Just a quick ferry ride away from Mykonos is one of the most sacred island called Delos. The small rocky island is only five kilometers long, but it’s extensively rich in history that dates back to 2,500 B.C.E. According to the ancient Greeks, Delos is famous for being the birthplace of Apollo and Artemis. If you aren't familiar with Greek mythology, they are the twins of Zeus and Leto, daughter of the Titans Coeus and Phoebe. Apollo (god of light, harmony and balance) and Artemis (moon goddess) are considered two of the most important deities of the Greek pantheon. The twins were born here because Hera (Zeus wife) forbade any shelter under the sun for Leto to give birth. But Leto found this tiny island that would accept her birth.
Statue of Apollo from the Archaeological Museum of Delos.
Brief History of the Island
Delos reached it’s peak during the Mycenaean period (1580-1200 B.C.E). It’s reputation as a sacred land attracted a large number of devotees. By the end of the 5th century B.C.E. there were houses and farms around the Apollonian sanctuary. The island developed quickly after 167 B.C.E., when Delos became a free port. The island became a major commercial and trading center for almost a thousand years. This brought merchants, bankers, ship owners, which also attracted builders, artists, and craftsman to build luxurious homes and mosaic floors.
The thriving condition of the island and relationship with the Romans led to its destruction. It was attacked and looted twice.
In 88 B.C.E. by Mithridates, the Kind of Portus, an enemy of the Romans.
In 69 B.C.E. by the pirates of Athenodorus, an alley of Mithridates.
Since then, the island gradually became abandoned and fell rapidly.
A scenic view of the island from the hilltops.
The excavation started in 1872 under the French School at Athens and it's currently in progress. Artifacts can be found in the Archaeological Museum of Delos or the National Archaeological Museum of Athens.
How to Get There
Right by the end of the harbor and next to the Agios Nikolakis Church is where the ferry tickets can be purchased. A round trip ticket will cost 20 euros but it does not include the entrance fee, which is another 12 euros. Another option is to pay 50 euros for a fully guided tour. It includes a tour given by an expert to a small group of people. Once you board the Delos Express, it takes about half an hour to get to the island.
Island Experience
The entire island is covered with ancient ruins that are mostly made of stone and marble. There are several statues and temples that are still in good shape. The island is small enough explore within 1-2 hours. Visitors are free to explore all the ruins, hike up the hills and visit the museum.
One of the most interesting historical facts from this experience was the importance of purification on the island. For instance, the Athenians initiated purifications on the island in 426-5 BCE. This means nobody was allowed to be born or die on the island and removed all burials.
The ruins seen when you exit the harbor.
One of the few head statues on the island that still remains.
The Archaeological Museum of Delos cannot be missed during the visit. It has many of the original artifacts from the island that has been taken from the site to preserve.
These are the head statues of people who lived on the island. The head statue was symbol of a home address.
If you know longer lived there, they would remove the head out of your statue.
A late 2nd century- 1st century B.C. mosaic floor from a banquet room of a house.
The hilltops is where you'll find many temples and where you can overlook the entire island from above. The Temple of Isis is the most striking because of it's well kept condition. From this temple, there is a great view of the ruins and the tiny harbor. Being on the island during the evening is absolutely breathtaking. Imagining the commercial activity the island had is different when you're actually at the site. It almost has a haunting atmosphere because of how quite it gets. Today, very few people live on the historical island. Yet, it has to be one the most important mythological, historical, and archaeological sites in Greece.
The Temple of Isis is the Roman temple dedicated to the Egyptian goddess Isis.
The Naxian Lions were dedicated to the sanctuary of Apollo circa at the end of the 7th century BC.
The initial numbers of lions estimated is between 9 and 19.
