Altar of the Chians

The Altar of the Chians at Delphi was dedicated by the people of Chios, as related on an inscription on the left part of its crowning. On the right part of the euthynteria is written an inscription offering the promanteia, i.e. the right to acquire an oracle first, to the Chians. The nucleus of the altar is made of limestone and revetted with slabs of bluish marble. The table of offerings was made of white marble and the priests probably climbed on it by a staircase. The altar ends up in spiral decorative elements, whereas the upper part is crowned with a cymatium. The monument dates to the 3d century B.C., possibly after 246/245, when Chios became a member of the Amphictyony.

Bibliography

• Amandry, J., «Delphes», BCH 105, 1981, 739-740.
• Αmandry, P., « Chios and Delphi», σε Chios, A Conference at the Homereion in Chios, 1984, London 1986, 205-232.
• Bommelaer, J.-F., Laroche, D., Guide de Delphes. Le site, Sites et Monuments 7, Paris 1991, 170-175.
• Gruben, G., « Kykladische Architektur», MüJb 23, 1972, 24-26.
• Laroche, D., «L’autel d’Apollon à Delphes: éléments nouveaux», σε L’espace sacrificiel dans les civilisations méditerranéennes de l’Antiquité, Lyon-Paris 1991, 103-107.
• Stikas, E., «La restauration de l'autel d'Apollon à Delphes», BCH 103, 1979, 479-500.