From around the 8th century BC, Ancient Delphi managed to amass a considerable treasure trove, much of it reflected in its magnificent museum. It's worth visiting here before your site visit. It helps construct an image of what the site must have looked like with its wealthy buildings, statues (remember, these were then painted in colour) and other valuable offerings.
Upon entering the museum, you’ll first notice (in room 5) the Sphinx of the Naxians , dating from 560 BC. Also here are well-preserved parts of the frieze from the Siphnian treasury. This depicts the battle between the gods and the giants, and also the Judgment of Paris (far-left corner as you enter), who was called upon to decide which goddess was most beautiful (he chose Aphrodite). In room 3 are two fine examples of 6th-century-BC kouroi (statues of young men), the ‘twins of Argos’.
In the rooms to the left are fragments of metopes (figures within the frieze) from the Athenian treasury depicting the Labours of Hercules, the Exploits of Theseus and the Battle of the Amazons (room 7). Further on you can’t miss the tall Acanthus Column of Dancers (room 11), with three women dancing around its top. Next to it is the omphalos , a sculpted cone, one of which stood at what was considered the centre of the world. In the end room is the celebrated, life-size Bronze Charioteer , which commemorates a victory in the Pythian Games of 478 or 474 BC.
