GREECE CENTRAL GREECE FOKIS DELPHI MARMARIA

Southeast of the Sanctuary of Apollo, below the modern road, lies the place called Marmaria. It was dedicated to Athena, whom the Delphians worshipped as Athena Pronaia (Guardian of the Temple).

In the northeastern corner of the precinct are the remains of the Old Temple of Athena Pronaia. This was severely damaged by earthquakes and by landslides from the Phaedriades - you can still see large boulders lying around. One of these landslides occurred in 480 BC, just as a detachment of the Persian army, sent out to plunder the temple, was here. The soldiers came no further than Marmaria, and by a play upon words, Athena Pronaia was changed into Athena Pronoia (Providence). - Below: Treasuries in Marmaria.

The main attraction of Marmaria, and one of the most photographed buildings in Delphi, is of course the tholos behind the treasuries. It is a circular Doric temple of about 380 BC, the dedication of which is unknown. On a three-stepped platform stood originally 20 Doric columns in front of the circular cella wall. Three of its columns, exceptionally slender for the Doric style, have been re-erected in 1938. The richly decorated entabulature has been carefully restored in replica from surviving fragments.