Delos (Dilos in Greek) is a small rocky island at the heart of the Cyclades, a few miles from Mykonos. In myth Leto, hounded by Hera, found refuge only here, on an island that drifted on the sea, and gave birth to Apollo and Artemis in the shade of a palm. From then on Delos was sacred, and the islands around it were named the Cyclades, "arranged in a circle" around it.
History
Apollo's sanctuary was for centuries one of the most important in the Greek world. In 478 BC the Delian League, the Athens-led alliance against Persia, was founded here; its treasury was moved to Athens in 454 BC. In 426 BC the Athenians "purified" the island: from then on no one could be born or die on Delos. In 166 BC the Romans made it a free port, and it became a huge cosmopolitan market, slaves included. It was sacked in 88 BC during the Mithridatic Wars and then abandoned.
What to see
| Place | Why |
|---|---|
| Terrace of the Lions | Naxian marble lions of the 7th century BC that faced the sacred lake; those outdoors are copies, the originals are in the museum |
| Sanctuary of Apollo | Temples, treasuries and altars of the island's religious heart |
| Theatre quarter | Hellenistic and Roman houses with mosaics, including the House of the Dolphins and the House of the Masks |
| Mount Kynthos | A 112-metre climb with a view over all the Cyclades |
| Museum | Statues, pottery and the original lions |
Visiting
Boats leave from Mykonos old port and take about 30 minutes; organised tours are also available. The site is visited as a day trip: overnight stays are not allowed. Summer is very hot with little shade: bring water, a hat and comfortable shoes.
See also archaeology in Greece and places of myth.