Ex voto of the Arcadians


Next to the Bull of the Corcyreans close to the entrance to the sanctuary of Apollo in Delphi lay a grandiose monument dedicated by the Arcadians, particularly the Tegeates.

Description

The ex-voto of the Arcadians is marked nowadays by an oblong base; it served for supporting a complex of bronze statues, dedicated by the Arcadians, particularly the Tegeates, in order to honour their victorious campaign in Laconia, together with the Thebans, in 370/369 B.C. The nine statues which stood there depicted Apollo, Nike, Kallisto and six Arcadian heroes: Ephasus, Triphylus, Azan, Elatus, Apheidas and Arkas. The sculptors were, reportedly, Pausanias from Apollonia, Samolas from Arcadia, Antiphanes from Argos and Daedalus from Sicyon. At that spot were discovered several stelae with inscriptions on behalf of the Arcadians, set up by various Greek cities.
Three more votive offerings stood there and decorated the facade of a portico dated to the 4th century B.C., possibly also built by Arcadians. The portico had a stylobate made of limestone and Doric columns made of poros stone.