The Athenian Treasury at Delphi, in the 5th century BC and today.
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. The date of construction is disputed, and scholarly opinions range from 510 to 480 BCE. 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.
Delphi Athenians Treasury
The Treasury of Athenians in Delphi, Greece: The Treasury of the Athenians is one of the most impressive buildings in the Sanctuary of Apollo in Delphi. The treasuries were actually buildings where the city-states used to safeguard their loots from wars and their offerings to god Apollo. Many treasuries existed around the temple, such as the Treasury of the Sifnians and the Boetians, but the most impressive treasury that survives till today is the Treasury of the Athenians.
This relatively small building hosted trophies from important military victories of the Athenians and also many items that had been offered to the temple. The Treasury was constructed at the beginning of the 5th century BC and was the symbol either for the domination of democracy in Athens or for the victory of Athens over the Persians in the Marathon Battle.
The architectural style of the temple is Doric and the main construction material is the Parian marble. The external side had impressive reliefs depicting the adventures of Hercules and Theseus, while the internal space had hymns to Apollo carved on the walls and some of the most important political resolutions of the Athenians. This treasury was reconstructed in 1906 by the French Archaeological Insтιтute with the donation of the municipality of Athens. Some friezes are hosted in the Archaeological Museum of Delphi.
