Delphi Archaeological Museum

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Delphi Archaeological Museum

Delphi Archaeological museum is the museum that houses the ancient artifacts that were found in Delphi, Greece. Its centerpiece are the antiquities found in the complex of the ancient Oracle of Delphi from the 18th century BC when the oracle was founded to its decline in Late Antiquity. Its exhibits are mainly offerings to the oracle and architectural parts of the buildings.

History of the museum

Apollo wearing a laurel or myrtle wreath, a white peplos and a red himation and sandals, seating on a lion-pawed diphros; he holds a kithara in his left hand and pours a libation with his right hand. Facing him, a black bird identified as a pigeon, a jackdaw, a crow (which may allude to his love affair with Coronis) or a raven (a mantic bird). Tondo of an Attic white-ground kylix from a tomb (probably that of a priest) in Delphi.

The first museum of Delphi was built in 1903 based on the plans of the French architect Albert Tournaire and funded by the banker and philanthropist Andreas Syngros and was later modified to a larger two-storeyed construction in 1958 based on the architectural designs of renowned museum architect Patroklos Karantinos. The extension in 1938 was necessary in order to accommodate the growing collection of antiquities found at the excavations by the École française d'Athènes and of their Greek counterparts in the later years.[1] In 1975, the museum was enriched with the chryselephantine objects that were recently excavated along the ancient sacred way of the oracle complex. In 1974, a new room was added for the exhibition of the gold and ivory finds from the sanctuary.[2] The final arrangement of the exhibits was finalised in 1980. The museum was enlarged and refurbished in 1999 by the Greek Ministry of Culture according to the latest museological standards. A new modern facade, a new lobby, a cafeteria and a gift shop with replicas of the antiquities were also created.[3]

Collections

Highlights

Gallery

  • Statues of Kleobis and Biton, dedicated to Delphi by the city of Argos

  • Sphinx of the Naxians

  • Akanthos Column

  • Statue of Hagias, possibly by Lysippos or his son Euthykrates

  • The Delphi Antinous, a cult statue of Antinous

  • Bust of the Roman consul Titus Quinctius Flamininus

See also

References

  1. ↑ Hellenic Ministry of Culture | Delphi Archaeological Museum
  2. ↑ Archaeological Museum of Delphi by Greece Museums Guide - #1 Travel Guide to Greek Culture
  3. ↑ Hellenic Ministry of Culture | Delphi Archaeological Museum

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Archaeological Museum of Delphi.

Coordinates: 38°28′48″N 22°29′59″E / 38.4801°N 22.4997°E / 38.4801; 22.4997

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike; additional terms may apply for the media files.