Delos

• Delos is a Greek Island and Ancient city of the same name, which is located in the Aegean Sea.
• It is an Archeological Site which has been a Unesco World Heritage Site since 1990.

History

• It was the capital city of the Cyclades.
• It became a powerful commercial centre after Rome made it a Freeport in 167 BCE.
• It was the greatest Slave market in the East with up to 10,000 slaves a day passing through the Port between 167-69 BCE.
• It was also an important religious centre considered to be the birthplace of Apollo.
• Known as the Sanctuary of Apollo at Delos, three Temples were dedicated to Apollo, whose Ruins are still visible.

Greek and Roman Sites

• Sanctuary of Apollo at Delos (c.575 BCE)
  • The First Temple of Apollo (c. 575 BCE)
    • This was constructed by the Athenians and was known as the Porinos Naos.
  • The Second Temple of Apollo (417 BCE)
    • This Temple was also built and dedicated by the Athenians and was known as the Oikos (House) of the Seven. It held seven statues including one of Apollo.
  • The Third Temple of Apollo (c.390 BCE)
    • This was known as the ‘Temple of the Delians’, and was the greatest of the three Temples dedicated to Apollo.
    • It was founded in 478 BCE, but only completed c. 390 BCE.

• Agora of the Competaliasts
• House of Dionysius (Mosaic)
• House of the Masks
• House of Cleopatra and Statues
• House of the Lake
• House of the Trident
• House of the Dolphins (Mosaic)
• Minoan Fountain
• Roman Theatre
• Sacred Way
• Synagogue of Delos (c. 150 BCE)
• Temple of Hera
• Temple of Isis
• Terrace of the Lions
• Vestiges of the Roman Docks

Museums

• Archeological Museum of Delos
• • The museum holds a Collection of Statues, Pottery, Jewelry, Frescos and Mosaics, which were excavated from Delos.
• National Archeological Museum of Athens
• • Many of the Artefacts excavated from Delos are also held in the National Museum.

The Delian League (478-404 BCE)

• From 478 BCE onwards the Meetings of the Delian League were held here in the Temple, and the Treasury of the League was also kept here until it was removed to Athens in 454 BCE.
• The Delian League consisted of between 150 to 173 Cities, grouped under the leadership of Athens with the aim of continuing the War against the Persian Empire.
• During this Period the Delian Games were held here every 5 years.
• The Delian League was ended after the Peloponnesian War (431-404 BCE) between Athens and Sparta. Athens was permanently weakened and lost her navy, whilst Sparta, who was allied to Persian Empire, became the strongest Greek city state.

The Slave Trade and the Pirates of Cilicia (167-69 BCE)

• 167 BCE The Island of Delos was given the status of a Free Port with no Harbour or Customs dues, according to Strabo.
• This led directly to the Rise of the Pirates of Cilicia who made Delos the centre of their slave trade between 167-69 BCE.
• Deprived of the trade in Slaves and general Goods, Rhodes was left with the Grain and Wine trade, resulting in its harbour receipts collapsing from 1,000,000 drachmas to 150,000 in one year.
• Consequently, the Rhodian Navy could no longer afford the ships and crew to police the Silician coast, and the Pirates of Cilicia rose to prominence instead.
• Delos became the greatest Slave market in the East with up to 10,000 slaves a day passing through the Port.
• 88 BCE Mithridates VI of Pontus sacked Delos, killing 20,000 inhabitants.
• 69 BCE Delos was finally sacked by the Pirates of Cilicia, and it’s population sold as slaves. The Roman Treasury on Delos was plundered.
• From 69 BCE, Puteoli, in Italy, then replaced Delos as the main Port of Italian trade with the East.

Delos