Delos: The Greek Island Archaeology Buffs Will Love!

The island of Delos, in the Aegean Sea, Greece, located within a stone’s throw of the cosmopolitan island of Mykonos, is an imposing place devoid of vegetation but extremely beautiful. It was considered the sacred island of ancient Greece as it was the birthplace of Apollo and Artemis. What makes Delos one of the most important archaeological places in Greece is that it is the only place where ancient residences have been found in a great situation. Archaeological researches have revealed churches, theaters, stadiums, gyms and other monumental buildings in many places. Moreover, in some areas, such as Pella and Eretria, archaeologists have found foundations of houses and mosaic floors, but unfortunately the houses themselves are not preserved. In Delos, on the contrary, they are perfectly maintained giving us a clear picture of the architecture, the interior design, the materials used, the decoration of the walls, the sewerage system etc. All houses in Delos date back to the 2nd and early 1st century BC, when the Romans gave the Greek island to the Athenians. Researches showed that the homes of plebeians and patricians were next to each other. Although there didn’t appear to exist a single type of private home, most homes, especially the larger and more affluent, followed a basic design, with several variations. According to mythology, Delos was created with a thrust of Poseidon’s trident. Zeus tied the island to the seabed with a diamond chain so that Leto could refuge there and give birth to Artemis and Apollo. 

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