DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.52591#0219
WAR MONUMENTS IN DELPHI
203
reconstruction is the consequent insignificance of the tripod
and kettle. But it is probably correct. In the first place
Herodotus expressly says (ix. 81) that the golden tripod
stood on the bronze snake. Secondly, in the other recon-
struction, the snake in the middle is so well hidden that
we cannot understand how anybody could think of putting
an inscription on it. But this uncertainty makes one prefer
to omit a formal reconstruction.
With respect to the site on which the pillar stood, it has
been rightly placed on the big quadrangular substructure,
which is crowned by two round blocks of dark blue lime-
stone, seen to the left of our illustration (fig. 97), opposite
Fig. 96.—Part of the head of a snake from the Delphian pillar.
the great altar, and just before the Sacred Way winds into
the eastern area in front of the temple (plan, fig. 7). The
top layer with the inscription was probably broken when
Constantine carried away the bronze remains of the famous
votive offering.
Opposite this foundation is seen in the picture, to right,
the chief altar of Delphi, which is situated, as is usually
the case with Greek altars of sacrifice, just in front of the
temple entrance, so that the god, when the doors are opened,
may smell “ the flame saturated with blood " from the
burning pieces of flesh, and the scent from the resinous
wood. It is called by Pausanias “ the great altar," 1 by
Herodotus, “ the altar of the Chians,"2 and he names
1 Pausanias, x. 14, 7. 2 Herodotus, 11. 135.
203
reconstruction is the consequent insignificance of the tripod
and kettle. But it is probably correct. In the first place
Herodotus expressly says (ix. 81) that the golden tripod
stood on the bronze snake. Secondly, in the other recon-
struction, the snake in the middle is so well hidden that
we cannot understand how anybody could think of putting
an inscription on it. But this uncertainty makes one prefer
to omit a formal reconstruction.
With respect to the site on which the pillar stood, it has
been rightly placed on the big quadrangular substructure,
which is crowned by two round blocks of dark blue lime-
stone, seen to the left of our illustration (fig. 97), opposite
Fig. 96.—Part of the head of a snake from the Delphian pillar.
the great altar, and just before the Sacred Way winds into
the eastern area in front of the temple (plan, fig. 7). The
top layer with the inscription was probably broken when
Constantine carried away the bronze remains of the famous
votive offering.
Opposite this foundation is seen in the picture, to right,
the chief altar of Delphi, which is situated, as is usually
the case with Greek altars of sacrifice, just in front of the
temple entrance, so that the god, when the doors are opened,
may smell “ the flame saturated with blood " from the
burning pieces of flesh, and the scent from the resinous
wood. It is called by Pausanias “ the great altar," 1 by
Herodotus, “ the altar of the Chians,"2 and he names
1 Pausanias, x. 14, 7. 2 Herodotus, 11. 135.