Lion's of Delos

Delos, in ancient Greek, means clear, brought to light. The beautiful myth states that, Delos, is the island of sun. The ruins of the settlement, spread about all over the island, the surviving marble columns, the theater, the gymnasium, as well as the pieces of the most important creations of mosaic art witnessed the island's glorious history. It seems that the first inhabitants were Carians and their settlements date back to the third millennium. At the beginning of the 10th century B.C., after Ionians had arrived on the island, Delos was transformed into a religious center and into the center of Ionic amphictyonia, creating thus the preconditions for its commercial development, increasing at the same time its political influence. Athenians dominated not only Delos but also the majority of Aegean islands and took control over the whole area in the middle of the 6th century B.C. The domination of Athenians over the island ended when Macedonians arrived on Delos in 315 B.C. Their presence signaled the island's independence and its commercial growth and wealth. Delos was conquered by the Romans who declared it a free port, transforming the island into a very significant trade centre. It attracted Egyptians, Syrians and Italians. During the war declared by Mithridates (88 B.C.) Delos was attacked twice and from that moment began a countdown that resulted to the island's total depopulation. In 1873 the French Archeological School began official excavations on Delos, bringing to light its glorious past, worthy of admiration all over the world.