DELOS
Greece
Delos was
the most important Panhellenic sanctuary, and, according to mythology,
the birth-place of Apollo and Artemis. The first signs of habitation on
the island date from the 3rd millennium B.C., and important remains of
the Mycenaean period have been uncovered in the area of the sanctuary.
In the 7th century B.C. Delos was already a known Ionic centre because
of its religious importance as the birth-place of Apollo.
Athenian influence was initiated on the sanctuary with the first purification
of Delos by Peisistratos in 540 B.C. but it gradually developed into a
proper domination lasting - with short intervals - until the end of the
4th century B.C., when Delos was finally declared free and independent
(314 B.C.).
The independence of the island lasted until 166 B.C. when the Romans gave
it over to the Athenians.
 The second Athenian domination started with the definite expulsion of
the Delians to Achaia, in the Peloponnese. The declaration of Delos as
an "international" harbour by the Romans led to an influx of
foreigners who became a significant element of the island's population.
The absence of taxes resulted to the concentration of trade activity on
the island and, subsequently, to its economic prosperity.
The close relations of Delos with Rome, though, was the main reason for
its decline. During Mithridates' wars against the Romans, Delos suffered
severe damage in the raids of 88 B.C. and 69 B.C. Since then, the island's
prosperity gradually came to an end. In the 2nd and 3rd centuries A.D.
only a small settlement existed on Delos and, as Christianity had gradually
replaced the ancient religion, the island finally lost its importance.
Delos was a sacred place with splendid buildings and sanctuaries and
as such, it was never forgotten; many references are preserved by travellers
who visited the island in the last centuries. Numerous pieces of sculpture
were transferred to Museums of Greece and abroad, while marbles from the
ancient buildings were used as building material by the inhabitants of
the nearby islands.
Excavations on Delos started in 1873 by the French School of Archaeology
at Athens. Between 1904 and 1914, under the direction of M. Holleaux and
thanks to the donation of Duke de Loubat, the most significant sections
of the ancient site were uncovered.
Intensive excavations were conducted in the years 1958-1975. The excavations
are still carried out by the French School of Archaeology, but the religious,
political and commercial centre of the island has already been revealed
along with many private houses. Restricted excavations were also conducted
by Greek archaeologists at the beginning of the century.
Large-scale restoration work has been undertaken by the French School
of Archaeology mainly in the sector of the private houses, but in the
recent years, the 21st Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities
has also carried out similar work. Several columns have been rebuilt and
ancient houses have been roofed in order to protect the mosaic floors
(House of the Trident, House of the Masks, House of Hermes). In 1990 Delos
was included in the World's Cultural Heritage, protected by the UNESCO.
The most important monuments of the site are: The Agora of the Competaliasts
One of the main markets of the Hellenistic city is an open square directly
abutting the Sacred Harbour, paved with large flat stones of gneiss, many
of which have post-holes for tents. On the north side lies the Portico
of Philip and a small Ionic temple dedicated to Hermes, the god of commerce,
while shops and workshops flank the market along the east and south sides.
At the centre of the square stand the foundations of two marble monuments
(one square and one round), also dedicated to Hermes. Around them, bases
of monuments erected by bankers, ships' pilots and merchants are to be
seen. The whole complex is dated to the last quarter of the 2nd century
B.C.
The
Temple of the Delians
The Temple of the Delians or Grand Temple is the latest and largest of
the three temples dedicated to Apollo. It is a "peripteral"
Doric temple with six columns on each of the narrow sides and thirteen
on each of the long ones. Its construction began in 478 B.C. but stopped
around the middle of the 5th century B.C., when the League' s treasury
was transferred to Athens. Work was resumed later on, during the period
of Delian independence, but was never actually finished.
The
Minoan Fountain
The Minoan Fountain, referred to in the inscriptions and identified by
a relief bearing a dedication to "Minoan Nymphs", is a public
well hewn in the rock. It was covered by a square building, open on the
south side, which was flanked by a Doric portico. The water level could
be reached by the stone steps on the south side. The fountain was constructed
in the second half of the 6th century B.C. and remained in use for a very
long time, until the late Hellenistic period, when it was finally converted
into a house.
Terrace
of the Lions
The marble lions dedicated to Apollo by the Naxians at the end of 7th
century B.C. stand in a row facing eastwards, towards the Sacred Lake.
They are reckoned originally to have been sixteen in number, but only
five lions and the remains of three more, standing on modern bases, can
be seen in position today. The headless body of another lion now decorates
the Arsenal in Venice. Bordering the west side of the road leading from
the harbour in Skardana bay to the temples, they were the eternal guardians
of the Sanctuary.
The
Establishment of the Poseidoniasts from Beirut
It was the club house of an association of Syrian shippers, merchants,
bankers, and warehousemen bound up by their desire for racial kinship
and the desire to worship the national gods but also for the protection
of their commercial interests. It consists of a central peristyle court,
around which are arranged various rooms and temples dedicated to Poseidon,
Hercules and Rome. Dated to the last quarter of the 2nd century B.C.
The
Stoivadeion
Rectangular platform to the NW of the Sanctuary, containing a statue of
Dionysos flanked by two actors impersonating Paposilenoi (now in the Museum).
On either side of the platform, a pillar supports a huge phallus, the
symbol of Dionysos. The southern pillar, which is decorated with relief
scenes from the Dionysiac circle, was erected in ca. 300 B.C. by a Delian
named Karystios in order to celebrate a victorious theatrical performance
sponsored by him.
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The
Theatre
The preserved marble theatre was constructed at the beginning of the 3rd
century B.C. and replaced an earlier, wooden one. The upper (epitheatron)
and the lower part of the theatre, which are separated by the diazoma,
are not concentric. The first row of seats, which is for the privileged,
is followed by twenty-six stone tiers in the lower part and seventeen
more in the epitheatron, divided by eight stairways into seven cunei,
that could accommodate about 5.500 spectators. In front of the round orchestra,
the remains of the stage-building (skene) are to be seen.
Temple
of Isis
Small Doric temple within a sanctuary shared by the familiar triad Serapis,
Isis and Anubis, located on a high terrace by the foothill of Cynthus.
Built at the beginning of the 2nd century B.C., it was repaired by the
Athenians in 135 B.C. and still contains the cult statue of the goddess.
Isis, known by a variety of cult names, gave people good health and fortune
and protected the sailors.
The
Temple of Hera
Doric temple constructed in around 500 B.C.; under its cella were revealed
the foundations of an earlier temple, dating back to the beginning of
the 7th century B.C. In the remains of this earlier temple, a large number
of Archaic vases and other votive offerings were found (now exhibited
in the museum), many of which bear incised votive inscriptions to Hera.
The altar of the goddess was erected to the south of the temple.
The
"House of Dionysos"
The "House of Dionysos", thus named after the famous mosaic
floor depicting Dionysos riding a panther, is a good example of a private
residence, dating from the last quarter of the 2nd century B.C. A covered
passage leads from the entrance to a peristyle court, on which open the
rooms of the ground floor. At the centre of the court there is a cistern
for the collection of water, covered with a splendid mosaic floor. A stone
stairway leads to the elegant private rooms of the upper storey.
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