Investigating color on Archaic architecture: “Athena” from the Gigantomachy pediment of the Temple of Apollo at Delphi

Abstract

The Gigantomachy on the West Pediment of the Late Archaic Temple of Apollo at Delphi represents a significant work of early Greek architectural sculpture. Crafted from poros stone covered with plaster and paint, the surviving figures from the West pediment are notably different in material from those on the East pediment, which are made of marble. The extant fragments include a partially preserved standing male figure, potentially Apollo or Dionysos, dressed in a robe and animal skin; a fighting female figure identified as Athena, dressed in a chiton and moving left; and a prone, nude male figure in a three-quarter view with an extended leg, likely representing the serpent-footed giant Enkelados, as referenced by the chorus in Euripides' Ion.

This study focuses on documenting and analyzing the polychromy of Athena. Non-destructive methods and imaging techniques have revealed remnants of rich, colorful decorations on the plaster surfaces covering the stone figures. These methods include handheld/portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometry for elemental analysis, visible-induced luminescence (VIL), and various ground-based remote multispectral imaging techniques such as visible wavelength spectral imaging (400-900 nm), high-resolution spectral imaging (hyperspectral analysis Remote VIS/NIR Hyperspectral Prisms 400-1000 nm), and laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy.

The pigments identified thus far include Egyptian blue, natural blue and green copper-based pigments, and ochre-based reds and yellows applied on a white calcitic ground. These findings offer significant evidence for a more accurate evaluation of Archaic polychromy in Greek architecture within its specific archaeological context. Further investigation into the Gigantomachy is expected to enhance our understanding of the chromatic techniques employed by Archaic artists and the application of polychromy on poros stone sculpture.