athena, the Athena Pronoia along with thousands of objects, inscriptions, and sculptures.

Zooming in on the Temple of Apollo.  At center you can see the column with the Sphinx of the Naxions top.
   

The Sphinx of the Naxians, a marble statue of a sphinx, a mythical creature with the head of a woman, the chest and wings composed of the impressive feathers of a prey bird turned upward, and the body of a lioness.   The Greek sphinx, a lion with the face of a human female, was considered as having ferocious strength, and was thought of as a guardian, often flanking the entrances to temples. The statue of this mythical creature stood on a towering Ionic column erected next to the Temple of Apollo in 560 BC.

The first fragments were excavated from the sanctuary of the Temple of Apollo in 1860.   The remainder was found in 1893.
   
Dave admires the Sphinx of the Naxions atop a tall column.
   
Figurine of the Sphinx of the Naxions.
   
The Twins of Argos.   The two identical, over life-size statues, are the oldest, monumental  votive offerings at Delphi and one of the earliest examples of large-scale archaic sculpture.
   
Photos of the discovery of the Twins of Argos during a French excavation of Delphi in 1893-1894.
   
Bronze shield with the embossed decoration .of concentric circles and acute angles.  The forged sheet of bronze was riveted on a piece of wood or leather.  Late 8th century BC.
   
Pediments from the east side of the Treasury of the Athenians.
   
Greek helmets and weapons.
   
In 1939, many years after the 'great excavation' of the sanctuary, beneath the paving stones of t he Sacred Way, French archaeologists discovered two pits full of objects made of precious material (gold, ivory, silver, copper) dating from the 8th to the 5th century BC.
   
Bronze figurine of a young man playing a double-flute.  He is wearing a long tunic and mantle.  The figurine was made in a Corinthian workshop 500-490 BC.
   
Bronze sculpture artifacts from the 5th century BC.
   
Statue of an athlete who participated in the Panhellenic Games.
   
The Acanthus Column of Dancers, also known as the Dancers of Delphi, sat atop a 40-foot column to the right of the Temple of Apollo.
 
The fragments were discovered between May and July 1894 on the terraces to the east and northeast of the Temple of Apollo.
   
Statue of an aged man who might have been a philosopher, or priest of Delphi.
   
Photograph of the sanctuary probably soon after the 'great excavation' in 1893.
   
Panels from the frieze relief at the Theater.
   
Cult statue of Antinoos, a youth of extraordinary beauty from Bithynia (northwest Turkey), beloved companion of the Roman Emperor Hadrian.  Antinoos drowned in the Nile River before his 20th birthday, in 130 BC.  This statue, erected during the reign of Hadrian between 117 - 138 AD, was excavated in the Sanctuary of Apollo.
   

The Charioteer of Delphi, 474 BC,

"This young charioteer has just finished his victory lap, having won the Pythian Games of 474 BC.  Standing ramrod straight, he holds the reins lightly in his right hand, while his (missing) left hand was raised, modestly acknowledging the crowd.

The statue of charioteer, complete with chariot, four horses and a stable boy, greeted playgoers at the entrance to the theater.

The most striking thing is that -- despite the charioteer having just won an intense and dangerous contest -- his face and attitude are calm and humble.  The statue was cast when Greece was emerging from the horrors of the Persian invasion.  The victorious charioteer expresses the sense of wonderment felt as Greece finally left the battle behind, gazed into the future, and rode triumphantly into the golden age."  ... Rick Steves
   
The few surviving chunks of the chariot, horse and stable boys arm.
   
Model of the Sanctuary of Apollo at Delphi.
   
 
   
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