Gardners Art through the Ages A Global History

Doric columns in the porch and sculptured metopes

in the frieze. The Siphnians equally characteristically

employed the Ionic order for their Delphic treasury.

Wealth from the island’s gold and silver mines made

the luxurious building possible. In the porch, where

one would expect to find fluted Ionic columns, far

more elaborate caryatidswere employed instead.

Caryatids are rare, even in Ionic architecture, but

they are unknown in Doric architecture, where they

would have been discordant elements in that much

more severe order. The Siphnian statue-columns re-

semble contemporary korai dressed in Ionian chitons

and himations (FIG. 5-12).

Another Ionic feature of the Siphnian Treasury

is the continuous sculptured frieze on all four sides

of the building. The north frieze represents the

popular theme of the gigantomachy, but the rendition is much more

detailed than that in the corner of the Corfu pediment. In the sec-

tion reproduced here (FIG. 5-19), Apollo and Artemis pursue a flee-

ing giant at the right, while behind them one of the lions pulling a

goddess’s chariot attacks a giant and bites into his midsection. Paint

originally enlivened the crowded composition, and painted labels

identified the various protagonists. Some figures had metal

weapons. The effect must have been dazzling. On one of the shields

the sculptor inscribed his name (unfortunately lost), a clear indica-

tion of pride in accomplishment.

5-18Reconstruction drawing of the Siphnian

Treasury, Delphi, Greece, ca. 530 bce (John Burge).

Treasuries were storehouses in sanctuaries for a city’s

votive offerings. The Ionic treasury the Siphnians

erected at Delphi featured caryatids in the porch,

and sculptures in the pediment and frieze.

5-19Gigantomachy, detail of the north frieze of the Siphnian Treasury, Delphi, Greece, ca. 530 bce.Marble, 2 1 high. Archaeological Museum,

Delphi.

Greek friezes were brightly painted. As in contemporaneous vase painting, the Siphnian frieze also had painted labels identifying the various gods

and giants. Some of the figures held metal weapons.

Archaic Period 113

SIPHNIAN TREASURY, DELPHI The sixth centuryBCE

also saw the erection of grandiose Ionic temples on the Aegean Islands

and the west coast of Asia Minor. The gem of Archaic Ionic archi-

tecture and architectural sculpture, however, is not a temple but a

treasury erected by the city of Siphnos in the Sanctuary of Apollo at

Delphi. It can be reliably reconstructed (FIG. 5-18) based on the sur-

viving fragments now on display in the Delphi museum. Greek trea-

suries were small buildings set up for the safe storage of votive offer-

ings. At Delphi many poleis expressed their civic pride by erecting

these templelike but nonperipteral structures. Athens built one with

1 ft.

5-18A
Sanctuary
of Apollo,
Delphi.