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discover|sacred island

“For a visitor to come all the way here, they need to comprehend

why; they will see the material remains and hopefully follow the
narrative of a space which reflects, through the ages, the stories
of human societies which were similar to our contemporary

societies”. – Dr Themistoklis Vakoulis

“in tHe First centUry Bc, there were find themselves in a timeless place. delos, called into existence as one of the largest
approximately 30,000 inhabitants on this small however, is the exact opposite. As with Hellenic sanctuaries in the Mediterranean.
island in the cyclades. Most of them were every museum or archaeological site, it is a imbued with the meaning of ‘sanctity’, this
Athenians, but there were also people from time warp – for example, when you climb sacred place already existed in Homer’s era
other parts of the Mediterranean. they lived up the Acropolis, you travel back to the 5th and reached its peak during the Archaic period
peacefully, they wrote and spoke greek and century Bc. the advantage to delos is that (7th-6th century Bc) and the classical period
they worshipped their gods”, the director of you experience the journey back in time even (5th-4th century Bc). citizens from the outer
the ephorate of Antiquities of cyclades, dr as you travel there, reaching the island by a reaches of the greek world travelled to the
dimitris Athanasoulis, begins. small boat much like the inhabitants of old. island to worship the god of Light. From the
Firmly grounded in today’s world, with the boat trip is a prelude. so, this is the first mid-6th century Bc up to the 4th century Bc,
a scientific background and a vision for reason why it is worthwhile for revellers Athens imposed itself politically and culturally
contemporary archaeological sites and of ‘non-time’ Mykonos to visit delos and on the sacred island. during that period, the
museums, the archaeologist uses simple words experience these extreme contrasts. it is a sanctuary was the centre of the Athenian
to impart his knowledge and share his love of voyage of a different kind, something worth republic, a symbol for the birth of western
narratives of the past. “this era is typical of getting your head around – and whatever civilisation, and headquarters of the Athenian
delos, as it is only here and nowhere else in your state of mind, you cannot avoid a sense empire (also known as the delian League).
greece that visitors can grasp the meaning of altered states whilst on delos! Although When the League ceased to exist, this great
of the first instinct for globalisation which delos has its challenges (as an enormous site Hellenistic model city developed, encompassing
materialised in the Hellenistic kingdoms after which needs to be restored, excavated and all aspects of the greek World. the Hellenistic
the death of Alexander the great. that part requires new infrastructure, among other city, remains of which visitors can see today,
of the city, which is still in the process of things), it remains a unique archaeological developed after 167 Bc, when the romans
being excavated, is in excellent condition. so, site which spans the entirety of an island. gave delos back to the Athenians and declared
we could say that during that period, delos the fact that the antiquities are in good it a free port; a move which contributed to its
was a huge multicultural centre, similar to condition and that so many of them remain rapid economic ascent. Merchants, bankers
the Mykonos of today. Visitors to delos are allows visitors to visualise the ancient city and shipowners from all of the known world
mainly tourists who choose Mykonos for in a comparable way to Pompeii. this is not settled there, attracting a large number of
its attractions, and take the trip to delos possible in any other ancient city in greece. masons, craftsmen and sculptors. it was a
because of its proximity”, Athanasoulis makes there are many roman cities in the Middle large city with public buildings such as the
clear from the beginning. “so, this is a very east, syria or Africa which are in good Bouleuterion (Assembly House), the Prytaneion
interesting, paradoxical pair of attractions condition, but on delos you experience a and the ekklesiasterion, with religious and
for visitors. scenery unchanged since antiquity, which we merchant guilds such as the Poseidonianists
What is Mykonos today? A world-renowned could say represents time itself! even people of Beirut housed in buildings, squares with
cosmopolitan island, one big party! to use who believe themselves to be indifferent to votive offerings from italian guilds such as
one of Foucault’s favourite terms, it is a the past leave delos having gained something the Agora of the competaliasts and unique
heterotopia. Visitors to Mykonos escape from their visit”. houses decorated with murals, mosaic floors
their daily life and find themselves in an and statues. it was a transport hub for the
environment where ‘non-time’ prevails; a STAGES IN HISTORY eastern Mediterranean due to the privileges
time for unlimited entertainment. during “it is worth stopping at the sanctuary of granted by the romans and encouraged an
their stay, there is no sense of time, as they Apollo first, as it is the reason the city was unprecedented cosmopolitanism, where all the

The Navel of The aegeaN
“The island has been utilised in its ideological and political capacity, as those who wanted the upper hand in the Aegean needed to
control its ideological epicentre. This brought developments, events and outcomes that have parallels in modern Greek societies.
Delos is a flashback in human history”. – Dr Themistoklis Vakoulis

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