Delos is a delight and a must visit when you travel to Mykonos in Greece. Delos comes from the Greek word Dhilos, meaning "clear or brought to light". It is considered to be one of the most important archaeological Sites in Greece. The island's ruins include temples, markets, an amphitheater, houses with mosaics and the iconic Terrace of the Lions statues. We took one of the boats that depart every hour from the old harbour (except on Mondays, when the site is closed). The boat fare is €20 (two way) and the entrance charge for Delos is €12.
The mythological birthplace of Apollo, it was a major religious center and port. Delos is a small island without any particular advantages for habitation due to its barrenness and lack of water. In Greek mythology, this is precisely why Leto, escaping the wrath of Hera, was able to find sanctuary here in order to give birth to Apollo (god of light) and Artemis.
In the olden days, a festival in honour of Apollo was held every year on the island. Evidence has also been found about a spectacular Athenian inspired festival - the Delia - being held every five years.
Athletic games and musical & dancing contests attracted visitors from across the Aegean. Victors in the Delian games climbed the island’s Mt. Kynthos in order to be crowned.
The island was so sacred that no mortal would ever be allowed to be born or die on its land. Women on the brink of childbirth and people close to dying would be carried to the neighbouring island of Rineia. Today, there are various tourist attractions on the island and an Archaeological Museum which displays statues excavated from the site. The museum also gives some respite from the summer heat. It takes around 3-4 hours to take a look around the island.
Terrace of the Lions - It is one of the most-photographed tourist attractions in Delos. It is home to a row of magnificent white marble lions — originally there were nine, but only five remain (in fact even these are replicas, the originals being on show in the Delos Museum). The lions are in a crouching position and they seem to be guarding the Sacred lake.
Sacred Lake & Sacred Precinct - Swans once swam in the oval Sacred Lake, but today it is empty and has been since 1925 when an outbreak of malaria caused it to be drained. It was here, on the shores of the lake that, according to Greek mythology, Leto was believed to have given birth to Apollo, under a palm tree. The lake marks the end of the Sacred Precinct, which holds some of the most iconic temples built on the island.
Temple of Isis - Built on a small hill is the restored Temple of Isis which houses the lower half of a statue of the goddess Isis. Originally an ancient Egyptian goddess representing the ideal mother and wife, Isis was later worshiped by both the Greeks and Romans. A short walk from the Temple of Isis is the archaeological museum (which has a cafe next to it).
Theater Quarter - Lying between Mt. Kynthos and the commercial harbor, the so-called Theatre Quarter has narrow, winding streets and houses, many of which had at least one upper story. The House of the Trident is particularly notable as it has fine mosaic floor depicting a swimming dolphin. The theater is a Greek-style auditorium with 26 rows of seats, which could accommodate 5,500 spectators. It was originally made of marble but is now partly ruined and overgrown with weeds.
House of Dionysus & House of Cleopatra - In the Theatre Quarter, the House of Dionysus (god of wine and fertility) is a fine example of a lavish private dwelling from the 2nd-century BC. The highlight here is the central courtyard with elegant marble columns and a mosaic floor depicting Dionysus riding a tiger. The House of Cleopatra (not the famous Egyptian queen) was a 12 room house set and its ruins contain two headless statues.
One of my favorite things on this island was to take a hike to the summit of Mt. Kynthos, which offers panoramic views over the ruins and surrounding countryside. To the north, you will see the island of Tinos; to the east, Mykonos; to the south, the hills of Naxos; and to the west, Syros.
An ancient path and stone steps lead towards the summit, where in the 3rd-century BC, the Temple of Zeus and Athena once stood. It was so windy here that it was tough to keep my balance.
There were stones that have been arranged in stacks on top of the mountain, probably for some ceremonial purpose. One photo I took of the summit showed a lone ghostly figure standing in a far corner. For a long time, there was no movement whatsoever and it was a spooky feeling.
I just did not feel like coming down and could have spent hours here. But, I soon realized that it was time to catch the evening ferry back to Mykonos. With a resigned shake of my head, I made my way back to the harbour.
Delos is indeed special and I was fascinated by the place! Whether you are a history buff or someone who loves to visit beautiful places, Delos will not disappoint you one bit. In a beautiful country like Greece, I have been constantly amazed by the fact that there is one treasure after another waiting to be discovered. Long may it continue!
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