The Archaic period of Ancient Greece was marked by significant social, political, and economic upheaval and transformation. Key characteristics of this era include colonization, social reform, and the rise of tyranny. Delphi, through the Oracle of Apollo, played an active role in all this process and made a major contribution to the evolution of Greek society. This new situation had an impact on the dedication of valuable offerings by cities, federations, tyrants and rulers.
The Twins of Argos
Discovered a year apart in 1893 and 1894, the twin statues —among the earliest sculptures offered to the sanctuary— were found near the Athenian Treasury. Additionally, one of the inscribed bases was recovered, while the second base was discovered repurposed within the wall of the Roman baths in 1907.
The statues of Kleovis and Viton, the Twins of Argos, are among the highlights of the Museum. Read their story here.
The metopes of the Treasury of Sikyonians
The city-state of Sikyon (also transcribed as Sicyon) was located in northern Peloponnesus, within the modern regional unit of Corinthia. Renowned for its significant contributions to ancient Greek art, Sikyon was home to many celebrated painters and sculptors. It was one of the earliest Greek city-states to dedicate a building to the Sanctuary of Apollo at Delphi.
The term «Sicyonian Treasury» refers to three distinct structures from the 6th century BC.:
1. The tholos, a circular structure.
2. The monopteros, a small building measuring 4 by 5 meters, featuring a single row of 14 columns (pteron). This open-sided, roofed structure was supported by fourteen small columns of doric order: five columns on each longer side and four others on the smaller sides. They held a Doric frieze where triglyphs were placed only over the columns, resulting in fourteen metopes of unusual width sculpted in high relief and painted; detail was added with contrasting color and sometimes incision.The discovery of sculptures buried beneath the third and final final Treasury, dating back to the late sixth century, helped establish the monopteros's date to around 560 BC.
3. The final Sicyonian Treasury: a Doric structure built on a foundation of porous stone quarried from Corinthia, measuring 8.27 by 6.24 meters.
the Treasury of Sikyonians at Sanctuary of Apollo at Delphi
Although the two earlier buildings were deliberately destroyed, their architectural elements were not dispersed or repurposed; instead, they were buried beneath the foundations of the Treasury.
The Monopteros building, with its sculptural decorations, is the oldest one found in Delphi. Its five metopes that survived and are exposed in Room III of the Museum, are of great importance to the history of art.
One of the five metopes of the Sikyonian Treasury depicting the Dioscuri twins Castor and Pollux, returning home with others from a cattle raid
Of the original fourteen metopes, substantial portions of four as well as smaller fragments of others were found in 1894, scattered around the foundations of the later treasury. They show:
1) the Dioscuri, twins worshipped at the town of Sicyon, returning with others from a cattle raid;
2) The boar of Kalydon;
3) Zeus in the guise of a bull abducting Europa;
4) Jason’s ship Argo (illustrated).
A metope of the Sikyonian Treasury representing "Argo" the ship of Jason
These myths have particular meaning for Sicyon but were still unusual subject matter, which is maybe why the names of the characters were originally added in paint. The sculptures are very inventive for their date. The Europa relief in particular is notable for capturing a fleeting moment, and for the female figure being in proportion to the animal; most archaic sculpture of this period was not concerned with the accuracy of relative sizes.
The Bronze votive offerings to Apollo
The collection in Room III is complemented by bronze votive offerings dedicated to Apollo, including statuettes of kouroi, bronze plaques featuring mythological scenes affixed to the surfaces of vessels or pieces of furniture, and ochana (plural of ochanο)—bands fastened to the undersides of shields and adorned with mythological representations.
Useful links:
Understanding Delphi:
The term Archaic in history and archaeology was coined in the 18th century by art historians in order to describe the transition of the Greek art between the Geometric (9th-8th century BC) and the Classical Period (the end of the Persian Wars -479 BC- signalled the passage to the ensuing Classical period).
In Ancient Greece, before establishing a colony, founders would always consult the Oracle of Apollo at Delphi. The oracle provided guidance directly to the founder, accompanied by a mandate that empowered them with various roles, including those of king, religious leader, military commander, and lawgiver. Typically, the oracle would specify the ideal location for the colony and the most favorable season for its founding.
