The Temple of Delphic Apollo, as it survives, dates only to the fourth century BC, but the foundation is original to an earlier version from the sixth century, which replaces an even older seventh century version. The temple was home to the Oracle of Apollo. The Oracle was wealthy, powerful and, some would argue, very corrupt. It was consulted before all major undertakings from wars to the founding of colonies, providing answers in the form of riddles that allowed for multiple interpretations. The prophesies were channeled through a priestess, known as the Pythia. Some say the priestess chewed laurel leaves (sacred to Apollo) to become god-inspired; naysayers suggest that a fumarole since closed by an earthquake leaked forth intoxicating fumes from the earth's center. This last idea might not be so far-fetched, since the Earth Goddess Gaia was worshipped here, too.
The temple was first built around the 7th c. B.C. by the two legendary architects Trophonios and Agamedes. It was rebuilt after a fire in the 6th c. B.C.., also of the Doric order with 6 columns at the front and 15 columns at the flanks, and named the "Temple of Alcmeonidae" in tribute to the noble Athenian family that oversaw its construction with funds form all over Greece and foreign emperors. This temple was destroyed in 373 B.C. by an earthquake and was rebuilt for the third time in 330 B.C. by Spintharos, Xenodoros, and Agathon, architects from Corinth. The sculptures that adorned its pediment were the creation of Athenian sculptors Praxias and Androsthenes. It was built to similar proportions and size as the Alcmeonidae version of the temple, with a peristasis of 6 and 15 columns along the short and long edges respectively. The temple's foundations survive today along with several Doric columns made of porous stone and limestone which is fairly soft material, and have allowed for the temple's advanced decaying. Nobody knows the arrangement of the adyton, or inner shrine that housed the sacred tripod of Apollo. When the French excavated, they bore down to the bedrock without finding the secret chamber where the priestess was said to become inebriated with the spirit of Apollo.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Greece - Delphi: Temple of Apollo
Saturday, March 1, 2008
Temple of Hephaestus
The Temple of Hephaestus, also known as the Hephaesteum or Hephaesteion, in central ancient Athens, is the best-preserved ancient Greek temple in the world. It was also called the Theseion, or Temple of Theseus, due to a belief current in Byzantine times that the bones of the legendary Greek hero Theseus were buried there.
The Temple of Hephaestus was built in 449 BC on a site with a commanding view of the Athenian Agora.
More info here
Friday, January 18, 2008
Aegina - Temple of Aphaia
The imposing temple was built in ca. 500 B.C. An earlier building existed on the same position, built in the 6th century B.C. but it was burnt down in around 510 B.C. It was Doric, peripteral, with 6 x 12 columns, made of poros stone. Its destroyed architectural members were buried during the construction of the artificial terrace on which the new temple was erected. The new temple is also Doric, peripteral, with 6 x 12 columns.
