The treasury of the Thebans, 3D reconstruction
© Ephorate of Antiquities of Phocis, Ministry of Culture and Sports
Treasury of the Doric order, made entirely out of limestone, grey with bluish shades, quarried from St. Elias, an area to the west of Delphi. The Treasury was situated a few meters below the first turn of the Sacred Way in the Sanctuary of Apollo and was dedicated by the Thebans for their victory at Leuktra in 371 B.C. It was the largest treasury of Delphi.
Soon after their victory against the Lacaedemonians at Leuktra in 371 B.C., the Thebans dedicated in the sanctuary of Apollo a treasury of the Doric order, measuring 12.29 x 7.21 meters, which made it the largest treasury in Delphi. It was a rectangular building, standing on a crepis with two steps. The entire treasury was made of local limestone from St. Elias, dark grey with bluish shades, which accentuated the plain, rigid style. Its contrast to the elegance and polychromy of the nearby Treasury of the Siphnians must have been perceived by the visitors in antiquity.
The building was surrounded by a frieze consisting of metopes and triglyphs. Several views have been expressed on the exact architectural form. It was possibly a uniform building, without columns, with two doors at the narrow sides and a perpendicular wall for extra support. It seems that special care was taken for the stability of the building. Τhe cella was illuminated through an opening on the western wall.
Text - Translation: Dr. Aphrodite Kamara, Historian