The pediment of the archaic temple, picturing the arrival of Apollo at Delphi. The surviving features are the quadriga, or four-horse team, pulling Apollo's chariot, flanked by korai and kouros figures.
The archaic era Alcmaeonid Temple of Apollo was constructed shortly after 548 BCE, when a fire destroyed the previous temple, and the Alcmaeonids, a wealthy Athenian family, financed the reconstruction. In the center of the pediment stood a quadriga of horses pulling Apollo's chariot, represented only in their front halves, of which three survive. To the left stood three korai, or maidens, facing forwards, and on the right a similar trio of kouros figures. Flanking each of these trios were smaller animal groups, featuring lions, a bull, and a stag. The pediment was crafted of Parian marble, in contrast to the rest of the temple constructed in poros stone. The subjects relate to stories from the Delphic tradition, although the identity of the korai and kouroi can only be guessed.
Creation date unknown. Photograph processed July 1978. Formerly catalogued as C.025. Notes written on the slide or index: Quadriga from East Pediment of Alcmaeonid Apollo Temple.
