Description of the attraction
Rineia Island is a small Greek island in the Aegean Sea (part of the Cyclades archipelago). It is located about 9 km southwest of the island of Mykonos near the island of Delos (Rineia and Delos are separated by a narrow strait no more than 1 km wide). Today the island of Rineia is uninhabited, and its lands are used as pastures.
In fact, Rineia consists of two islets connected by a narrow isthmus, which is about 60 m wide, and does not have significant elevations. The area of Rineia is only 14 km2, and the length of the coastline is 43 km. Despite the fact that the island is more than 2 times larger than its neighbor the island of Delos in area, Rineia has always remained in its shadow. And even today the island is often called "Big Delos".
Archaeological finds have shown that the island of Rineia was inhabited as early as the 5th millennium BC. The very first written mentions of this island are found in the writings of the famous ancient Greek historian Thucydides and tell how in 530 BC. the island was conquered by the tyrant Polycrates of Samos: "he conquered Rinea and dedicated her to Apollo of Delos, and ordered her to be chained to Delos" (Thucydides).
In the 5th century BC. Delos became the economic and religious center of the so-called Delian League, led by Athens. Since Delos was revered as a sacred island, it was decided that from now on no one could die or be born here. The island was also cleared of old burials, and Rineia became a kind of "Delos necropolis", as well as a shelter for the sick from Delos. By the end of the 1st century BC. Delos lost its significance, fell into disrepair and was abandoned as a result. The island of Rineia was also abandoned with him.
Today the island of Rineia, along with Delos, is under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Culture and is recognized as an important historical and archaeological site. Ancient artifacts found during excavations at Rineia can be seen today in the Archaeological Museum of Mykonos.
