The Archaeological Site

(Main View)

The modern visitor lands on a small artificial peninsula, between the Sacred Harbor (1) (lost today under the debris of the French excavations during the beginning of the 20th century) and the commercial ports (2). Passing through the Agora of the Competaliasts (3), a marketplace of the ancient town with two small temples dedicated to Hermes, the god of commerce, and turning left, on the Sacred Way (5) formed between two porticos (4, 6), we reach the Propylaia (8) the main gate to the Sanctuary. Immediately to the right, after the Porpylaia, are the Oikos of The Naxians (10) and the huge marble base of a colossal statue of Apollo, dedicated by the Naxians ca 600 BC. Parts of this statue can be seen in the Sanctuary of Artemis (22). Further north are the three temples of Apollo (12-14), facing Keraton (15), the most ancient and venerated altar built by Apollo himself.


The five Oikoi, or Treasuries (24-28), were used for the safekeeping of precious offerings of cities. The north boundary of the Sanctuary is a portico (34) dedicated ca 250 BC by Antigonos Gonatas, a king of Macedonia. Within the Sanctuary are also the administrative buildings of the city: the Bouleuterion (29), the Prytaneion (30) and the Ekklesiasterion (38) buildings used for the assemblies of the deputies, the dignitaries and the citizens. The Monument with the Bulls (31), is a long building on the east part of the Sanctuary, where a warship, dedicated by the king Demetrius Poliorketes by the end of 4th century BC, was housed.


The north exit from the Sanctuary is between and Graphe (37) and Ekklesiasterion (38). In Dodekatheon (42) , a temple of the 3rd cent. BC, were found important archaic statues of the twelve gods that can be seen in the Museum (68). Further north is the Granite Monument (43) and directly opposite it is the Letoon (44), a temple of the 6th century BC dedicated to the mother of the twin gods. Behind the Letoon is the largest building of Delos, the Agora of the Italians (45) a market and meeting place for all the island’s Italian businessmen build ca 100 BC.


Along the road, to the right is the Sacred Lake (46) filled up in 1925 due to an epidemic of malaria, and to the left the famous Lions (47) dedicated by the Naxians by the end of 7th century BC. Initially there was perhaps a row of animals bordering from the east side the avenue, by which those landing on the archaic port (54) would reach the northern entrance of the Sanctuary. The great building (49) northwest of the Lions housed the association of merchants, ship owners and bankers from Beirut. Further north is another quarter of the ancient town, partly excavated. The shops east of the Establishment of the Poseidoniasts (48) and those on the Lake Agora (58) are mainly bakeries and wine sellers.


The Lake House (59) is a typical example of a Delian house of the late 2nd century BC. The rooms are arranged around an open square court, surrounded by porticos, which provides ventilation and illumination. Under the central part of the court there is always a large cistern in which rainwater from the roof was collected On the ground floor are the reception and dining rooms, the latrines, the kitchen, cellars, working rooms and rooms for the house slaves. On the upper floor are the private rooms of the owners and the women’s quarters. Close to the Lake House are the Granite Palaestra (60) and the Lake Palaestra (61). Both palaestrae are comprised of a central court with cistern, around which were porticoes, exercise areas, exedras for discussions, changing rooms, vestiaries, baths, latrines etc.


Turning south and passing by the Sacred Lake (46), and the Italian Agora (45) we reach the main road, north of the Sanctuary. Continuing this road eastwards one can visit the Archegesion (71), the Gymnasium (72), the Stadium (73), the Stadium Quarter (74) and the Jewish Synagogue (75).


The Minoan Fountain (66) is a square public well of the mid sixth century BC. Opposite the east end of the Portico of Antigonos (34) is the monument (67) dedicated by a certain Carystios, who as sponsor had won a prize for a theatrical performance (c. 300 BC) ca 300 BC to Dionysus: a phallus on a high base with relief representations of the god and his companions. In the 2nd century, beside the base, a small temple was built to the god in the form of a simple exedra, and a second phallus was placed symmetrically in it at the other end. Inside the exedra was the statue of a nude Dionysus seated indolently on a throne between two statues of actors in the costume of Old Silenus (in the Museum). North of the monument there are houses and shops (65) and the road leading to the Museum (68). The findings from the excavations are kept in the Delos Museum, and include all or part of some 30,000 vessels, statuettes, small objects, 8,000 sculptures, and 3,000 inscriptions. Most of the sculptures, a few pottery and small objects are exhibited in the Museum’s eleven halls.


A modern path, south of the Museum, constructed over the unexcavated quarters of the ancient town, leads uphill, to the Sanctuary of the Syrian Deities (86). Next to it is the Sanctuary of Egyptian Deities with the temple of Isis (87). The Sanctuary of Hera (88) is located on a specially created terrace at the foot of Mt Kynthos. On the slope of the hill are the Sanctuary of Agathe Tyche (89) and the Grotto of Heracles (90), a natural cleft in the rock, roofed by enormous slabs of granite. A stairway leads to the crest of the hill, to the Sanctuary of Zeus and Athena (91), where from one has a superb view of the Cycladic islands around Delos.


The House with the Dolphins (92) and the House with the Masks (93) are luxurious private houses with excellent mosaic floors. Passing the Xenon (94), an hotel with an enormous cistern and the Theater (95) with the impressive cistern (97) we enter the Theater Quarter, one of the oldest residential quarters of the ancient city. The House with the Trident (98) is the wealthy residence of a ship owner, or merchant. In Dionysus House (99) there was found an exceptional mosaic depicting the god riding a tiger (Museum). The headless statues of the owners welcome the visitor to the House of Cleopatra (100).

The narrow, paved road leads the visitor back to the port and the Agora of the Competaliasts (3), where the tour began.