Stoa of the Athenians

The Stoa of the Athenians is an ancient portico in the Delphic Sanctuary, Greece, located south of the Temple of Apollo.

The Stoa of the Athenians is built against the polygonal wall supporting the terrace of the temple of Apollo.

The monument has been identified through the inscription of the stylobate: ΑΤΗΕΝΑΙΟΙ ΑΝΕΘΕΣΑΝ ΤΗΝ ΣΤΟΑΝ ΚΑΙ ΤΑ ΟΠΛ[Α Κ]ΑΙ ΤΑΚΡΟΤΕΡΙΑ ΕΛΟΝΤΕΣ ΤΩΝ ΠΟΛΕΜΙΩΝ [The Athenians dedicated the portico and the armaments and the figure heads of the ships that they seized from their enemies].

The distance between them is quite large, thus creating openings allowing ample light to enter the building, which was probably covered with a wooden roof.

On the polygonal wall at the back of the stoa, particularly on the western part, have been carved about six hundred manumission inscriptions, in the form of fictitious sale of slaves to the god.

The Persian King Xerxes had ordered the construction of the bridges to expedite the movement of his enormous forces across the straight.

Of the entire stoa, only the rear polygonal wall, stylobate, and northeast foundations, with a few columns remain today.