Delos
Today we made a pilgrimage to one of the centers of the ancient world. As the birthplace of twin Olympian gods Apollo and Artemis, Delos has long been considered a sacred site. This tiny, barren, rocky island was considered the center of the Aegean, with the Cycladic islands forming a perfect ring, or “cycle”, around it. As such, an Apollonian sanctuary was established here in the 9th century B.C., and reached the peak of its glory during the archaic and classical periods. The island’s true development began in 167 B.C. when it was declared a “free port”, and all the commercial activity of the Mediterranean was concentrated here.
We landed on Delos, just as the site was opening, and appreciated the quiet and solitude of the early morning hours. Our wonderful guides, Stella and Elli, led us through the site and through the centuries, igniting our imaginations with stories of gods and merchants, pirates and politicians. First, we walked through the lower level, admiring the remains of the temples of Apollo, Artemis and their mother Leto, as well as the fragments of the colossal statue of Apollo that was dedicated by the Naxians in about 600 B.C. Although only a few fragments of the actual colossus remain, the massive marble base alone is impressive. We ended our tour of the lower level at the famous Naxian lions, dedicated in the 7th century B.C. Although all of the originals have been removed, either historically by pirates or Venetians, or recently to museums, the replicas now in place continue to impress. Continuing up into the residential area, we saw famous mosaics like those in the House of the Masks and the House of the Dolphins.
Returning to Panorama in the late morning, we repositioned a short distance to the nearby island of Rinia for one more swim in the Aegean. After the warmth on shore, the cool water felt delightful. Some also opted to take a kayak out for one last paddle. An afternoon at sea, and a beautiful sunset as we entered the Saronic Gulf rounded out our last day together.
Today we made a pilgrimage to one of the centers of the ancient world. As the birthplace of twin Olympian gods Apollo and Artemis, Delos has long been considered a sacred site. This tiny, barren, rocky island was considered the center of the Aegean, with the Cycladic islands forming a perfect ring, or “cycle”, around it. As such, an Apollonian sanctuary was established here in the 9th century B.C., and reached the peak of its glory during the archaic and classical periods. The island’s true development began in 167 B.C. when it was declared a “free port”, and all the commercial activity of the Mediterranean was concentrated here.
We landed on Delos, just as the site was opening, and appreciated the quiet and solitude of the early morning hours. Our wonderful guides, Stella and Elli, led us through the site and through the centuries, igniting our imaginations with stories of gods and merchants, pirates and politicians. First, we walked through the lower level, admiring the remains of the temples of Apollo, Artemis and their mother Leto, as well as the fragments of the colossal statue of Apollo that was dedicated by the Naxians in about 600 B.C. Although only a few fragments of the actual colossus remain, the massive marble base alone is impressive. We ended our tour of the lower level at the famous Naxian lions, dedicated in the 7th century B.C. Although all of the originals have been removed, either historically by pirates or Venetians, or recently to museums, the replicas now in place continue to impress. Continuing up into the residential area, we saw famous mosaics like those in the House of the Masks and the House of the Dolphins.
Returning to Panorama in the late morning, we repositioned a short distance to the nearby island of Rinia for one more swim in the Aegean. After the warmth on shore, the cool water felt delightful. Some also opted to take a kayak out for one last paddle. An afternoon at sea, and a beautiful sunset as we entered the Saronic Gulf rounded out our last day together.
