Athena Shrine

The Newer Temple section from SE (Click the image for a full screen view) Six prostyle columns Pronaos Extended antae Ttwo columns in the opening between the cella and the pronaos Cella

The Shrine of Athena Pronaia from SW (Click the image for a full screen view) Rooms (priests' quarters) Newer Temple of Athena Pronaia (limestone) Tholos (marble from Attica) Staircase giving access to the Shrine Treasury of the Massalians (marble) Doric Treasury (marble) Temple of Athena Pronaia (tuff) Altars Temenus of the Heroes

The Sanctuary of Athena Pronaia The History Archaeologically we know but little about the early beginnings of Delphi. Excavations have revealed the site was a Mycenaean village from 1500 to 1100 BCE, during which time the primary religious emphasis was on an oracular cult of the Earth Goddess. Around 1000 BCE the worship of Apollo became dominant when this new god was brought to the region by either Dorians from Crete or northern tribes from Thessaly. The oracular use of the site continued during Apollo's occupation and Delphi achieved Panhellenic fame as a major oracle shrine by the 7th century BCE. Located roughly one-half mile from the main concentration of buildings at Delphi, Athena Pronaia was the gateway to Delphi. The site, having been occupied since the Neolithic Period (5000-3000 BCE) and later by the Mycenaeans, may actually predate Delphi as a sacred place. Originally dedicated to the worship of an Earth Goddess, the shrine w...