The Stoa of the Athenians is an ancient portico in the Sanctuary of Apollo in Delphi, Greece, located south of the Apollo Temple. The southern side of the polygonal wall of the platform forms the north wall of the stoa. It was constructed c. 478 BC-470 BC during the early Classical period. The one-aisled stoa with Ionic colonnade opens toward the southeast. It was dedicated by the Athenians after the Persian Wars.

Description

The Stoa of the Athenians is built against the polygonal wall supporting the terrace of the temple of Apollo. The monument has been identified through the inscription of the stylobate: Ἀθεναῖοι ἀνέθεσαν τὲν στοὰν καί τὰ ℎόπλ̣α καὶ τἀκροτέρια ℎελόντες τōν πολεμίον [The Athenians dedicated the portico and the ropes and the figure heads of the ships that they seized from the enemies].The "ropes" mentioned in the inscription refer probably to those snatched from Persian ships.[1] On a three-stepped stylobate measuring 26.5 meters long and 3.10 meters wide stand seven monolithic fluted columns of the Ionic order. They are made of Pentelic marble and their bases are made of Paros marble. They are 3.31 meters high.The distance between them is quite large, thus creating openings allowing ample light to enter the building, which was probably covered with a wooden roof. Τhe stylobate and the colonnade have been restored colonnade and are extant today in situ. On the polygonal wall at the back of the stoa, particularly on the western part of it, have been carved about six hundred manumission inscriptions, in the form of fictitious sale of slaves to the god. Most probably, the portico was constructed after the naval victories against the Persians at Mykale and Sestos in 478 B.C.[2] It was used for storing the war spoils, mainly from naval victories against the Persians. War spoils from naval battles at Mykale, Sestos, Salamis and the Hellespont were included.[3]
Bibliography

Amandry, P., « Le portique des Athéniens à Delphes », BCH 70, 1946, 1-8
Bommelaer, J.-F., « Les Portiques de Delphes », RA 1993, 33-51.
Bommelaer, J.-F., Laroche, D., Guide de Delphes. Le site, Sites et Monuments 7, Paris 1991, 147-150.
Coulton, J. J., The Architectural Development of the Greek Stoa, Oxford 1976, 234.
Haussoullier, B., "Le Portique des Athéniens et ses abords,", BCH 5, 1881, 1-19.
Umholz, G., “Architraval Arrogance? Dedicatory Inscriptions in Greek Architecture of the Classical Period”, Hesperia 71, 2002, 261-293.
Walsh, J., « The Date of the Athenian Stoa at Delphi», AJA 90, 1986, 319-336.

References

Umholz, G., “Architraval Arrogance? Dedicatory Inscriptions in Greek Architecture of the Classical Period”, Hesperia 71, 2002, 261-293.
Walsh, J., « The Date of the Athenian Stoa at Delphi», AJA 90, 1986, 319-336.
Raptopoulos, S. (2012). "The Stoa of the Athenians". ΟΔΥΣΣΕΥΣ. Ministry of Culture and Sports, Greece. Retrieved 29 June 2013.

Stoa

List of Stoae