Delos, Archaeological site in Cyclades, Greece
Delos is an uninhabited island in the Aegean Sea with ancient temple remains, residential quarters, and marketplaces from different eras. Stone lions stand on a terrace, while floor mosaics survive in several ruins.
Greeks founded a sanctuary on the island in the third millennium before Christ, later venerated as the birthplace of Apollo. In the second century before Christ, the site transformed into a trading port with inhabitants from many parts of the Mediterranean.
The name connects to the twin deities Apollo and Artemis, who according to tradition were born on the island. Visitors today see remains of sanctuaries and public buildings that reflect the religious life of several centuries.
Small boats bring visitors over from Mykonos, usually in the morning with return in the afternoon. Sturdy footwear helps when walking over uneven paths between the ruins, as the ground is partly rocky.
No one may stay overnight on the island, so all visitors return by boat before sunset. Archaeologists continue working at different excavation sites and regularly uncover new finds.
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