The Ionic frieze on the Siphnian treasury at Delphi

Partly finished

When is the Siphnian Treasury at Delphi dated to?

C.525 BC, late archaic

Where is the Siphnian Treasury located?

On the island polis of Siphnos within the Panhellenic sanctuary of Apollo at Delphi

What material are the architectural sculptures made from?

Parian Marble

What type of columns did this building display?

Caryatids: two sculpted marble columns in the form of women placed in front of the Western entrance

What myth is depicted on the east pediment?

Herakles attempting to steal Apollo’s tripod.

What is the length and height of the ionic frieze?

It is 0.64m high and would have been 8.6m in length along the North and South side and 6.2m in length along the East and West side.

What myth is displayed on the North side of the frieze?

The Gigantomachy as the Olympian Gods and Giants fight over Mount Olympus

Name some of the aesthetic features in the part of the North Frieze (4)

• The overlapping circular shield pattern creates 3 dimensions and a convex versus concave pattern

• The giant running in in front of Apollo and Artemis demonstrates foreshortening with some parts of his anatomy carved shallowly and others carved deeply to give the impression of distance

• The Frieze is filled with a variety of figures in dynamic poses e.g. fallen, falling, running

• Multiple planes are used to show depth

How is this part of the frieze specifically effective?

It enhances the narrative and portrays the violence of the Gigantomachy.

• The giant’s head is turing at a ¾ pose with the mouthpiece of his helmet showing an archaic smile

• The figure of the lion mauling the giant is exotic to the contemporary Greek audience

• Multiple planes are used displaying depth and techne e.g. the lions paws encircling the giant and the giant trying to pull it away

• The patterned lion mane

What myth is displayed on the East side of the Frieze?

It depicts two scenes from the Trojan War: firstly, the seated Olympian gods having a debated and secondly, a duel between the heroes Achilles and Memnon.

What aesthetic features are seen on this part of the East frieze? (2)

• The repeated horizontal seats create a sense of order and calm highlighting the dichotomy between the power of the gods and the foolhardiness of the mortals

• The rigid asymmetric action arms indicate that they are arguing a sign of anthropomorphism

How is this part of the frieze typical of the late archaic period? (4)

• Heavy stylised drapery similar to the Berlin Standing Goddess

• Impossible twist in Apollos neck

• Long beaded Hiar

• Archaic smile on Apollo

How does the scene of the seated gods contrast the Trojan War scene?

The sculptor is creating a juxtaposition between the civilised verbal battle of the gods and physical violent battle of the giants. The gods are also portrayed as larger than the giants (unity of scale).

What does Woodford say about this frieze?

‘The overall effect of the upright seated figures on their virtually identical, clearly carved stools is one of handsome ornamental pattern’

What does Emerson say about this frieze?

‘The originality of the design is to take social interaction as a topic for narrative rather than battle or a procession’

What does Neer say about this frieze?

‘The difference between good and evil, gods and Giants, is the difference between epic battle and hoplite infantry’