The Museum of Delphi - Mount Parnassos Greece
The Delphi Museum is situated right next to the ancient site of Delphi, and is a fascinating museum, filled with truely remarkable artifacts, statues and findings from excavations that have taken place in the site of Delphi.
The museum is open daily and the cost of entrance is € 6.00. However,
you buy a special ticket which includes both entrance to the museum and the
archaeological site for just € 9.00 ( A saving of € 3.00 if bought
seprately ).
The main building of the museum is a shining white marble structure, that
is very modern, considering the ancient site next door that dates back thousands
of years.
On approaching the museum from the walk from the entrance/exit of the archaeological
site, you will follow a small path, that passes through several relics and
tombs located outside of the museum.
Before entering the museum, you can take a look at the stunning mosaic that
is situated below. Just follow the stairs up the museum, and you will see
a place for viewing the mosaic on the floor.
( CLICK ON THE ABOVE IMAGES TO SEE THEM ENLARGED )
Upon entering the museum, you will find the first room in front containing
the "Delphic Tripod", the type used when the Pythia went into their
trances when communicating with the spirit of Apollo. There are also some
shields on display, that are very impressive, especially in their size. These
stunning sights set the standard for the exhibits and artifacts you will discover
in the museum.
As you follow the path, you will pass by a unit housing some helmets that
were excavated. You then pass through into a large room, with some stunning
statues and marble artifacts on display. This includes the head statue from
the "Sphinx of the Naxians" that towers majestically over the room,
as though keeping a watchful eye on everything.
Along the side of the walls in this room you will see some of the freezes
that were recovered from the "Siphnian Treasury" that depict various
scenes of the battle between the Olympian Gods and the Giants ( See Images
Below ).
( CLICK ON THE ABOVE IMAGES TO SEE THEM ENLARGED )
Passing through this room, and seeing some other small exhibits, you will
then enter the small room dominated by the "Twins of Argos". These
two huge statues peer down on all those who enter the room.
They are one of the finest and earliest samples of Archaiac sculpture. At
the time of their discover, they were identified as two mighty brothers from
Argos, named Cleobis and Biton.
Other interpretations however identify them as the "Dioscuri", whose
cult was widespread through the region of the Peloponnese. The two statues
themselves are dated as early 6th century BC, which was the time of transition
from Daedalic to early Archaiac art.
Passing through this room, you will then enter another that contains a stunning
selection of gold jewellery and such artifacts that were discovered here in
Delphi and the surrounding region.
There is also on display come of the pieces of a metallica bull that have
been excavated. Though very incomplete, you can easily imagine the scale and
detail of how this must have looked originally.
Passing back through this room, visitors will then enter a large room filled
with some majestic statues and marble monuments. Again, this room also has
on display a selection of freezes depicting various scenes from Greek history
and Mythology. The detail on some parts of these freezes is truely amazing,
and needs to be seen first hand to really appreciate the detail and caft involved
in their creation.
( CLICK ON THE ABOVE IMAGES TO SEE THEM ENLARGED )
Continuing through the museum, you then enter into another room with some
interesting works on display, including a piece of the wall from the "Athens
Treasury". Behing on the wall is a large image of how the treasury would
have looked during the peak period of Delphi.
Passing through this room, you enter another with a combination of artifacts
on display, from small metallic statues just a few inches in height, but in
extreme detail. Here you will see a selection of marble statue pieces, as
well as some other metallic artifacts.
Leading on from this room, you will then enter a large room, that is extremely
impressive on your first entrance. You will see lined up against one wall
a selection of wonderful marble stautes, some virtually completely intact.
You will also see the famous "Omphalos Stone" which was placed at
the exact point where Apollo slew the python before he took Delphi as his
own.
( CLICK ON THE ABOVE IMAGES TO SEE THEM ENLARGED )
This room is actually the last main room of the museum, and it is here that
the exhibits really start to get impressive. Surrounded by these huge, almost
giant-like statues can easily take your imagination back thousands of years,
when they all adorned the temples and structures around the archaeological
compound at Delphi.
You will also see here pieces from the huge column that was one 
of
the most stunning in ancient Delphi, that being the "Column of the Dancing
Girls".
As well as seeing the main base of the column, you will also see the magnificent
headpiece, the motion of the dancing girls captured perfectly for all generations
to witness.
Upon leaving this main room, you then reach the highlight of the museum, and
its most famous display - that of the the metallic statue of Éniohos,
( he who holds the reins).
Set against a pale yellow backdrop, these dark greenish statues immediately
grabs your attention, as though the statue itself were hypnotising all those
who take their first glance at it.
The stunning detail, especially in the eyes, gives you the feeling that this
statue is watching everything, and all those who pass by it. With a large
sketch on one of the walls depicting how the statue would have been if complete,
you can only marvel at just how well preserved and intact it really is.
Passing down a small slope to the left of the statue, you reach the exit of
the museum. Here, you will find a small scale model contruction of how the
entire archaeological site of ancient Delphi would have looked during its
peak and most important times. The detail of this small model is perfect,
and it is a great model from which to trace your own journey along the site,
and picture how it would have been, all those years ago.
( CLICK ON THE ABOVE IMAGES TO SEE THEM ENLARGED )
