Treasure_of_Athens_at_Delphi_and_the_Tholos_of_Athena

Treasuries were first created to protect valuables and offerings. They are built high off the ground, created with thick walls, no windows, and columns in front. The treasury of Athens located just below the Temple of Apollo, was built between 510 and 490 BC. It was designed to display spoils from the battle of Marathon. It was then after that battle that Athens defeated Persia and started marking their beginning for their city-state. Made from cut stone and Parian marble, its size about 10 meters x 6meters it has cultic objects, votive (object left that are sacred and ritual) offerings, and various documents stoned inside. Many historians say that they treasury was built as an offering to Apollo, which others believe its purpose was to honor the Athenian victory at Marathon. An engraving was discovered on its pedestal that actually reads, “The Athenians to Apollo as offerings from the Battle of Marathon, taken from the Mede”. Since the inscription was not found on the treasury itself, some question whether the inscription has anything to do with the treasury or if one part of the building predates the other. Another feature that sets the two pieces apart is their differing clamp styles. The Treasury has a dovetail and the pedestal has both a double-T and a double-H, two styles that were popular at different time periods. Partially reconstructed, it has two Doric columns along the front, which were originally made from wood. Following the entrance leads to the valuable objects and documents that were kept inside. Just below the ceiling of the treasury, there are remnants of painted designs. Something that is really interesting with the building is that it has carved spaces, called Metopes, placed along the building that represent stories of their past. Many examples include Thesus, which represented the one who gave the Athenians political equality. Other pictures include Hercules and adventurous tails. The Tholos of Athena is the sanctuary of Athena Pronaia and is located to the southeast of the sanctuary of Apollo. It took its name because it is the first visible thing to those arriving from east, hence name means Athena in front of the temple. The main important of this sanctuary was to highlight the practice of those who came to petition the oracle, they were first required to offer a sacrifice at Athena Pronaia. It has a terrace of about 150 meters x 40 meters, which led to several altars, temples, treasuries, and the tholos within the sanctuary. Largest building in the sanctuary was the Archaic temple of Athena. There were two treasuries within the complex, which were dedicated by the inhabitants of Massilia in thanks for the victory over the Etruscans. In front of those, stood a trophy on a base to commemorate a Greek victory over the Persians. The Tholos was constructed in the 4th century BC, by an architect Theodorus from Phokaia in Asia Minor. It is a circular structure, which is encircled by twenty Doric columns on the outer circle and ten Corinthian columns on the inner circle. Function for is not completely clear, but theories suggest it was a chthonic cult dedicated to a god or local hero or that maybe it was just a circular treasury were statues were kept. What destroyed the temple was a major earthquake in 373 BC. Reconstruction began in 370 BC but ceased after a series of sacred wars. The structure was made primarily of marble, and in recent years has been partially restored. Three columns along with partial cornices, pieces of the guttering, metopes, and triglyphs. What is interesting about this was on its exterior was images of the battle between the Amazons and the Centaurs, along with the gutter exterior laid lion head spouts.