Page 61 - MYCONIAN COLLECTION MAG 2017

the death of Alexander the Great. That part of the city, which is still ΤΗΕ FRENCH
in the process of being excavated, is in excellent condition. So, we CONNECTION
could say that during that period, Delos was a huge multicultural The first excavations at
centre, in the same way that Mykonos is today.” Delos were conducted by
The visitors to Delos are basically tourists who choose Mykonos for the French Archaeological
its attractions, and take the trip to Delos because of its proximity,” School of Athens in 1873.
Athanasoulis makes clear from the beginning. “So, this is a very Later, thanks to significant
interesting “odd couple” of paradoxical attractions for visitors. funding (1904-1920) by
What is Mykonos today? A world-renowned cosmopolitan island, Joseph Florimont, duc de
one big party! To use one of Foucault’s favourite terms, it is a Loubat, the most important
heterotopia. Visitors to Mykonos escape their daily life and find sections of ancient Delos
themselves in an environment where “non-time” prevails; a time were uncovered. Alexandre
for absolute entertainment. During their stay, there is no sense of Farnoux, now Director of
time, as they find themselves in a timeless place.” the French Archaeological
“Delos however, is the exact opposite. As with every museum School, made his first
or archaeological site, it is a time warp - for example, when you excavation in Greece at the
climb up the Acropolis, you travel back to the 5th century B.C. Temple of Apollo in 1987-
The advantage to Delos is that you experience the journey back in 1988. ‘The archaeologist’s
time even as you travel there, reaching the island by a small boat work is different now,’ he
much like the inhabitants of old. The boat trip is a prelude. So, this explains. ‘At Delos, the
is the first reason why it is worthwhile for revelers of “non-time” priority is not to make
Mykonos to visit Delos and experience these extreme contrasts. additional excavations, but
It is a ‘trip’ of a different kind, something worth getting your head to promote the wonderful
around – and whatever your state of mind, you cannot avoid a sense existing monuments,
of altered states during a visit to Delos! which are exposed to
“Although Delos has its challenges, (as a huge site which needs to extreme weather. For the
At the end of the 7th century B.C., at the Apollo Sanctuary, the Naxians last three years, we have
dedicated the famous lions, which are now in the Museum of Delos, be restored, excavated and requires a new infrastructure, among
replaced by exact copies. Οn the right: A view of the Theatre Quarter, other things), it remains a unique archaeological site preserved been cooperating with the
the Shops at the front, the Temple of Isis at the back. Ephorate of Antiquities of
exclusively on an island. The fact that the antiquities are in good
condition and that so many of them remain, allows visitors to Cyclades, on a committee
visualise the ancient city in a comparable way to Pompeii. This is of which Massimo Ossana,
not possible in any other ancient city in Greece. There are many Pompeii’s archaeological
Roman cities in the Middle East, Syria or Africa which are in good superintendent, is also
condition, but in Delos you experience a scenery unchanged since a member, in order to
antiquity and which presences time itself! Even people who believe find ways to conserve
themselves to be indifferent to the past leave Delos having gained and promote the site in
something from their visit.” an appropriate manner.
Furthermore, findings are
STAGES IN HISTORY no longer solely the product
“It is worth making a first stop to the Sanctuary of Apollo, as it is of excavations, but also
the reason the city was called into existence as one of the largest of new technologies and
Hellenic sanctuaries in the Mediterranean. This sacred place, imbued studies. For example, a
with the meaning of ‘sanctity’, already existed in the Homeric Age, recent analysis of a plaster
“IN THE FIRST CENTURY B.C., there were approximately and reached its peak during the Archaic Period (7th-6th century sample from the Delos
30,000 inhabitants on this small island in the Cyclades. Most of B.C.) and the Classical Period (5th -4th century B.C.). Citizens sewerage system showed
them were Athenians, but there were also people from other parts from the outer reaches of the Greek World traveled to the island that residents of the time
of the Mediterranean. They lived peacefully, they wrote and spoke to worship the God of Light. From the mid 6th century B.C. up to suffered from parasites.’
Greek and they worshipped their Gods,” Dimitris Athanasoulis the 4th century B.C., Athens imposed itself politically and culturally
begins his narration. on the sacred island. “During that period, the Sanctuary was the
Firmly grounded in today’s world, with a scientific foundation and center of the Athenian Republic, a symbol for the birth of western
a vision for modern archeological sites and museums, Dimitris civilization and headquarters of the Athenian Empire (or Delian
Athanasoulis uses simple words to impart his knowledge and share League). When the League ceased to exist, this great Hellenistic Visitors to Mykonos escape their daily life and find themselves
his love of narratives of the past. “model” city developed, encompassing all aspects of the Greek World.”
“This era is characteristic of Delos, as it is only here, and nowhere The Hellenistic city, remains of which visitors see today, developed Photo: Giannis Dimotsis in an environment where “non-time” prevails, time for absolute entertainment.
else in Greece, that visitors can grasp the meaning of the first impulse after 167 B.C., when the Romans gave Delos back to the Athenians
of globalization which materialised in the Hellenistic Kingdoms after and declared it a free port; a fact which contributed to its rapid Delos is the exact opposite - it’ s a time warp

60 MYCONIAN COLLECTION MYCONIAN COLLECTION 61