It is
hardly surprising that the ancient Greeks considered the island to be the
birthplace of not only the Apollo, the god of sun, beauty, poetry and light but
also of Artemis, the goddess of fertility. Nor is the fact that poets from
Pindar and Homer to Seferis have sung its praises and sanctity. The
archaeological site of Delos is a World Heritage UNESCO Site, a unique place in
Greece, in Europe, in the world.
The
visitors feel its energy as soon as they step off the boat from Mykonos onto
its amazing shores. The dazzling sunlight reflects on the marble relics with
exquisite glow, asking from them to tell their story that dates back to
centuries ago.
Around 2500
B.C., the first residents of this tiny island in the middle of the Aegean Sea
built rudimentary huts. They were followed by the Mycenaeans in the late 15th
century B.C., while the Temple of Apollo was built in Homeric Times and thrived
in Archaic and Classical Times (7th-4th century B.C.).
The city,
whose remains are still visible, was endowed with spectacular public buildings,
luxurious residences, a theatre and harbours. It is estimated that around B.C.
it has about 30.000 residents. People literally from all over the world, Rome,
Egypt, Macedonia, Athens, Arabia, Black Sea and Cyprus came to live in the
glory of Delos. They lived in harmony, having adopted the Greek way of life,
speaking and writing Greek. They worshipped their own gods, each in his way,
but worked together and attended the same schools. This was the greatest legacy
of Delos to humanity. It proved that peaceful coexistence among different
people is something achievable.
Walk around
this marvellous site, admire the Temple of Apollo, the impressive statues of
lions, the Sanctuary of Dionysus, the retaining wall of the marble theatre, the
Granite monument, the house of Cleopatra and Dioskourides, the House of
Dionysus, the Xenon Hotel, a majestic building with many rooms to host
visitors, the Temple of Isis, the House of Hermes, the Quarter of Inopos and
the coastal shops. Don’t miss visiting the museum of Delos with its precious
exhibits and sculptures that date back to 5th-1st century
B.C.
You can go
to Delos by boat from Mykonos in less than half an hour. Most people go to
Delos during summer, but we highly recommend you to do this exploration in fall
or spring because the sun in the Cyclades in the high season is really hot!