In the midst of the Aegean Sea, Delos dwindles to a small, wind-swept speck: just 3.4 square kilometers of rocky terrain. Notwithstanding its miniature size, this island within the Cyclades archipelago was the revered sanctuary of the ancient Greeks and a prime port in antiquity’s storied past. Let us take a glimpse back at its former grandeur.
As the setting for their most significant moment, according to myth, the island of Delos was the birthplace of Apollo and became the spiritual hub of the Hellenic world, then its leading commercial center. Only remnants of this influence remain, which archaeologists (and tourists) continue to study today.
Planning a Trip to the Cyclades? Here are the essential resources to get you ready:
- Greece: The Most Breathtaking Islands to Explore in the Cycladic Archipelago
- Cyclades: 5 Hidden Islands to Discover
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The powerful island, frail and ever-thriving, became a multitude of gods, cruel and fertile, birth of Empire.
It all began with a myth: Poseidon created Delos from the ocean’s depths to provide haven to Leto, who was being pursued by Hera’s jealousy. The birth of the divine twins Apollo and Artemis transformed the island into a sacred territory. The Athenians took advantage of this sacred reputation: in 478 BC, they established the Delian League, a maritime alliance whose treasures were kept at the sanctuary of Apollo. To further emphasize the island’s sacred character, they decreed in 426 BC that no birth or death should ever sully its soil – the sick and pregnant women were deported to a nearby island, Rhenaeus.
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Around 2,000 years ago, this concentration of riches drew money exchangers and loan providers, who set up their stalls in the shade of the shrines. Sacred protection ensured the security of financial transactions.
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In 167 BC, a Roman decree declared Delos a tax-free port. The island emerged as the central hub of Mediterranean trade and the largest slave marketplace in the East. Wealthy merchants constructed magnificent mansions decorated with mosaics, many of which have been unearthed through archaeological excavations. However, this prosperity soon became the target of resentment from many others: subjected to plundering in 88 and 69 BC by Rome’s adversaries, Delos began a continuous descent into decline.
From Forgotten Relics to Archaeological Findings
The area has been studied since the 19th century, and researchers have been captivated by these enigmatic relics for centuries. In 1872, the French School of Athens initiated the first comprehensive dig, which has continued to this day.
The silence of the divinepositories
Come to ponder what greatness remains after the gods have departed.
