The stones of the Sanctuary of Delphi – Northern shore of the Corinth Gulf – Greece

Ancient Greek builders at the Sanctuary of Delphi primarily used local limestones, breccias, marbles, and poorly consolidated sediments known as 'pôros,' with a distinct preference for a high-quality Maastrichtian limestone called 'Profitis Ilias' for prestigious structures like the Apollo Temple. This study identifies seven facies of 'pôros,' including travertine and oolitic grainstone, sourced from the southeastern shore of the Corinth Gulf, though specific quarries remain unidentified except for the grainstone. The research combines geological mapping and lithological analysis to trace stone origins, revealing a strategic choice of materials that balanced local availability with aesthetic or functional requirements.

de Vals, M., Gastineau, R., Perrier, A., Rubi, R., & Moretti, I. (2020). The stones of the Sanctuary of Delphi – Northern shore of the Corinth Gulf – Greece. BSGF - Earth Sciences Bulletin, 191, 11. https://doi.org/10.1051/bsgf/2020011