Delos in Greece

Delos is located just west of Mykonos and is considered one of the most important historical and religious sites of ancient Greece. According to Greek mythology, the twin gods Apollo and Artemis were born on the island, making it an important pilgrimage destination. During the 6th and 5th centuries BC, Delos became an important religious and political center. The island also served as a meeting place for the so-called Delian League, an alliance of Greek city-states led by Athens.

Delos close to Mykonos.

In the 1st century BC, Delos developed into one of the most bustling trading cities in the Mediterranean. Thanks to its strategic location, the island became a center for trade in goods, shipping, and people from all over the then known world. However, after several wars and plundering towards the end of the century, Delos lost its importance and was eventually abandoned.

Temples and statues near the port of Delos.

Delos and the famous phallus statues.

During Delos' heyday, especially in the 1st century BC, historians estimate that the island had about 20,000–30,000 inhabitants. Some estimates are even higher if you include casual visitors, sailors, and merchants. Although Delos is only about 5 km² in size, the island was one of the most important trading centers in the Mediterranean. It featured large marketplaces and warehouses, temples and sanctuaries, luxurious residences with mosaic floors, and harbors that welcomed ships from all over the Mediterranean. The population consisted of Greeks, Romans, Phoenicians, Egyptians, Syrians, and other peoples, making Delos an unusually international city for its time.

Some of the other phallus statues on Delos.

The highest mountain on Delos is Mount Kynthos, which is 113 meters above sea level. From the top, there is a sweeping view of Delos and the surrounding Cyclades. The mountain also had great religious significance in ancient times – according to mythology, it was from here that the goddess Leto is said to have given birth to Apollo and Artemis. Today, visitors can hike to the top via a marked path. The hike is relatively short but rocky, and the view over the ruins and the sea is one of the highlights of a visit to the island.

Copies of the famous lion statues.

The famous lions are now in the Museum of Delos.

Today, Delos is one of Greece's best-preserved archaeological sites and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visitors can see remains of temples, residences, theaters and the famous lion statues, which testify to the island's heyday over 2,000 years ago. Today, Delos is uninhabited except for a few digging archaeologists. If you are at all interested in history and culture, you should visit Delos. Perhaps the most famous remains are the proud lions that once stood on the processional route. The lions have now been replaced by copies, the originals are in the museum on Delos. Many of the temples and houses are in ruins, but you still get a fairly clear picture of the area.

The interesting museum on Delos.

TRAVEL TO DELOS

The boats to Delos start out from the small port in Mykonos town. To walk around by yourself on the sight is quite wasted unless you are very familiar with the subject. To understand what is seen, it is best to take a guided tour, it takes about an hour and does not cost much extra.

Two giant torsos on Delos.

ACCOMMODATION ON DELOS

There are no people living on Delos and you can not stay overnight. The only people who are allowed to stay overnight are the archaeologists working on Delos. So you want to stay overnight, you must train to be an archaeologist. :-)

The excavation area is huge.

There is no shade so it's best to go here as early in the day as you can.

To explore Delos without a guide is quite useless. Book tours from Mykonos, or from Paros and Naxos.