Altar of the Chians

The Altar of the Chians was the main altar of the Temple of Apollo at Delphi [1]. It was built after the reconstruction of the Temple in the 330s, replacing an older altar dated to the time of the Alcmaeonids [1]. The 4th century altar was dedicated by the people of Chios, as related on an inscription on the left side of its crowning [1]. On the right part of the euthynteria is written an inscription offering the promanteia to the Chians [1]. The altar consists of a nucleus made of limestone and bearing a revetment with slabs of bluish marble [1]. The table of offerings was made of white marble and the priests probably climbed on it via a staircase [1].