Discover the archaeological island of Delos, one of the most sacret
centers of Ancient Greece
Delos is a small Island situated in the centre of the Cyclades, a few miles southwest of Mykonos.
During the Ancient Times, Delos was considered as the most important Pan-Hellenic sanctuary.
According to Greek mythology, Delos was the birth place of Apollo, the god of light, and Artemis, the goddess of hunting (both children of Lito and Zeus).
The myth says that Leto was pregnant by Zeus and the jealous Hera, Zeus’s legitimate wife,
After this period, Delos was under the protection
of Ptolemy of Egypt. The islands around Delos were forming a circle and for that reasons the area was called “Cyclades”.
The first population of the island dates from the 3rd millennium B.C and has had to be Cares or Phoenicians. Around 1100 B.C., the island was inhabited by Ionians who brought the cult of Apollo. In the 7th century B.C. Delos became an Ionian commercial and religious centre.
During the Roman times, the island knew its most prosperous period because it turned into an important port. In 88 B.C., during the war against the Romans, the King of Pontos destroyed Delos and Mykonos.
In consequence, the island lost its importance and wealth, and saw the arrival of Christianity (a synagogue and two churches have been found). After that period no further historical information has been found.
The excavations of Delos started
chased her husband’s mistress away and forbade her all places on earth so that she could not find where to give birth to her children. The place where Leto could finally give birth was a small island named then Ortygia (Quail-Island).
The island was called Delos, which means “revealed” because it was revealed from the waves: when Lito was chased by Hera asked Poseidon for help and he revealed the small island of Delos.
Then, in the 5th century B.C., the Athenians proceeded to purification: they forbade the burials of the dead on the island.
In the 4th century B.C., the Athenians proceeded to a new purification of the island and forbade all births and deaths on the island.
They even transferred all dead people to the neighbouring island Rhenia which became a necropolis.
A great ceremony was organised every five years.
in 1873 and are still carried today out by the French School of Archaeology.
In 1990 Delos was included in the World's Cultural Heritage, protected by the UNESCO.
Delos can be reached by boat leaving from Mykonos(20 mn)
Then, back on your boat, it will take to the hot springs of Palia
Kameni, where you will plunge in a warp bubbling water. After that,
the boat will take you to Thirassia.
