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GREECE CENTRAL GREECE FOKIS DELPHI SANCTUARY

2024-11-06

the Sacred Way (2)

Continuing on the Sacred Way, climbing steadily, we pass more monuments. Quite inconspicious is the "Rock of the Sibyl" on the left, part of the pre-hellenic cult of Gaia, Mother Earth.
plan of Delphi Rock of the Sibyl
ancient remains Ionian column
ancient remains

the Stoa of the Athenians
plan of Delphi Stoa of the Athenians

The "Stoa of the Athenians" in front of the polygonal wall and below the temple of Apollo was dedicated by Athens in 478 BC, after the end of the Persian Wars to their victory over the Persians in the deciding naval battle of Salamis. This is documented by inscriptions on the monument. Originally eight Ionic columns in Parian marble stood on the three-stepped limestone basement.
inscription at the Stoa of the Athenians inscription at the Stoa of the Athenians

the Polygonal Wall
plan of Delphi polygonal wall and temple of Apollo

Above the stoa stretches the "Polygonal Wall", the more than 90 m long and up to 4 m high southern retaining wall of the temple. Its superb polygonal masonry, dating to about 548 BC, combines aesthetics and usefulness. The interlocking irregular stone slabs guarantee the highest possible stability, important in this area of seismic activity. On this wall more than 800 inscriptions have survived to tell about historic events and private matters.
inscriptions on the polygonal wall inscriptions on the polygonal wall
inscribed pillar

Above: After another turn the Sacred Way now reaches its steepest part, leading past numerous monuments - among them this huge inscribed pillar, the Monument of Prusias II, a monumental statue base.