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Central Greece | Fokida | Delphi Town

Delphi Archaeological Museum

The Museum of Delphi is considered among the three most important museums in Greece, together with the ones of the Acropolis of Athens and in Heraklion, Crete. What makes a visit to the Greek Museums in general, this one in particular, an unforgettable experience, is the fact that they usually exist on the very archaeological site(s), thus putting the exhibits in the surroundings in which they were initially established, in close relevance to their cultural and/or religious role.
The Delphi Museum first opened its doors tο the public in 1903; in the more than 100 years that have elapsed since then, it has been recognized as one of the most important museums in Greece. It has undergone many renovations during this time and four different exhibitions, each reflecting the scientific concepts and artistic standards as they evolved through the 20th century. The quality of the exhibits, though, has always been the main advantage of this Museum.

According to Rosina Colonia, (Delphi Ephorate of Antiquities) “… the Delphi exhibits speak for themselves: they have the power to command respect and captivate the visitor, inviting him or her to admire them, and leaving this visitor with the memory of their charm and the enigma surrounding them. Even though the exhibits on display today constitute no more than a small but representative part of the dedications seen by Pausanias at Delphi, and an even smaller part of the many more that inundated the sanctuary during the years of its heyday, they indisputably continue to delight people with their wealth, variety and beauty. …Delphi has been included in archaeology textbooks, it has adorned art books; some of the Delphi finds, such as the Treasury of the Siphnians, are landmarks in the history of ancient Hellenic art, while others, even though more than one hundred years have elapsed since they came to light, continue to be a focal point of scholarly discussions even today, owing to unanswered questions regarding their identity and interpretation. But above all, they still chaim the broad public who flock, like ancient pilgrims, to admire the monuments of Delphi”. (Quotation ©: John S. Latsis Public Benefit Foundation)


Photos will be gradually added in the near future

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Click on any of the pictures to enlarge.

The Prehistoric Dedications (Halls I - II)

In the first half of the 20th century archaeologists believed that the site of Delphi had served as a prehistoric sanctuary to Mother Earth goddess (Gaea), an opinion that was created by the Delphic priests and adopted by the lyric poets of antiquity in their effort to stress the importance of the sanctuary as a site of successive worship of both ancient chthonic goddesses and Apollo. It is true that a Mycenaean settlement is traceable in the same site dating to the period between the 15th and the 11th century BC, as is true that feminine goddesses where the most important deities during the Mycenaean times. This belief was based, among others, on the Aeschylus’ play The Furies, according to which Mother Earth was succeeded by her daughter Themis and later by Phoebe. It was Phoebe who gave the Oracle Tripod to the newborn Phoebus Apollo as a present.

This may very well have been the case but, so far, the excavations have not produced any undisputable evidence in support of it. There have been found some Mycenaean female terracotta standing figurines of the "phi" and "psi" type, named this way by the shape produced by their folded or unfolded arms which resembles the letters Φ and Ψ respectively of the Greek alphabet. These figurines, however, together with some seated anthropomorphic or animal-like ones and a precious Minoan lion-head shaped stone rhyton (found deep under the Temple of Apollo and dated to the 16th century BC) may have just been simple offerings to their dead.



'The Mycenean Period, 'Beginnings of Cult' Museum window

'The Mycenean Period, 'Beginnings of Cult' Museum window


Please excuse the reflections.
In the following photos we show this window's exhibits
The Mycenaean period

The Mycenaean period


1. Part of a marble rhyton (ritual vessel) in the form of a lion's head. The spout is preserved with the hole allowing the outflow of the libation. Believed to have been imported from Minoan Crete. 1500-1400 BC.
The Mycenaean period

The Mycenaean period


2. Sherd from a cone-shaped marble rhyton. Believed to have been imported from Minoan Crete. 1500-1400 BC.
The Mycenaean period

The Mycenaean period


3. Part of a clay rhyton decorated with stylised vegetale motifs. 1300-1200 BC.
Mycenaean figurines (1400-1050 BC.)

Mycenaean figurines (1400-1050 BC.)


4-5. Clay figurines on tripod seats, possibly effigies of thrones, symbols of divine power and precursors of the oracular tripod.
Mycenaean figurines (1400-1050 BC.)

Mycenaean figurines (1400-1050 BC.)


6-7. Clay figurines on tripod seats, possibly effigies of thrones, symbols of divine power and precursors of the oracular tripod.
Mycenaean figurines (1400-1050 BC.)

Mycenaean figurines (1400-1050 BC.)


8-10. Clay female figurines from the sanctuary of Athena Pronaia of Phi type. They are wearing a headdress; the bosom and eyes are rendered in relief and the garment with painted bands.
Mycenaean figurines (1400-1050 BC.)

Mycenaean figurines (1400-1050 BC.)


11-14. Clay female figurines from the sanctuary of Athena Pronaia of Psi type. They are wearing a headdress; the bosom and eyes are rendered in relief and the garment with painted bands.
Mycenaean figurines (1400-1050 BC.)

Mycenaean figurines (1400-1050 BC.)


15-18. Clay female figurines from the sanctuary of Athena Pronaia of Psi type. They are wearing a headdress; the bosom and eyes are rendered in relief and the garment with painted bands.
Mycenaean figurines (1400-1050 BC.)

Mycenaean figurines (1400-1050 BC.)


19-21. Clay female figurines from the sanctuary of Athena Pronaia of Psi type. They are wearing a headdress; the bosom and eyes are rendered in relief and the garment with painted bands.
Mycenaean figurines (1400-1050 BC.)

Mycenaean figurines (1400-1050 BC.)


22-23. Clay female figurines from the sanctuary of Athena Pronaia of Psi type. They are wearing a headdress; the bosom and eyes are rendered in relief and the garment with painted bands.
Mycenaean figurines (1400-1050 BC.)

Mycenaean figurines (1400-1050 BC.)


23-27. Clay female figurines from the sanctuary of Athena Pronaia of Psi type. They are wearing a headdress; the bosom and eyes are rendered in relief and the garment with painted bands.
Mycenaean figurines (1400-1050 BC.)

Mycenaean figurines (1400-1050 BC.)


27-29. Clay female figurines from the sanctuary of Athena Pronaia of Psi type. They are wearing a headdress; the bosom and eyes are rendered in relief and the garment with painted bands.
Mycenaean figurines (1400-1050 BC.)

Mycenaean figurines (1400-1050 BC.)


31. Clay female figurine. The necklace depicted in punctuation underlines her sanctity.
Mycenaean figurines (1400-1050 BC.)

Mycenaean figurines (1400-1050 BC.)


31. Clay female figurine. The necklace depicted in punctuation underlines her sanctity. (Closeup)
Mycenaean figurines (1400-1050 BC.)

Mycenaean figurines (1400-1050 BC.)


32. Clay bovine figurine.
Mycenaean figurines (1400-1050 BC.)

Mycenaean figurines (1400-1050 BC.)


33. Clay bovine figurine.
Mycenaean figurines (1400-1050 BC.)

Mycenaean figurines (1400-1050 BC.)


34. Clay bull figurine with scaly decoration. 1400-1200 BC.

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