Address: Delphi 330 54, Greece | Find on map
Location: Next to the Delphi archaeological site on Mount Parnassus, Delphi
Opened in: 1903
Galleries: 14
Highlights: The Charioteer of Delphi, the Sphinx of Naxos, the Kouroi of Delphi – Cleobis and Biton, Chryselephantine statues, the Dancers of Delphi, the Omphalos, the Statue of Antinous, the frieze of the Siphnian Treasury.
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.
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 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.
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.
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 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 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 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.
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.
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 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, 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.
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.
It typically takes about 1 to 2 hours to fully explore the exhibits at the Delphi Archaeological Museum.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.