Tholos of Delphi, Circular temple in Delphi, Greece
The Tholos is a circular temple featuring twenty Doric columns arranged in a ring, with interior Corinthian columns and marble decorative elements on its octagonal roof. The building combines Pentelic marble in its upper sections with limestone in its lower base, and displays ten interior half-columns fitted against curved walls.
Built between 380 and 370 BCE by architect Theodoros of Phokaia, this temple was part of the sanctuary of Athena Pronaia in Delphi. The construction was one of the costliest projects in the ancient world, showing how important this sacred place was to the Greeks.
The carved panels on the building showed scenes of battles between Amazons and Centaurs from Greek myths. These images told stories about conflicts between civilization and wildness, themes that mattered deeply to ancient Greek people.
The building sits near the entrance of the Delphi archaeological site, reached by a marked pathway leading to the sanctuary of Athena Pronaia. The path is easy to walk and accessible for most visitors without difficulty.
The temple was the most widely spread building on the sanctuary grounds and remains one of the better preserved structures from its era. Its circular shape makes it quite rare among ancient Greek temples and fascinates visitors today.
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