What were Treasuries for in ancient Greece?

What were Treasuries for in ancient Greece?

The Treasuries at Olympia were a series of small temple-shaped buildings located to the north side of the Altis or sanctuary at the site of Olympia in Greece. All but two were erected by Greek colonies to store valuable votive offerings. The Treasuries were built on a natural terrace at the foot of the Hill of Cronus.

When was the Athenian treasury at Delphi built?

. 500-480 B.C.
The Athenian Treasury was built ca. 500-480 B.C. It stands alongside a processional route up to the temple, which held the famous Delphic oracle.

Which hero appeared on the Athenian treasury at Delphi?

The combination of Heracles (the Delphic hero) with Theseus (the Athenian hero) not only displays a partnership between Athens and Delphi, but also inserted Athens into the cultural landscape of the Delphic sanctuary. The layout of the friezes made visitors take a full route around the treasury.

What is Delphi Athens?

Delphi (Delfí), lying on the slopes of Mount Parnassus high above the Gulf of Corinth, is one of the most famous historic sites in Greece, known throughout the ancient Greek world and beyond as the sanctuary of Apollo and the shrine of his oracle.

What was the Athenian treasury used for?

The Athenian Treasury (Greek: Θησαυρός των Αθηναίων) at Delphi was constructed by the Athenians to house dedications and votive offerings made by their city and citizens to the sanctuary of Apollo. The entire treasury including its sculptural decoration is built of Parian marble.

Which god or goddess had the most temples in Sparta?

Sparta worshipped Ares and Artemis Orthia as their patron deities. The Sanctuary of Artemis Orthia was one of the most important religious sites in Sparta.

What is Delphi famous for?

Delphi was an ancient religious sanctuary dedicated to the Greek god Apollo. Developed in the 8th century B.C., the sanctuary was home to the Oracle of Delphi and the priestess Pythia, who was famed throughout the ancient world for divining the future and was consulted before all major undertakings.

Why was the Delian League often referred to as the Athenian League?

The League’s modern name derives from its official meeting place, the island of Delos, where congresses were held in the temple and where the treasury stood until, in a symbolic gesture, Pericles moved it to Athens in 454 BC.

Are metope and frieze the same?

In classical architecture, a metope (μετόπη) is a rectangular architectural element that fills the space between two triglyphs in a Doric frieze, which is a decorative band of alternating triglyphs and metopes above the architrave of a building of the Doric order.

Why did the Athenians build the metopes in Delphi?

The pairing of the two heroes was a metaphor alluding to the Battle of Marathon. The metopes show Athenian identity and how they viewed their enemies both foreign or domestic. Several other city-states built treasuries in the panhellenic site of Delphi.

Why was the Athenian treasury at Delphi important?

The Athenian treasury was the first Panhellenic sanctuary that was dedicated by Athenians. The Athenian Treasury at Delphi was constructed by the Athenians to house dedications and votive offerings made by their city and citizens to the sanctuary of Apollo.

What was the Treasury of the Athenians made of?

Treasury of the Athenians The restored Treasury of the Athenians at Delphi. The Athenian Treasury was a votive building in the form of a reduced scale temple, designed to hold the multitude of Athenian offerings to the Delphi oracle. The building was constructed entirely of Parian marble and had a Doric frieze decorated with 30 metopes.

Why was the metope of Theseus important to the Athenians?

The metope of Theseus and the Bull of Marathon shows how the Athenians tried to tie the win to their divine right to be the head polis and rule over the others. This also tied their mythology more closely to their reality. This treasury held and displayed the votive offerings dedicated to the god Apollo at Delphi.