What Is The Sacred Island Of Delos?

The island of Delos, near Mykonos, is one of the most important mythological, historical, and archaeological sites in Greece. It had a position as a holy sanctuary for a millennium before Olympian Greek mythology made it the birthplace of Apollo and Artemis. UNESCO added Delos on the World Heritage List in 1990.

From its Sacred Harbour, the horizon shows the three conical mounds that have identified landscapes sacred to a goddess in other sites. One, preserving its Pre-Greek name Mount Kynthos, is capped with a sanctuary of Zeus.

Excavations on the island are among the most extensive in the Mediterranean and started in 1872. Today, work takes place under the direction of the French School at Athens, and many of the artifacts found are on display at the Archaeological Museum of Delos and the National Archaeological Museum of Athens.

History

It is said that around 90 BC, approximately 30 000 people lived on Delos. Names on tombstones in the ancient cemetery indicates that not only Athenians and Romans lived on the island, but it was populated by people from many Mediterranean cities as well as from Libya, Arabia, and Egypt.

Despite their varied nationalities and different historical and cultural backgrounds, the people managed to live peacefully. Greeks were willing to accept their neighbour’s god, and often one of their own gods with a different name. It is for this reason that in this small community these people co-existed in harmony.

For ancient Greeks, this small island, about 5 km long and 1 300 metres wide, was the most sacred place on earth. Many purifications were performed to render the island fit for worship of the gods. Graves were dug up and the bodies moved to nearby islands, no one could either die or give birth on the island, and at some stage all inhabitants of the island were removed to Atrayttium in Asia as a further purification.

Delos did not produce food, fibre, or timber and everything had to be imported. Water was utilized with a cistern and aqueduct system, wells, and sanitary drains. In 166 BC the Romans transformed Delos into a free port and after their victory in the Third Macedonian War in 166 BC, gave it back to the Athenians who removed most of the inhabitants. It became a centre of the slave trade.

The town developed rapidly as rich merchants, bankers, and ship-owners from all over settled here, building luxurious houses, decorated with statues, frescoes and mosaic floors. The island became the greatest commercial centre of the world.

Unfortunately, this period of prosperity did not last, and Delos was attacked and looted twice. First in 88 BC by Mithridates, the King of Pontus, an enemy of the Romans, and later, in 69 BC, by the pirates of Athenagoras, an ally of Mithridates. Since then the island was slowly abandoned and fell into decline.

Control of the Cyclades passed from one group to another until it fell under Byzantine control. After the Fourth Crusade the Byzantine Empire was defeated and Venice took control of the Cyclades and the Duke of Naxos handed out control of many island to his relatives and friends. Delos was used as a quarry, the sanctuaries and building disassembled and used to build structures elsewhere.

Archaeological Remains

Since excavations started many structures, features, temples, houses, statues etc. has been revealed. A few are:

• The small Sacred Lake in its circular bowl, now left dry by the island’s caretakers, is a topographical feature that determined the placement of later features.
• The Minoan Fountain that was reconstructed in 166 BC was a rectangular public well hewn in the rock, with a central column that can still be reached with steps that fill one side.
• Several market squares.
• The Temple of the Delians dedicated to Apollo. Only parts of the colossal Kouros of Apollo remain beside the temple. A hand is kept at the local museum and a foot in the British Museum.
• The Terrace of the Lions originally had nine to twelve squatting, marble lions guarding the Sacred Way. Today only seven remain.
• The meeting hall of the Poseidoniasts of Beirut housed an association of merchants, warehousemen, shipowners, and innkeepers during the early years of Roman hegemony, late 2nd century BC.
• The platform of the Stoivadeion dedicated to Dionysus, bears a statue of the god. On either side of the platform, a pillar supports a colossal phallus, the symbol of Dionysus. The southern pillar was erected around 300 BC to celebrate a winning theatrical performance. The statue of Dionysus was initially flanked by those of two actors impersonating Paposilenoi. The marble theatre is a rebuilding of an older one.
• The Doric Temple of Isis was built on a high over-looking hill at the beginning of the Roman period to venerate the familiar trinity of Isis, the Alexandrian Serapis and Anubis.
• The Temple of Hera is a rebuilding of an earlier Heraion on the site.
• The House of Dionysus’ is a luxurious 2nd century private house.
• The House of the Dolphins is named from its atrium mosaic and its Phoenician owner ordered a floor mosaic of Tanit in his vestibule.
• The Delos Synagogue, which is the oldest synagogue known today.

Interest For Today

Today temples and altars for all religions can be seen all over Delos. These are not just within the complex dedicated to Apollo and Artemis, but some were for religions imported by merchants.

There is a residential district south from the Sacred Harbour, with closely spaced structures along narrow winding streets. Large Delian home were built with rooms grouped around a courtyard. The theatre is found in this district and must have held around 5 500 spectators.

The museum houses some of the objects found at Delos, although most of the objects is at the archaeological museum in Athens.

Delos had complex infrastructure, including large water storage cisterns. Almost all the Cycladic islands are hot and dry with very few springs. Water collection and storage was crucial.

Location

The Sacred island of Delos is next to Mykonos near the centre of the Cyclades archipelago on the coordinates 37°23′36″N 25°16′16″E

Tourist Information

Delos, an island next to Mykonos is open daily for visitors.

Tickets in 2020 are €12 for adults and €6 for children. This does not include the ferry ticket price from Mykonos or any other island. There are certain free admission days during the year.

• Telephone: +30 22890 22259
• Fax: +30 22890 23413
• Email: efakyk@culture.gr