Delos Archaeological Site
Isle of Delos · Birthplace of Apollo
Archaeic to Hellenistic-Roman 9th c. BCE–69 BCE, sacred from Bronze Age·Greek (Ionian) to Hellenistic-Roman·🇬🇷 Cyclades (South Aegean), Greece
About
About Delos Archaeological Site
Tiny (3.5 km²) sacred island of Apollo and Artemis birthplace (Leto myth), pan-Hellenic sanctuary then Hellenistic-Roman commercial metropolis (167 BCE free port) with 30,000 inhabitants: Terrace of Lions (9 marble lions ~600 BCE), three temples of Apollo, House of Dionysus mosaics, and Cynthus sanctuary. Entire island archaeological park.
Why it mattersMost extensive Cycladic sacred and Hellenistic commercial city wholly preserved as island park
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Population estimate 10k vs 30k for free port peak
- 02Sacred vs commercial identity transition economics
Theories
- 01Purification as Athenian imperialism over Ionians
- 02Mediterranean slave trade quantification
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- Temples 7th–6th c. BCE, city boom 167–88 BCE as Delian League treasury / free port
- Period
- Archaeic to Hellenistic-Roman 9th c. BCE–69 BCE, sacred from Bronze Age
- Culture
- Greek (Ionian) to Hellenistic-Roman
- Purpose
- Birth sanctuary of Apollo/Artemis, later slave market and emporium
- Abandoned
- 69 BCE Mithridatic sack and abandonment
- Excavation
- Excavation ongoing
478 BCE
Delian League treasury on Delos
426 BCE
Purification (removal burials)
167 BCE
Rome declares free port; boom
88 BCE
Mithridates sack begins decline
1873
French School excavations begin
On the ground
Structures & features
37.4000° N · 25.2667° E · 50 m · 4 mapped features
Terrace of the Lions
votive9 marble lions crouching from Hymettus marble ~600 Naxian
37.4007° N · 25.2678° ETemple of Apollo (Delian)
temple6x13 Doric temple central on sacred precinct
37.4003° N · 25.2665° EHouse of Dionysus Mosaics
domusHellenistic house with Dionysus mosaic on panther
37.3995° N · 25.2658° ESanctuary on Mt. Cynthus
sanctuarySanctuaries of Zeus and foreign gods atop Cynthus hill
37.3996° N · 25.2700° E
Gallery