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discover|ancient city

by Despoina Sampson

Delos

from A to Z

tHis pUre LAnd possessed the power to not only build HeritAge –in 1990, Unesco added delos to the World
its own legend using mosaics and marble masterpieces but to Heritage List, describing it as “an exceptionally extensive and
become synonymous with the unique light of the sun, the sea rich” archaeological site.
and the landscape of the greek islands. right next to delos, isLAnd –delos, a rugged granite mass about 3.4 km2 in surface
Mykonos remained for many years just a humble stop for area, is one of the smallest islands in the cyclades. Also known
mesmerised travellers who would spend the night on the then called Lesser delos, it lies between rhenea – or greater delos –
unimportant island of Mykonos yearning for the moment the to the west and Mykonos to the east.
small boat would lead them to the illuminating light… delos: JeWisH coMMUnity –you might be surprised to hear that
all its secrets in alphabetical order. this is where the oldest synagogue of the diaspora, in the world, has
been found up until today, dating back to the 1st century Bc. this
ArcHAeoLogicAL MUseUM oF deLos –the museum’s is another archaeological find closely linked to the cosmopolitan era
building was erected in 1904 by the Archaeological society of of the island during Hellenistic times, where people from different
Athens to house the excavation findings. cultures coexisted peacefully for about 100 years.
B.c. –it seems that the earliest signs of habitation on the island KoUros –Apollo’s Kouros, the colossus of the naxians, used
are in the second half of the 3rd millennium Bc (2500-2000 Bc) to stand at the northwest corner of the House of the naxians on
on Mount cynthus. delos. today, only its large marble base remains, in place, on which
cosMopoLitAnisM –it’s true that delos was the first used to tower over the island an enormous statue of the god Apollo
hub of authentic cosmopolitanism in the world. this was where approximately 9.5 metres in height. to the west of the base, remain
various peoples lived in harmony, each respecting each other’s another two pieces of the statue’s body.
confessions and cultures. LeAgUe –the delian League was a political and military
deLos or dHiLos. –in greek, it means “clear” or “brought association of approximately 150 ancient greek city states during
to light”. the 5th century Bc, united under the influence of the city of Athens.
excAVAtion –the French school of Archaeology began MosAics –We find mosaics on the floors of the houses of delos.
digs on delos during the reign of King george i of greece, in their designs have given the surviving houses their name – house
1873. the first excavations were to continue until 1894, when of dionysus, of the dolphins, of the Masks, of the trident, of
they were interrupted due to the temporary shift of the French triton… Featuring simple or geometrical designs, or even or devoid
school’s attention to delphi. of patterns, the delos mosaics impress especially when religious or
ForBidden –today, overnight stays and swimming are strictly mythological (dionysus, Athena, Hermes, punic goddess tanit),
forbidden on delos, as is docking boats. Back in time, though, natural (dolphins, tigers, panthers, fish), sea-themed (anchor,
ancient historian thucydides wrote that in approximately 425 trident), or theatrical (masks, satyrs).
Bc, the law stated that pregnant women and moribund people nAxos –near the end of the 7th century Bc, the people of
had to leave the island. in other words, the inhabitants of delos naxos dedicated the so-called terrace of the Lions to Apollo.
could not die on their island, and neither could they be born there. Marble lions stand in line facing east, towards the sacred Lake.
grypAri AMAryLLis –she’s recognised as one of the best Many archaeologists beleive that, there were originally 16 lions,
certified licensed tour guides of the island, born and raised in but only five and parts of three remain today, while the headless
Mykonos. Find her at grypari_amar@yahoo.gr body of one more adorns the Arsenal of Venice in italy.

A trip to the sacred island of Delos from A to Z reminds
us how ancient travellers arrived here not for Mykonos,
as we do now, but solely for the energy that Delos exuded.

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