Delphi Archaeological Museum | A Comprehensive Guide

Why visit the Delphi Archaeological Museum

Ancient treasures: The Delphi Archaeological Museum showcases artifacts from the Delphi archaeological site spanning over 1,000 years. These include sculptures, statues, pottery, architectural fragments, and inscriptions. Explore its galleries and walk through centuries of history.
Chryselephantine objects: Some of the most precious and rare artifacts recovered from the archaeological site, like the gold and ivory statues of Apollo, Artemis, and Leto, are displayed at the museum.
The Omphalos: The museum is home to the original Omphalos, the stone with which Zeus is believed to have marked Delphi as the center of the Earth. This carved and decorated marble monument symbolizes the significance of Delphi in the ancient world and its stature as a historical site today.
Sculptural masterpieces: The museum features some of the best examples of ancient Greek sculpture over the centuries, such as the Charioteer of Delphi, the Kouroi twins, the Sphinx of Naxos, and the statue of Antinous, and the Dancers of Delphi.
An educational journey: If you’re interested in ancient Greek history and archaeology, the museum is a must-visit. Its well-curated exhibits and informative displays give you an unmatched glimpse into the beliefs, cultures, and rituals of the ancient world.

Delphi Archaeological Museum highlights

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Charioteer of Delphi

Probably the most famous exhibit at the Delphi Archaeological Museum, the Charioteer of Delphi is a life-size bronze statue of a young man from the 5th century BCE. The 1.8-meter-tall figure holding reins is thought to be a charioteer who won the Pythian Games in 478 or 474 BCE. The statue was found in the Sanctuary of Apollo almost intact except for the left forearm. It is considered part of a larger statue with a chariot and horse, of which only fragments have been found.

The Sphinx of Naxos

The Sphinx of Naxos is a 2.22-meter-tall marble statue dating back to the 6th century BCE. It is one of the earliest surviving examples of a Greek sphinx – a mythical creature with the head of a woman, the body of a lioness, and the chest and wings of a large bird. It originally stood atop a 12.5-metre-tall ionic column near the Halos of the Temple of Apollo. It is believed to be a votive offering to Apollo by the people of the wealthy island of Naxos in the Aegean Sea.

The Kouroi of Delphi

This is a pair of 6th-century BCE marble sculptures depicting nude male youths or “kouroi”, thought to represent the brothers Kleobis and Biton. The twin kouroi figures are believed to have been made at Argos and kept at Delphi as votive offerings to the Temple of Apollo. These archaic statues were excavated at the archaeological site near the Treasury of the Athenians in 1893-94.

Chryselephantine objects

Chryselephantine sculptures were made of gold and ivory, and were considered extremely precious in Ancient Greece. In 1939, several chryselephantine objects were found buried in a pit next to Delphi’s Sacred Way. These included statues of Apollo, Artemis, and their mother, Leto, as well as fragments of the statue of a silver bull. Believed to date back to the 6th century BCE, the sculptures are displayed in the museum’s Room 4.

Dancers of Delphi

Made of Pentelic marble, the Dancers of Delphi depicts three young female figures on a column of acanthus leaves. It earns its name because of the graceful poses of the three women, which makes them look like they’re dancing. The figures are said to represent the three daughters of Cecrops, a legendary king of Athens. This monument is believed to be from the 4th century BCE and was discovered during the excavations in 1894.

Omphalos

In Greek mythology, the Omphalos, meaning “navel of the world”, is the stone Zeus used to mark Delphi as the center of the Earth. Today, the spot at the archaeological site is marked by a copy, while the original Omphalos is displayed at the museum. The marble stone is shaped like a large conical beehive and its surface is decorated with carved reliefs. It is believed that in ancient times, the stone was kept in the Temple of Apollo’s inner sanctum, where the Oracle made its prophecies.

The friezes of the Siphnian Treasury

The Treasury of the Siphanians was one of the most elaborate buildings at Delphi. Made entirely of marble, this 6th-century temple-like structure was decorated with sculptural reliefs depicting scenes from Greek mythology, such as the Gigantomachy (battle between the Olympian gods and the giants), the Trojan War, and the Judgement of Paris. While the treasury fell to ruins, slabs of the frieze were uncovered and are displayed at the museum.

Statue of Antinous

Antinous was a young Greek and a favorite companion of the Roman Emperor Hadrian. After his sudden death in the 2nd century CE, Hadrian ordered statues of Antinous to be carved and put up across the empire. One of these, made of Parian marble, was installed at Delphi and uncovered during the excavations in 1894. Though missing its forearms, it is well preserved and is recognized as one of the most impressive examples of Greek sculpture.

Galleries at the Delphi Archaeological Museum

Rooms 1 & 2

Exhibits at the Delphi Archaeological Museum are arranged chronologically, and Rooms 1 and 2 feature the most ancient discoveries from the site. The artifacts include clay figurines dating back to the Mycenaean period (1750 to 1050 BCE), and 7th and 8th BCE bronze votive offerings like warrior figurines, shields, helmets, and a bronze Daedalic kouros.

Room 3

The main exhibits in Room 3 are the twin Kouroi statues of Kleobis and Biton, dating back to the 6th century BCE. Other artifacts from this period, like the portions of the metopes from the Treasury of the Sikyonians – which depict scenes from Greek myths such as the Argonaut expedition and the Dioscuri – are also displayed here.

Room 4

Room 4 is dedicated to the findings unearthed from a pit next to the Sacred Way in 1939, including the famous chryselephantine objects. You can see fragments of the ivory-and-gold statues of the “Delphic trinity” or “Appolinian triad” – Apollo, Artemis, and their mother Leto. Fragments of the silver statue of a bull and other precious gold and silver artifacts are also kept in this room.

Room 5

In Room 5, you’ll find the famous Sphinx of Naxos – the 2.2 meter statue of the mythical creature that was part woman, part lion, and part bird. Parts of the friezes from the Siphnian Treasury, which feature scenes from Greek mythology like the Trojan War and the Judgement of Paris, as well as parts of kouroi (statues of male figures) and caryatids (statues of female figures) are also displayed here.

Room 6

The remains of the Temple of Apollo from the Delphi archaeological site are displayed in Room 6. Portions of the pediments of the temple, made of Parian marble, can be seen here, including sculptures of the god Dionysus, a winged Nike, and the horses of Apollo’s chariot. These artifacts date back to the 4th century BCE.

Room 7

Room 7 houses findings from the Treasury of the Athenians. The pediments and metopes presented depict the labors of Hercules (also Heracles or Herakles), the son of Zeus, and the heroic acts of Theseus, the founder of Athens.

Room 8

Room 8 contains the fragments of Delphic hymns, also known as the hymns to Apollo. These were stones from the outer wall of the Athenian Treasury, which bore musical inscriptions of hymns sung in honor of the god Apollo. These are considered the world’s oldest ever written notations of a melody. You’ll also find fragments of statues of armed Amazons (female warriors) on horseback.

Rooms 9 & 10

Rooms 9 and 10 feature artefacts from the Sanctuary of Athena Pronaia. You can see metopes and other parts of the 4th century BCE Tholos of Delphi, sculptures from the Treasury of the Massaliots and the Doric Treasury, torsos of winged Nikes, terracotta decorative elements, and acroteria, which are Classical Greek architectural ornaments, and smaller bronze figurines.

Room 11

The Dancers of Delphi and the Omphalos are the main exhibits in Room 11. This gallery also features other late Classical and early Hellenistic objects like a seated statue of Apollo, the statue of Aghias, the votive offerings of Daochos II, and the statues of the family of an official of Delphi, probably a philosopher or a priest.

Room 12

Objects from the late Hellenistic and early Roman periods are kept in Room 12. The most prominent of these is the Statue of Antinous, the Greek youth deified by Emperor Hadrian. You can also see a circular altar from the Sanctuary of Athena Pronaia and panels of the frieze from the Theater of Delphi.

Room 13

Room 13 is dedicated solely to the Charioteer of Delphi, the most famous statue unearthed from the archaeological site. This life-size figure of a young man holding reins is understood to have been part of a larger sculpture, which originally featured a chariot and four horses as well. It is widely considered one of the best examples of 5th-century bronze sculpture.

Room 14

Room 14, the final gallery of the Delphi Archaeological Museum, houses objects from the last years of the sanctuary. You’ll find the marble head of Heracles and the head of a philosopher, who is believed to be Plutarch. These objects date back to the 1st and 2nd centuries AD.

History of the Delphi Archaeological Museum

1903: The first Delphi Archaeological Museum was inaugurated on May 2, 1903, to house the finds uncovered in the Great Excavation that began in 1892.
1903-1935: Excavations continued and more artifacts were unearthed, which were showcased at the museum. The archaeologists, led by Théophile Homolle from France, also created plaster-cast reconstructions of the site’s main monuments, which they displayed at the museum. By now, the museum was becoming quite cramped.
1935-1939: As the museum began running out of space to accommodate the artifacts and keep up with visitors, a new building was constructed, which was inaugurated in 1939. Along with more space, the new museum also changed the arrangement of the artifacts. The plaster cast reconstructions were discarded, and the antiquities were now presented chronologically.
1939-1952: With the outbreak of World War 2, the Delphi Archaeological Museum was closed and the artifacts were put into storage. Some of them were sent to Athens for safekeeping, in vaults or at other museums. Greece went through a period of internal turmoil after the war, with a civil war from 1946 to 1949, due to which the museum remained closed until 1952.
1952-1958: The museum reopened its doors to the public, welcoming visitors for six years before it too was deemed insufficient to meet the increasing space requirements.
1958-1961: The existing museum building was refurbished and extended, with two new halls being added. The arrangement of artifacts remained chronological, but sculptures and statues were highlighted.
1961-1998: The museum reopened in 1961, and over the next 3 decades, it became one of Greece’s top museums. More than 300,000 people visited it in 1998.
1999-2003: The latest renovations at Delphi Archaeological Museum were carried out between 1999 and 2003 under Greek architect Alexandros Tombazis. The interiors were modernized to cater to the rising visitor numbers, and many items in the collection were rearranged to better exhibit them.

Frequently asked questions about the Delphi Archaeological Museum

Do I need to visit the Delphi Archaeological Museum on my trip to Delphi?

The ruins of the Delphi sanctuary are spectacular, but the most extraordinary findings from the site are displayed at the museum. Exploring the galleries and their informative displays will give you a better understanding of Delphi as a spiritual and cultural center in Ancient Greece.

How much time should I allocate to exploring the museum during my visit to Delphi?

It typically takes about 1 to 2 hours to fully explore the exhibits at the Delphi Archaeological Museum.

Does the guided tour of the Delphi archaeological site cover the museum as well?

If you book a guided tour of Delphi, the expert guide accompanying you will show you around the archaeological site as well as the museum.

Do I need to book tickets in advance, or can I purchase them on the day of my visit?

It’s best to book your Delphi tickets online in advance to visit the site and the museum on the date and time that you prefer. Delphi is a popular attraction and tickets sell fast, especially during the peak season from June to August.

Are there any restrictions on photography or filming inside the Delphi Archaeological Museum?

You can take photographs and videos of the exhibits at the museum for personal use. If you want to film for commercial purposes, you’ll require prior permission from the museum authorities.

Are audio guides available for self-guided tours of the museum, and how can I obtain one?

Entry tickets to the Delphi archaeological site and museum include an audio guide in English. You can explore the museum at your own pace with these tickets.

What other attractions are included in the Delphi tickets?

Apart from the museum, the Delphi tickets and guided tours give you access to the entire archaeological site including the Temple of Apollo, the Sanctuary of Athena Pronaia, the theater, the ancient stadium, and other monuments at the site.

Is the Delphi Archaeological Museum accessible by wheelchair?

The museum is entirely wheelchair-friendly, including elevator access and a specially designed wheelchair-accessible route for those who require it. A designated restroom and parking spaces for people with disabilities are available. It also offers pamphlets in Braille for those who are blind or have visual impairments.