Back Delos Afrikaans ديلوس Arabic ديلوس ARZ Dilos Azerbaijani Дэлас Byelorussian Делос Bulgarian Delos Breton Delos Catalan Nisí Dílos CEB Délos Czech
Native name: Δήλος | |
|---|---|
 General view of Delos | |
 Delos (on the right) and Rineia in the Cyclades | |
  Delos | |
| Geography | |
| Coordinates | 37°23′36″N 25°16′16″E / 37.39333°N 25.27111°E |
| Archipelago | Cyclades |
| Area | 3.43 km2 (1.32 sq mi) |
| Highest elevation | 112 m (367 ft) |
| Highest point | Mt. Kynthos |
| Administration | |
Greece | |
| Region | South Aegean |
| Regional unit | Mykonos |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 24 (2011) |
| Pop. density | 6,8/km2 (176/sq mi) |
| Criteria | Cultural: ii, iii, iv, vi |
| Reference | 530 |
| Inscription | 1990 (14th Session) |
The island of Delos (/ˈdiːlɒs/; Greek: Δήλος [ˈðilos]; Attic Greek: Δῆλος, Doric Greek: Δᾶλος), near Mykonos, close to the centre of the Cyclades archipelago, is one of the most important mythological, historical, and archaeological sites in Greece. The excavations in the island are among the most extensive in the Mediterranean; ongoing work takes place under the direction of the Ephorate of Antiquities of Cyclades, and many of the artifacts found are on display at the Archaeological Museum of Delos and the National Archaeological Museum of Athens.
Delos had a position as a holy sanctuary for a millennium before Olympian Greek mythology made it the birthplace of Apollo and Artemis. From its Sacred Harbour, the horizon shows the three conical mounds that have identified landscapes sacred to a goddess (presumably Athena)—in other sites: one, retaining its Pre-Greek name Mount Cynthus,[1] is crowned with a sanctuary of Zeus.
In 1990, UNESCO add Delos to the World Heritage List, citing its exceptional archaeological site which "conveys the image of a great cosmopolitan Mediterranean port", its influence on the development of Greek architecture, and its sacred importance throughout Ancient Greece.[2]