Athena Pronaia

Athena Pronaia (Athena before Apollo Temple)

Overview

This is the first building seen by the visitors to Delphi. This sanctuary has within it the Tholos - a circular building with a conical roof supported by a ring of outer columns - which acts as a defense against evil influences entering the precincts of the main Temple.

Context

The Sanctuary of Athena is alike a Sanctuary or Purification area for entrance into the Temple Complex itself.The sanctuary of Athena "Pronaia" (, meaning 'the one before' the temple of Apollo), is the first one met by the Delphi visitor at the baseof the eastern road, hence its name. A seated figure on a tripod, sits here in initial assessment of the aspirants condition prior to entry onto the Sacred Way. The area is dedicated to BOTH Athena and Artemis. The building marked 1 - being the sanctuary of Artemis Pronaea dedicated to the twin of Apollo - the goddess Artemis, and as the aspirant becomes more compliant with the laws of the Delphi area - it shifts to a focus on Athena. Only the righteously purified can pass - even if their alignment does not match - the following of the rules to achieve entry is what they are being judged on.

 

Detailed Description

"When you enter the city [of Delphoi] you see temples in a row. The first of them (1) is dedicated to Artemis the Light-bringer in darkness, the second (2) is dedicated to the Goddess Athena as a law giver and the Daemon Epidotes (Επιδωτης), the spirit of purification who assuaged the wrath of Zeus. Epidotes is an attendant of Apollo at Delphoi (Delphi) where he presides over the rites of purification used to remove the stain of pollution from a murderer, the purification through the second temple gives entrance into the third temple (8).. . . the fourth (7) is called the temple of Athena Pronoia (Forethought). Of its two images, the one in the fore-temple is a votive offering of the Massiliots, and is larger than the one inside the temple. The Massiliots are a colony of Phokaia in Ionia . . . The votive offering of the Massiliots is of bronze. The gold shield given to Athena Pronoia by Kroisos the Lydian was said by the Delphians to have been stolen by Philomelos.

1 Temple of Artemis

2 Temple of Purification through Athena (The Goddess of Wisdom) and Epidotes (the Spirit of Purification)

3 Tholos of Hercules: The vaulted circular building has 20 pillars - each pair acting as a support for one of the completed labors of Hercules. (The ten completed labors are said to indicate the way to become a Demi-god.)

4 Treasury of Massaliots: This small building is a Treasure-den dedicated to the exploits of the Ocean-going Massaliots and their acheivements.

5 Doric Treasury

6 Temenos of Heroes

7 Altar of Athena Pronaia

8 Altar of Hygieia and Eileithyia

9 Unidentified archaic altar

10 Unidentified building (for priests?)

11 Statue base for the statue of King Atlas

12 Eastern entrance

13 Southern entrance

Type

Room, Religious, Sanctum / Septum