Dome

The Athenian Treasury (c. 490 bc) was entirely of Parian marble. The metopes on its prominent south side depict the Exploits of Theseus, the Athenian national hero, thus raising him to the status of the panhellenic hero Herakles. The Labours of Herakles adorn the north and west sides, while the Amazonomachy on the east side apparently alludes to the Battle of Marathon (490 bc). The sculptural technique and the compositions mark the transition between the Archaic and the Early Classical styles .The Temple of Apollo in Syracuse, which was excavated in 1938-43. Built c. 570 B.C., it is Sicily's oldest Doric temple. According to the builder's signature it was dedicated to Apollo by Kleomenes. In later years it was in turn a Byzantine church, an Islamic mosque, a Norman church and a Spanish barracks. The foundations, some columns with their entablatures and parts of the cella wall have survived. The stylobate base measures 21.57m/70.8ft by 55.33m/181.5ft, with six pillars at the end and 17 along the sides - a ground plan which came about because contemporary temples in Greece itself which had only 15 pillars along the sides also had a portico with six columns across and two lengthwise. This led to the emphasis being put on the entrance being on the east side, which was to become a typical feature of many Sicilian temples. The massive monolithic columns, scarcely 8m/26ft tall, have only 16 flutes instead of the more usual 20, and are so close together that the space between is less than the diameter of the columns. The naos consists of a pronaos, cella with twin rows of internal columns, and an adyton in place of the opisthodomos. Finds made, including some painted roof mouldings (cymas) in terracotta, are now housed in the Archeological Museum. Ionic column with Sphinx on top, over the spot where Apollo is said to have killed Pythonsection, hollowed and extended beams: sections with oblique projection: (a) lintel of Temple A at Prinias; (b) architrave of temple of Apollo at Syracuse; (c) architrave of Athenian Treasury at Selphi; (d) column drum from Naxian Column at Delphi; (e) ceiling beam from temple of Apollo at Bassai; (f) cross-beam from temple of Zeus at Statos