DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.14696#0260
The Delphic Tripod 201
Delphoi1 and bearing a tripod of the species under discussion. We
conclude that the mantic tripod, like these votive tripods, had a
central support.
Fig. 141.
But if so, it follows that Apollon seated on his tripod is virtually
seated on the top of a sacred pillar. He is thus a figure comparable
with Zeus enthroned on the summit of his sky-pillar2. Indeed, an
1 The locality of the scene represented has often been discussed. Most modern critics
have identified the temple with that of Apollon at Delphoi (so e.g. F. G. Welcker op. cit.
ii. 42 f., 49, 53, W. Frdhner op. cit. i. 42 f., Overbeck Gr. Kunstmyth. Apollon p. 267 f.,
W. Helbig op. cit. ii. 426). But L. Stephani in the Compte-rendu St. Pit. 1873 P- 222
followed by B. Graef in Midler—Wieseler—Wernicke op. cit. ii. 3. 305, argued for the
temple of the Palatine Apollo in Rome. F. Studniczka in the Jahrb. d. kais. deutsch.
arch. Inst. 1906 xxi. 81 ff. favours the Pythion on the Ilissos with the Olympieion in the
background, but id. 1907 xxii. 6—8 candidly admits that there is much to be said in
favour of the identification with Delphoi. In particular, the chariot-frieze of the temple,
the plane-tree in the precinct (Klearchos nepi irapoip.iQv 1 fra*. 46 {Frag. hist. Gr. ii. 318
Midler) ap. Athen. 701 D, Theophr. hist, plant. 4. 13. 2, Plin. nat. hist. 16. 238), the
terrace-wall rising from left to right, the small ancient-looking effigy of Apollon (Paus.
10. 16. 8), if not also the triangular pillar supporting the tripod (? = the trophy erected by
the Messenians of Naupaktos, on which see Homolle in the Bull. Corr. Hell. 1897 xxi.
616 ff.), all find their readiest explanation in the Delphian precinct.
2 Supra pp. 45 ff. (with i. 62 fig. 38), 89 f. Cp. the language of Eur. /. T. 1253 ff.
Tp'iTroSl t iv xpv<reu> daacreis, iv dxpevdei dpbvLp | pLavreias (3p0T0is j deacpdruiv vep-wv j olSvtwv
VTTO, K.T.X.
Delphoi1 and bearing a tripod of the species under discussion. We
conclude that the mantic tripod, like these votive tripods, had a
central support.
Fig. 141.
But if so, it follows that Apollon seated on his tripod is virtually
seated on the top of a sacred pillar. He is thus a figure comparable
with Zeus enthroned on the summit of his sky-pillar2. Indeed, an
1 The locality of the scene represented has often been discussed. Most modern critics
have identified the temple with that of Apollon at Delphoi (so e.g. F. G. Welcker op. cit.
ii. 42 f., 49, 53, W. Frdhner op. cit. i. 42 f., Overbeck Gr. Kunstmyth. Apollon p. 267 f.,
W. Helbig op. cit. ii. 426). But L. Stephani in the Compte-rendu St. Pit. 1873 P- 222
followed by B. Graef in Midler—Wieseler—Wernicke op. cit. ii. 3. 305, argued for the
temple of the Palatine Apollo in Rome. F. Studniczka in the Jahrb. d. kais. deutsch.
arch. Inst. 1906 xxi. 81 ff. favours the Pythion on the Ilissos with the Olympieion in the
background, but id. 1907 xxii. 6—8 candidly admits that there is much to be said in
favour of the identification with Delphoi. In particular, the chariot-frieze of the temple,
the plane-tree in the precinct (Klearchos nepi irapoip.iQv 1 fra*. 46 {Frag. hist. Gr. ii. 318
Midler) ap. Athen. 701 D, Theophr. hist, plant. 4. 13. 2, Plin. nat. hist. 16. 238), the
terrace-wall rising from left to right, the small ancient-looking effigy of Apollon (Paus.
10. 16. 8), if not also the triangular pillar supporting the tripod (? = the trophy erected by
the Messenians of Naupaktos, on which see Homolle in the Bull. Corr. Hell. 1897 xxi.
616 ff.), all find their readiest explanation in the Delphian precinct.
2 Supra pp. 45 ff. (with i. 62 fig. 38), 89 f. Cp. the language of Eur. /. T. 1253 ff.
Tp'iTroSl t iv xpv<reu> daacreis, iv dxpevdei dpbvLp | pLavreias (3p0T0is j deacpdruiv vep-wv j olSvtwv
VTTO, K.T.X.