The Siphnian Treasury

The Siphnian Treasury was constructed in the Ionic order ca. 530-525 BCE, though some claim that it could have been built as late as 480 BCE. It measured 8.9m by 6.3m. The building is made of marble from either Ios or Siphnos. It consists of two different parts: a porch and a cella. The porch was distyle in antis, but in place of the two columns were sculpted figures of young women in elaborate drapery (caryatids). The construction of the elaborately decorated building was funded with the profits from gold and silver mines that had been discovered on the island of Siphnos in the 6th century BCE. The purpose of the treasury was to house lavish offerings given to various gods and goddesses. The Treasury was richly decorated with architectural sculpture in its pediments and frieze, in an Attic-Ionic style. The sculptures in the rear pediment illustrated the struggles between Apollo and Heracles for the Delphic Tripod, while portions of the frieze depicted a Gigantomachy and scenes from the Trojan War. Currently, only the foundation of the building is visible near the Sacred Way.