Room IV of the Museum is dedicated to the exquisite gold and ivory artifacts discovered in 1939 beneath the stone pavement of the Sacred Way, opposite the Stoa of the Athenians.
Among the more than 2,000 fragments unearthed, the majority belonged to a series depicting the "Apollonian triad": the god Apollo, his twin sister Artemis (known as Diana in Roman mythology), and their mother, Leto. After extensive restoration efforts completed in 1975, these remarkable statues were finally presented to the public.
The Apollonian Triad: Apollo, Artemis and their mother Leto
The statues are chryselephantine—derived from the Greek words "chrysos" (gold) and "elephas" (ivory) -a rare sculptural technique that involved crafting a wooden core adorned with sculpted ivory for the exposed parts of the face and body, while the garments and hair were formed from hammered gold. Ancient literary sources tell us that this technique was employed during the 6th and 5th centuries BC for notable cult statues, including the statue of Athena in the Parthenon on the Acropolis of Athens and the statue of Zeus at Olympia.
The statues of the Apollonian Triad, are among the highlights of the Museum. Read their story here.
Also on display in Room IV is the renowned Silver Bull of Delphi, one of the most impressive votive offerings from the sanctuary of Delphi. Nearly life-sized, this striking sculpture measures 2.61 meters in width and 1.46 meters in height. While the silver plates are preserved in moderate condition, the wooden core has unfortunately not survived.
The Silver Bull of Delphi, as exposed at the Museum
The silver plates were originally affixed to the wooden core and reinforced by a skeleton of silver-plated copper rods, secured with two rows of silver nails at the joints.
Certain parts of the Silver Bull -such as the horns, forehead, ears, lower neck, genital region, and hooves—were gilded, enhancing its grandeur. The intricate design of the forehead and neck suggests that the Silver Bull originated from an Ionia workshop, dating to the first half of the 6th century BC.
The Silver Bull was also discovered in a repository beneath the pavement of the Sacred Way, in front of the Polygonal Wall.
Useful links:
Understanding Delphi:
The path leading to the temple of Apollo is named Sacred Way even though it did not have the character of a wide street that accommodates processions.
Chryselephantine sculpture (from Ancient Greek χρυσός (khrusós) 'gold' and ελεφάντινος (elephántinos) 'ivory') is a sculpture made with gold and ivory. Chryselephantine cult statues enjoyed high status in Ancient Greece.
The commissioning of animal statues as the Silver Bull, including bulls and lions, served as a testament to the political and financial power of the patrons.
