Delos Tour Free Hour

So now your highly educated Archaeologous guide has been teaching/sharing details of Delos and has turned you loose. So go explore this UNESCO World Heritage site.  You'll appreciate the historical importance of this very special island. The art treasures found here have amazed archaeologists from the world over and the site is still being continually excavated even though the first dig began in 1872.

Things to take in:

One of the most exciting places to start is the sacred harbor, and the entrance to the Lion-guarded 'Sacred Way'. Think back 6,000 years to when this walkway led everyone to the Temple of Apollo. Lined on both sides of the walkway were statues, shrines, and monuments that were gifts from different kingdoms and city states.

The Agora of the Competialists, or as it is sometimes known, the 'Agora of the Italians' is another site of interest. (An agora is a market place or political gathering ground).  Ask your guide how it got it's name. 

The Temple/Sanctuary of Apollo is considered by most to be the number one attraction on Delos. The Sanctuary of Apollo is at the end of the Sacred Way  and had three main temples. The main one was the Great Temple of Apollo built in about 480 BC and the other two were the Temple of the Athenians and the Porinos Naos built in 550 BC. The Delian Leagues Treasury was kept in the Porinos Naos until it was subsequently moved to Athens.

The Terrace of Lions is the most recognizable monument on Delos.  There originally were nine of these lion statues guarding the sacred way and the ones you see now are actually replicas. Five of the original Lions are in the museum at Delos and another is in Venice above the main gate to the Arsenal. 

Also in this area is the hall of the Poseidoniasts of Beirut which is named due to Phoenician merchants.  It was used as an area of worship in honor of the Phoenician God, Baal, who was associated with Poseidon.

The Theatre of Delos- Amazingly, this theatre could seat 5,500 patrons and was built approx 300 B.C.. The island is only two miles long and it was in this area that the main residential area was found.