Delos, a utopia that existed – the title given to Delos by the archaeologists of the Ministry of Culture is perfectly fitting. This worldwide renowned island is located right at the centre of the Cyclades in the heart of the Aegean Sea. According to mythology two of the most important gods , the twins Apollo and Artemis, were born here. Apollo, the most beautiful of the deities, bathed the island in his light and it became a sacred place.
Excavations have unearthed much of the cosmopolitan Hellenistic city and a visit to the UNESCO Heritage Site of Delos is one of the finest archaeological walks in the Mediterranean. For many, it is reason enough to choose neighbouring Mykonos for their holidays.
Mythology tells that the most beautiful of immortals and god of light Apollo, son of Zeus and Leto, was born on the humble Aegean island which since became sacred. The worship of the god began as early as the Ionian period and continued throughout the centuries, with festivals, ceremonies, magnificent sanctuaries, dedications from other Greek cities and much more. The precious treasure of the Delian Alliance was kept in Delos.
Due to its strategic position in the Aegean, it developed particularly as a centre of navigation and trade while under the control of the Macedonians and later the Romans. Described as ‘the greatest commercial centre of the world’, this duty-free port was flooded with merchants and bankers. It experienced incredible opulence and came to accommodate 25,000 people, and up to 10,000 slaves were sold from its slave markets in a day. The promise that Leto had made, to make Delos the richest place in the world, seems to have come true but untold wealth often comes at a price.
