Delos Island
Delos and Rinia are together called the Deles.
The closest point to Mykonos – the Archeomandra Promontory – is 2,5 nautical miles away.
Delos is the Sacred island of Ancient Greece and one of the most important mythological, historical and archaeological sites in Greece.
The first name of Delos was Ortygia.
Delos Island History
According to legend, Apollo and Artemis were born on the island.
The earliest inhabitants were Karians, Leleges and Phoenicians.
From us early as the Mycenaean period it had a strong harbor, and about 700 BC it became established as an important center of the worship of Apollo, acquiring great political and economic power throughout the Greek world, as a commercial and cult center.
After the end of the Persian Wars, Delos became the headquarters of the First Athenian Confederacy, and the federal treasury was kept here.
In 166 BC it was captured by the Romans, who proclaimed it a free port and ceded it to the Athenians.
It continued to enjoy great prestige until 88 BC, when it was plundered by King Mithridates of Pontos.
After this, the island went into decline, despite the attempts of the emperor Hadrian to revitalize it.
In 1873, the French Archaeological School began to excavate on Delos, bringing some important finds to light.
The Archaeological site of Delos contains the area of the harbor, the sanctuary of Apollo, the area of the Terrace of the Lions, the theater district, the sacred Kynthos hill with the sanctuaries of the foreign gods, and the south area, with the Asklepieion complex, whose ruins are submerged beneath the sea.
Delos Island
Delos Museum was built in 1904 by the Archaeological Society at Athens and originally consisted of the five western rooms.
It was enlarged in 1931 and 1972 and in the same period, the exterior of the building underwent great, but unfortunate, alterations.
The present exhibition is arranged in nine rooms.
The Archaeological Museum of Delos houses finds from the excavations on the island and on neighboring Rinia.
The sites of Delos and Rinia are under the protection of the Ministry of Culture; thus, both the mooring of private boats there and staying overnight without official permission are strictly forbidden.
Informations about Delos Island
Delos is connected daily with Mykonos (distance 6 nautical miles) by boat.
USEFUL PHONE NUMBERS
Archaeological Sight of Delos
Tel: + 30 22890 22259
Port Authority of Mykonos
Tel: + 30 22890 22218
