Most of the ruins that survive today date from the most intense period of activity at the site in the sixth century BC.
Temple of Apollo Ancient tradition refers to a succession of mythical temples on the site: first one built of olive branches from
Tempe, then one built of beeswax and wings by bees, and thirdly one built by
Hephaestus and
Athena. The first archaeologically attested structure was built in the seventh century BC and is attributed in legend to the architects
Trophonios and
Agamedes. It burnt down in 548/7 BC and the
Alcmaeonids built a new structure which itself burnt down in the fourth century BC. The ruins of the Temple of Apollo that are visible today date from the fourth century BC, and are of a
peripteral Doric building. It was erected by
Spintharus, Xenodoros, and Agathon. File:Delphi - panoramio (3).jpg File:Delphi BW 2017-10-08 11-40-49.jpg File:15.Δελφοί GR-H07-0007.jpg File:Delfoi8.jpg
Treasuries From the entrance of the upper site, continuing up the slope on the Sacred Way almost to the Temple of Apollo, are a large number of
votive statues, and numerous so-called treasuries. These were built by many of the Greek city-states to commemorate victories and to thank the oracle for her advice, which was thought to have contributed to those victories. These buildings held the offerings made to Apollo; these were frequently a "
tithe" or tenth of the spoils of a battle. The most impressive is the now-restored
Athenian Treasury, built to commemorate their victory at the
Battle of Marathon in 490 BC. The
Siphnian Treasury was dedicated by the city of
Siphnos, whose citizens gave a tithe of the yield from their silver mines until the mines came to an abrupt end when the sea flooded the workings. One of the largest of the treasuries was that of
Argos. Having built it in the late classical period, the Argives took great pride in establishing their place at Delphi amongst the other city-states. Completed in 380 BC, their treasury seems to draw inspiration mostly from the Temple of Hera located in the Argolis. However, recent analysis of the Archaic elements of the treasury suggest that its founding preceded this. Other identifiable treasuries are those of the
Sicyonians, the
Boeotians,
Massaliots, and the
Thebans. File:Treasury of the Boeotians.jpg|Boeotians File:Treasury of Cnidus 1.jpg|Cnidians File:The Treasury of the Sicyonians on the Sacred Way at the Sanctuary of Apollo (Delphi) on October 4, 2020.jpg|Sicyonians File:Sideview of the Siphnian Treasury at the Sanctuary of Apollo (Delphi) on October 4, 2020.jpg|Siphnians
Altar of the Chians Located in front of the Temple of Apollo, the main altar of the sanctuary was paid for and built by the people of
Chios. It is dated to the fifth century BC by the inscription on its
cornice. Made entirely of black marble, except for the base and cornice, the altar would have made a striking impression. It was restored in 1920. File:Replica of Serpent Column in Delphi and Altar of Apollo, 20M8126.jpg File:GRIEKENLAND 023 (17669660608).jpg File:Inscription delphi apollo.JPG|Ancient Greek inscription at the altar, naming Chios, "ΧΙΟΙΣ"
Stoa of the Athenians The
stoa, or open-sided, covered porch, is placed in an approximately east–west alignment along the base of the polygonal wall retaining the terrace on which the Temple of Apollo sits. There is no archaeological suggestion of a connection to the temple. The stoa opened to the Sacred Way. The nearby presence of the Treasury of the Athenians suggests that this quarter of Delphi was used for Athenian business or politics, as stoas are generally found in market-places. Although the architecture at Delphi is generally Doric, a plain style, in keeping with the Phocian traditions that were Doric, the Athenians did not prefer the Doric. The stoa was built in their own preferred style, the
Ionic order, the capitals of the columns being a sure indicator. In the Ionic order they are floral and ornate, although not so much as the Corinthian, which is in deficit there. The remaining porch structure contains seven fluted columns, unusually carved from single pieces of stone (most columns were constructed from a series of discs joined). The inscription on the
stylobate indicates that it was built by the Athenians after their naval victory over the Persians in 478 BC, to house their war trophies. At that time the Athenians and the Spartans were on the same side. File:Delphi-2.jpg File:Greece-0842 (2216558634).jpg File:Delphi, Stoa der Athener 2015-09 (1).jpg The
Sibyl rock is a pulpit-like outcrop of rock between the Athenian Treasury and the
Stoa of the Athenians upon the Sacred Way that leads up to the
temple of Apollo in the archaeological area of Delphi. The rock is claimed to be the location from which a prehistoric Sibyl pre-dating the Pythia of Apollo sat to deliver her prophecies. Other suggestions are that the Pythia might have stood there, or an acolyte whose function was to deliver the final prophecy. The rock seems ideal for public speaking. File:Sibyl stone in Delphi.jpg File:The Rock of Sibyl at the Sanctuary of Apollo (Delphi) on October 4, 2020.jpg File:Rock of Sibyl, Rock of Leto, Delphi, Dlfi403.jpg
Theatre The ancient
theatre at Delphi was built farther up the hill from the Temple of Apollo giving spectators a view of the entire sanctuary and the valley below. It was originally built in the fourth century BC, but was remodeled on several occasions, particularly in 160/159 B.C. at the expenses of king Eumenes II of Pergamon and, in 67 A.D., on the occasion of emperor Nero's visit. The koilon (cavea) leans against the natural slope of the mountain whereas its eastern part overrides a little torrent that led the water of the fountain Cassotis right underneath the temple of Apollo. The
orchestra was initially a full circle with a diameter measuring seven meters. The rectangular scene building ended up in two arched openings, of which the foundations are preserved today. Access to the theatre was possible through the parodoi, i.e. the side corridors. On the support walls of the parodoi are engraved large numbers of
manumission inscriptions recording fictitious sales of the slaves to the deity. The koilon was divided horizontally in two zones via a corridor called diazoma. The lower zone had 27 rows of seats and the upper one only eight. Six radially arranged stairs divided the lower part of the koilon in seven tiers. The theatre could accommodate approximately 4,500 spectators. On the occasion of
Nero's visit to Greece in 67 A.D. various alterations took place. The orchestra was paved and delimited by a parapet made of stone. The
proscenium was replaced by a low pedestal, the
pulpitum; its façade was decorated in relief with scenes from myths about Hercules. Further repairs and transformations took place in the second century A.D. Pausanias mentions that these were carried out under the auspices of
Herod Atticus. In antiquity, the theatre was used for the vocal and musical contests that formed part of the programme of the Pythian Games in the late Hellenistic and Roman period. The theatre was abandoned when the sanctuary declined in Late Antiquity. After its excavation and initial restoration it hosted theatrical performances during the Delphic Festivals organized by A. Sikelianos and his wife, Eva Palmer, in 1927 and in 1930. It has recently been restored again as the serious landslides posed a grave threat for its stability for decades.
Tholos at the base of
Mount Parnassus: 3 of 20
Doric columns The
tholos at the sanctuary of
Athena Pronaea (Ἀθηνᾶ Προναία, "Athena of forethought") is a circular building that was constructed between 380 and 360 BC. It consisted of 20
Doric columns arranged with an exterior diameter of 14.76 meters, with 10
Corinthian columns in the interior. The Tholos is located approximately a half a mile (800 m) from the main ruins at Delphi (at ). Three of the Doric columns have been restored, making it the most popular site at Delphi for tourists to take photographs. The architect of the "vaulted temple at Delphi" is named by
Vitruvius, in
De architectura Book VII, as Theodorus Phoceus (not
Theodorus of Samos, whom Vitruvius names separately).
Gymnasium The
gymnasium, which is half a mile away from the main sanctuary, was a series of buildings used by the youth of Delphi. The building consisted of two levels: a
stoa on the upper level providing open space, and a
palaestra, pool, and baths on lower floor. These pools and baths were said to have magical powers, and imparted the ability to communicate directly to Apollo.
Hippodrome It was at the Pythian Games that prominent political leaders, such as
Cleisthenes, tyrant of
Sikyon, and
Hieron, tyrant of
Syracuse, competed with their chariots. The hippodrome where these events took place was referred to by
Pindar, and this monument was sought by archaeologists for over two centuries. Traces of it have recently been found at Gonia in the plain of
Krisa in the place where the original stadium had been sited.
Polygonal wall A retaining wall was built to support the terrace housing the construction of the second temple of Apollo in 548 BC. Its name is taken from the
polygonal masonry of which it is constructed. At a later date, from 200 BC onwards, the stones were inscribed with the
manumission (liberation) contracts of slaves who were consecrated to Apollo. Approximately a thousand manumissions are recorded on the wall.
Castalian spring The sacred spring of Delphi lies in the ravine of the Phaedriades. The preserved remains of two monumental fountains that received the water from the spring date to the
Archaic period and the
Roman, with the latter cut into the rock.
Roman Agora The first set of remains that the visitor sees upon entering the archaeological site of Delphi is the Roman Agora, which was just outside the
peribolos, or precinct walls, of the sanctuary of Apollo at Delphi. The Roman Agora was built between the sanctuary and the
Castalian Spring, approximately 500 meters away. This large rectangular paved square used to be surrounded by
Ionic porticos on its three sides. The square was built in the Roman period, but the remains visible at present along the north and northwestern sides date to the Late Antique period. An open market was probably established, where the visitors would buy ex-votos, such as statuettes and small tripods, to leave as offerings to the gods. It also served as an assembly area for processions during sacred festivals. During the
empire, statues of the emperor and other notable benefactors were erected here as evidenced by the remaining pedestals. In late, Antiquity workshops of artisans were also created within the agora.
Athletic statues Delphi is famous for its many preserved athletic statues. It is known that Olympia originally housed far more of these statues, but time brought ruin to many of them, leaving Delphi as the main site of athletic statues.
Kleobis and Biton, two brothers renowned for their strength, are modeled in two of the earliest known athletic statues at Delphi. The statues commemorate their feat of pulling their mother's cart several miles to the Sanctuary of
Hera in the absence of oxen. The neighbors were most impressed and their mother asked Hera to grant them the greatest gift. When they entered Hera's temple, they fell into a slumber and never woke, dying at the height of their admiration, the perfect gift. The
Charioteer of Delphi is another ancient relic that has withstood the centuries. It is one of the best known statues from antiquity. The charioteer has lost many features, including his chariot and his left arm, but he stands as a tribute to athletic art of antiquity. ==Myths regarding the origin of the precinct==