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| comment | | "parent_author":"",<br>"parent_permlink":"travel",<br>"author":"julianworker",<br>"permlink":"delos-cyclades-part-2",<br>"title":"The island of Delos in Greece - Part 2",<br>"body":"Hello Steemians - This is the second part of my blog on Delos\n\nThe path continues past the Temple of Leto and the enormous Agora of the Italians before coming to the most famous part of the site,<br> the Naxian Lions. Sadly,<br> none of the lions on their plinths are originals dating from the 7th Century BCE. Three of the original lions completely disappeared and no one knows where to,<br> another was looted by the Venetians,<br> and the rest are in the on-site museum. Opposite the lions is the Sacred Lake where Leto gave birth to Apollo and Artemis. This lake was filled up in 1925 due to an epidemic of malaria,<br> but it would be wonderful if the lake could be restored to its former glory as it would certainly bring some variety to the landscape. To the north west of the Naxians Lions,<br> the columned building housed the association of merchants from Beirut. \n\n![Delos - The Naxian Lions.JPG (https:\/\/steemitimages.com\/DQmZ7eYzdbAQ4FgvWeGbX281evq9HHDfdy1ced4oNaWWu2Q\/Delos%20-%20The%20Naxian%20Lions.JPG)\n\nThe path leads on to the market area,<br> where amphorae originally storing wine can still be seen in the shops. The Lake House is a perfect example of a Delian house. All the rooms are arranged around an open courtyard,<br> providing illumination,<br> and ventilation. Under the courtyard there\u2019s a cistern which collected the rainwater from the roof. Upstairs were the private rooms of the family and the women\u2019s quarters. All the other rooms were downstairs,<br> including rooms for the house slaves. \n\n![Delos - Columns at the Lake House - 4.JPG (https:\/\/steemitimages.com\/DQmdu1Kz5qgxPKDV9U9rd2f63QS9PL48sTCKjcUhSpVQTSm\/Delos%20-%20Columns%20at%20the%20Lake%20House%20-%204.JPG)\n\nFurther round the lake is part of the City Wall built after the site was sacked by pirates. Just before heading towards the Stadium Quarter,<br> stop to see the square Minoan Fountain just in front of the Stoa of Antigonus Gonatas.\n\nFollowing the Brown Path on the map the visitor heads across the Hippodrome and past the Archegesion or Sanctuary of Anios,<br> a mythical king of Delos. This sanctuary dates from the 6th Century BCE,<br> but was remodelled during the Hellenistic period. Just before the Stadium is the Gymasium with its elegant doorways. The Stadium is in a beautiful location,<br> overlooking the Mediterranean. The buildings closer to the sea would have served all the needs of the people attending the nearby games.\n\n![Delos - The Temple of Hera - 2.JPG (https:\/\/steemitimages.com\/DQmagfPbVAdtfiksqzgxafVjcKAaDGvqUMuJHjYtao2a9kg\/Delos%20-%20The%20Temple%20of%20Hera%20-%202.JPG)\n\nRetracing your steps to the Museum,<br> turn left in front of the building and follow the path up the hill to find the Sanctuary of the Syrian Deities followed by the Temple of Isis,<br> or Sanctuary of the Egyptian Deities. Next comes the Sanctuary of Hera on a specially created terrace at the foot of the hill,<br> presumably built by the Delians to try and placate the still angry goddess. A stairway leads to the Sanctuary of Zeus and Athena at the top of the hill,<br> where there are great views over the islands near Delos. \n\nIn the Theatre Quarter,<br> The House of the Dolphins and The House of the Masks were both private houses with mosaic floors. The Xenon was a hotel. The Theatre is still impressive and would have held 5,<br>500 spectators in its heyday. The House of Hermes is worth finding as it had two floors of columns most of which are still in situ.\n\n![Delos - The House of the Dolphins - 2.JPG (https:\/\/steemitimages.com\/DQmc2eKx2WHHCBerZPLatgVPsXvw6o868HpBCfFpcMyGHVP\/Delos%20-%20The%20House%20of%20the%20Dolphins%20-%202.JPG)\n\nThe site is extensive and showcases the ruins splendidly. There aren\u2019t just temples to admire,<br> but houses too,<br> houses lived in by ordinary Delians,<br> which contrast with the splendour of the temples. It\u2019s seeing the ordinary and extraordinary together that makes Delos special.\n\n![Delos - The house of Hermes - 6.JPG (https:\/\/steemitimages.com\/DQmQsLR12RBRe7Xg3YyjNDwSiwFAbnGcGG6zZRKEJzXyWhd\/Delos%20-%20The%20house%20of%20Hermes%20-%206.JPG)",<br>"json_metadata":" \"tags\":[\"travel\",<br>\"history\",<br>\"archaeology\",<br>\"delos\",<br>\"greece\" ,<br>\"image\":[\"https:\/\/steemitimages.com\/DQmZ7eYzdbAQ4FgvWeGbX281evq9HHDfdy1ced4oNaWWu2Q\/Delos%20-%20The%20Naxian%20Lions.JPG\",<br>\"https:\/\/steemitimages.com\/DQmdu1Kz5qgxPKDV9U9rd2f63QS9PL48sTCKjcUhSpVQTSm\/Delos%20-%20Columns%20at%20the%20Lake%20House%20-%204.JPG\",<br>\"https:\/\/steemitimages.com\/DQmagfPbVAdtfiksqzgxafVjcKAaDGvqUMuJHjYtao2a9kg\/Delos%20-%20The%20Temple%20of%20Hera%20-%202.JPG\",<br>\"https:\/\/steemitimages.com\/DQmc2eKx2WHHCBerZPLatgVPsXvw6o868HpBCfFpcMyGHVP\/Delos%20-%20The%20House%20of%20the%20Dolphins%20-%202.JPG\",<br>\"https:\/\/steemitimages.com\/DQmQsLR12RBRe7Xg3YyjNDwSiwFAbnGcGG6zZRKEJzXyWhd\/Delos%20-%20The%20house%20of%20Hermes%20-%206.JPG\" ,<br>\"app\":\"steemit\/0.1\",<br>\"format\":\"markdown\" " |
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