DELOS

Delos, A Beautiful Island

In the Greek archipelago, you can find a multitude of more beautiful islands. One of them, called Delos, is a small wonder of 5 kilometres long and 1.3 kilometres wide.
Two twins of Greek mythology, Apollo and Artemis, would have been born on this island. It would be Zeus and Léto's children. This is why Delos has an important religious status and has become one of the largest PanHellenic sanctuaries in ancient Greece.
This site is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Only archaeological constructions are permitted on this treasure-filled site.

Delos, A Coveted Island

From 540 to 528 BC, several peoples fought to seize control of the island. There were Athenians, Naxians and Parisians. The Athenians finally won the war and began to settle on the island. But there was a problem, there were already inhabitants in the city. The Athenian politicians then decided to deport them elsewhere in order to increase the power of Athens...

Delos, An Island Inhabited For A Very Long Time

According to archaeologists, Delos was first inhabited during the Neolithic period. Delos developed rapidly because, from the Mycenaean period, the sanctuary of Apollo and a large port were built there. The more the times go by, the more the city takes shape:
The buildings are intelligently constructed: there are several quarters (of the stadium, theatre and lake), the sanctuary of Apollo, an agora, a sanctuary serving to honor the Syrian gods and the residential area. The most famous monuments are the theatre, the terrace of the Lions, the temple of Isis and Cleopatra's house.
The theatre was built during the 3rd century BC, in honor of the god Delos. This grandiose monument could accommodate approximately 5000 spectators on 40 bleachers. Unfortunately, due to erosion and pollution, only a few parts of it are visible today.
The Lions Terrace is a square that consists of 9 lions that the Naxians carved in marble around the 5th century BC. Today, only 5 of them have survived the trials of time.

The temple of Isis is a great monument dating from the 2nd century BC, which was placed in the sanctuary "terrace of foreign gods", and which was a religious place to honor Serapis, Isis and Aphrodite (the Syrian).
Cleopatra's house is the home of Cleopatra and her husband, a great merchant. Indeed, Delos was also an economic place thanks to its trade.