Description of the attraction
The island of Delos is located in the Aegean Sea near the island of Mykonos and belongs to the Cyclades archipelago. The island is one of the most important mythological, historical and archaeological sites in Greece. The uninhabited island of Delos is a unique place, which is, in fact, a huge open-air museum. Archaeological excavations in these places began in 1873 under the leadership of the French Archaeological School in Athens and are considered one of the largest in the entire Mediterranean.
Archaeological excavations have shown that life existed here as early as the 3rd millennium BC, however, there is no reliable data on the origin of the inhabitants of the island at that time. According to ancient Greek mythology, it was on the sacred island of Delos that the gods Apollo and Artemis were born. The island has long been an important religious and economic center (due to its location and the presence of a commercial port). The island was home to a slave market and the largest grain market in the Aegean Sea. Throughout its centuries-old history, Delos changed its owners several times and by the end of the 1st century BC. fell into decay, and gradually became completely deserted.
Many interesting artifacts, sculptural and architectural masterpieces were discovered on the island. Near each attraction there are signs with detailed descriptions. The most famous finds include the Terrace of Lions (600 BC), which was dedicated to Apollo. Marble lions were located on the sides of the Sacred Road. Initially, there were from 9 to 12 lions, but only 7 have survived to this day. Today, there are copies on the island, and the originals of sculptural works are kept in various museums. Dedicated to Apollo and the Temple of Delios (5-3 centuries BC) - a classic example of the Doric order. Also interesting are such sights as the dried up Sacred Lake in the form of a round bowl, the Minoan fountain (6th century BC), the Market Square, the Doric Temple of Isis from the Roman period and the Temple of Hera. The main attractions include the House of Dionysus (2nd century BC) with a mosaic floor depicting Dionysus on a panther and the House of Dolphins. Also on the island are the ruins of the Delos synagogue - the oldest known synagogue.
Today the island is a popular tourist destination. A huge number of artifacts found here are on display in the Archaeological Museum of Delos and the National Archaeological Museum of Athens. Since 1990, the island of Delos has been included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
