Treasuries and the gifts they house

Thêsauroi or Treasure Houses

Thêsauroi or Treasure Houses

Dedications, set up by individual or community, were to celebrate victories, pay a vow or a fine, express gratitude for success or safety, and advertise a donor.

When on display, a small gift from an individual becomes a nationalized gift and serves to produce a better relationship with the gods.

Dedications, set up by individual or community, were to celebrate victories, pay a vow or a fine, express gratitude for success or safety, and advertise a donor.

When on display, a small gift from an individual becomes a nationalized gift and serves to produce a better relationship with the gods.

Any place or building where the currency,items of high value, or gifts to the gods are kept.

Characteristics of Treasuries

Characteristics of Treasuries

Extraterritorial dedications: Built far away from the cities which commissioned them (Athenians and Siphnians as acting patrons).

Retain a special link with the cities that built them: they house votive offerings of the citizenry.

Built by states, not by clans or individuals (unless a tyrant): All citizens become collective dedicates.

Building materials could possess the native stone from the location of the treasury or could be imported from the commissioning city at a great cost.

Extraterritorial dedications: Built far away from the cities which commissioned them (Athenians and Siphnians as acting patrons).

Retain a special link with the cities that built them: they house votive offerings of the citizenry.

Built by states, not by clans or individuals (unless a tyrant): All citizens become collective dedicates.

Building materials could possess the native stone from the location of the treasury or could be imported from the commissioning city at a great cost.

Treasuries And DelphiTreasuries And Delphi The Athenian Treasury, currently

restored, was originally built around 500 B.C. to display stolen goods from the Battle of Marathon.

City-states around Delphi erected treasuries in order to house gifts given to Apollo in appreciation for his oracles and for other assistance given.

The Siphnian Treasury, established around 525 B.C., used caryatids as supports offering greater decoration.

The Athenian Treasury, currently restored, was originally built around 500 B.C. to display stolen goods from the Battle of Marathon.

City-states around Delphi erected treasuries in order to house gifts given to Apollo in appreciation for his oracles and for other assistance given.

The Siphnian Treasury, established around 525 B.C., used caryatids as supports offering greater decoration.

Siphnian Treasury caryatid

DedicationsDedications

Statues were the earliest type of gift but quickly crowded the more popular treasuries.

Votive offerings made of painted wood or terracotta were given by the poor.

Reliefs became used on the buildings, themselves, as they proved to vary in size and quality and were less expensive.

Statues were the earliest type of gift but quickly crowded the more popular treasuries.

Votive offerings made of painted wood or terracotta were given by the poor.

Reliefs became used on the buildings, themselves, as they proved to vary in size and quality and were less expensive.

Charioteer of Delphi

Dedicated by Polyzalos in the Sanctuary of Apollo

Bronze, c.a. 470 B.C.

Archeological Museum, Delphi