Found in 1893 during the "Great excavation" of Delphi, the stone fragments inscribed with unusual symbols were included in the south wall of the Treasury of the Athenians. French archaeologist Théophile Homolle recognized them as part of two ancient musical compositions dedicated to the god Apollo and the philologist Henri Weil restored the Greek text of the fragments.
Archaeologist and musicologist Théodore Reinach discovered that the first hymn used vocal notation, while the second used instrumental notation. He transcribed the music into modern notation.
Since the heading of the inscription giving the name of the composer of the 1st hymn is damaged and difficult to read, it was cocncluded that it was written by an Athenian, around 138 BC. However, careful reading of this inscription shows that it cannot be the ethnic "Athenaîos" (aka from Athens), but rather names "Athēnaios Athēnaiou" (Athénaios son of Athénaios) as the composer.
1st hymn
2nd hymn
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The emplacement of the Treasury of the Athenians inside the Sanctuary of Apollo
