User:Denessav/sandbox
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The Athenian Treasury (Greek: Θησαυρός των Αθηναίων) 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. The date of construction is disputed, and scholarly opinions range from 510 to 480 BCE.[1] It is located directly below the Temple of Apollo along the Sacred Way for all visitors to view the Athenian treasury on the way up to the sanctuary.[2] Pausanias mentions the building in his account of the sanctuary, claiming that it was dedicated from the spoils of the Battle of Marathon, fought in 490 BCE against the Persians. The Battle of Marathon can be seen in some of the images of the metopes which compare their victory to mythology. By using the founder of Athens, Theseus, to show the victories of Athens, the treasury established Athens as one of the most powerful, polis, city-states of Greece. The metopes show Athenian identity and how they viewed their enemies both foreign or domestic. This treasury was different because it belonged to one city-state in a panhellenic temple. The building was excavated by the French School at Athens, led by Pierre de La Coste-Messelière, and reconstructed from 1903–1906.[3] The structure is still visible in situ, although the metopes are reproductions; the originals are kept in the museum of Delphi.
Athenian Treasury | |
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General information | |
Type | Treasury |
Architectural style | Doric |
Location | Delphi, Greece |
Construction started | 507 BCE to post-470 BCE |
Completed | 502 BCE to post-470 BCE |
Owner | Delphi Archaeological Museum |
Height | 9.75 metres (32.0 ft) |
Dimensions | |
Diameter | 6.68 metres (21.9 ft) |
Technical details | |
Structural system | Parian marble columns |