Morning found us in the island of Delos where the Greeks believed Apollo, the god of light, and Artemis, the goddess of the hunt were born as children of Zeus and a beautiful mortal princess named Leto. Because the birth of the two gods was on the rocky barren island, it was believed that all the other islands formed an imaginary protective kyklos (=circle) around them, and they named them Kyklades/Cycklades.
The history of Delos starts in archaic times when it received its earliest inhabitants, but soon became one of the most important religious centers of the world of antiquity. Pilgrims from all over visited the island—a popular pilgrimage to pray, show their gratitude, and offer their valuable gifts to their patron gods. At the same time powerful Greek states enriched the island with magnificent buildings—treasuries and temples—hoping to secure their superiority over Delos. In the course of time it reinforced its fame as a prestigious religious and spiritual center. But soon because of its strategic location it was declared as a free and independent port that led Delos to flourish as a trading, commercial, and financial center—and as a sophisticated cosmopolitan place. Businessmen and merchants found their way to Delos, opened their businesses, and built their beautiful spacious mansions wonderfully decorated with mosaics.
Today what we can see in the archaeological site a small portion of what Delos was, but even in ruins they clearly justify the glorious times of a wealthy and vibrant community that lived in prosperity and comfort.
The visit to Delos was an experience not only as a journey through history but brought to life a magnificent world that existed thousands of years ago.
