DELOS (island)
Island in Greece with famous Apollo sanctuary
- Kind of place
- Island
- Patron
- Apollo
- Landmarks
- Latoum (Leto) Strabo 10.5.2; Temple of Apollo Strabo 10.5.2; Altar called Keraton Plutarch, Theseus 21.2; Altar of Apollo Diodorus 5.62; Wooden image Pausanias 3.23.3
- People of myth here
- Glaucus, Apollo, Artemis, Asteria, Leto
- Where
- 37.39° N, 25.27° E
Delos is the place where Leto gave birth and is considered the most dear earth-shoot to the children of Leto. Hymn III to Delian Apollo ll. 30-50 The island contains the temple of Apollo. Strabo 10.5.2 The island possesses hard, rocky soil. Hymn III to Delian Apollo ll. 62-82
Described in the sources
Delos is the birthplace of the god Phoebus Apollo, who is said to dwell and greatly reign in a sanctuary on the island. Argonautica 1 ¶46 +4 Apollo is the lord of the island, which is a sacred site dedicated to him, and he chose Delos over other islands to establish his dwelling there. Euripides, Rhesus 224-232 +4 Leto arrived at the island to give birth to her children after other lands refused to shelter her during her labor. Apollodorus 1.4.1 +4 Delos is located in the Aegean Sea among the Cyclades, near the islands of Myconos and Gyaros. Callimachus, Hymn 3 ¶13 +3 Delos is a rocky island surrounded by the sea, located near the streams of Inopus and Mount Cynthus. Athenaeus 10.83 +3 Leto rested against the Cynthian hill on the island while leaning on a palm tree to give birth to twins, the son of Zeus. Euripides, Ion 907-922 +3 Dawn transported Orion to Delos, where Artemis killed him. Apollodorus 1.4.3 +1 The island serves as a memorial to Leto's divine birth-pains. Euripides, Hecuba 455-465 +1 The island contains the temple of Latona, also known as the Latoum. Athenaeus 14.2 +1 Athenians transported the first-fruits of the Hyperboreans to this island. Pausanias 1.31.2 +1
Gods and worship
Phoebus will honor Delos above all other places. Callimachus, Hymn 4 ¶11 +2 Golden phialæ were listed among the offerings at Delos. Athenaeus 11.105 Apollo rose from this island to rule over all mortal men. Hymn III to Delian Apollo ll. 19-29 Phoebus abhors anyone who forgets to honor Delos in song. Callimachus, Hymn 3 ¶13 Local youths cut hair to honor the maidens who died there. Herodotus 4.34.1 The island is renowned for its temple dedicated to Apollo. Pliny, Nat. Hist. 4.22 ¶1
Stories and history
Leto gave birth to Apollo on this island. Hymn III to Delian Apollo ll. 19-29 +1 The island possessed an altar of horns used for recitation. Of the Origin of Homer and Hesiod, and of Their Contest (86) +1 Pindar states the island was once carried about by waves and winds. Pliny, Nat. Hist. 4.22 ¶1 +1 Delos feared Apollo might overturn it and sink it into the sea depths. Hymn III to Delian Apollo ll. 62-82 +1 The island was completely ravaged by generals of Mithridates and a tyrant. Pausanias 3.23.5 +1 Menophanes attacked the island with a naval fleet, killed its foreign and native residents, plundered trader property and religious offerings, enslaved women and children, and razed the island to the ground. Pausanias 3.23.3 +1 The island had a temple of Artemis. Of the Origin of Homer and Hesiod, and of Their Contest (86) Delos is noted for having extensive commerce. Pliny, Nat. Hist. 4.22 ¶1 The island will cease to be a wandering isle. Callimachus, Hymn 4 ¶11 Delos is recorded to have risen up from the sea. Pliny, Nat. Hist. 2.89 ¶1
Myths set at Delos
In the age of the gods
Before the heroes. In Godsunder these are history: everyone in the world knows them.
- The Birth of Apollo. Leto flees to a wandering island to give birth to Apollo, who is immediately recognized as a god and protected from Typhon. The infant Apollo is nursed by the island and the goddesses, and his presence transforms Delos into a stable, golden land. Callimachus, Hymn 3 ¶13 +5 Apollo
- The Birth of Artemis and Apollo. Juno's envy prevents Leto from giving birth to Zeus's twins, forcing her to wander until she finds a safe place on the island of Delos. Leto successfully delivers Artemis and Apollo, with the help of the Curetes and other goddesses, ending her long labor. Apollodorus 1.4.1 +5 Leto
- The Birth of Artemis and Apollo. Eileithyia arrives on Delos to assist Leto in her difficult labor, but Hera confines her there out of envy. The event leads to the spread of her name and the establishment of a temple on the island. Hymn III to Delian Apollo ll. 115-122 +2 Eileithyia
- The Founding of Delos. Phoebus secures a drifting island between Gyaros and Myconos. He makes the island immune to wind and waves, establishing his citadel there. Aeneid 3.69 Apollo
In the age of heroes
- The Death of Orion. Orion, a giant huntsman, meets his end through the actions of Artemis, either by her direct hand or via a scorpion. The story concludes with his death in locations such as Delos, Chios, or Ortygia. Apollodorus 1.4.3 +4 Orion
- The Dedication of the Statue. hook: "Theseus possesses an image of Aphrodite received from Ariadne." goal: "Theseus dedicates the image of Aphrodite in a temple on Delos." outcome: "The gods provide signs of impending disaster but cannot stop the fate."} Ovid Met. 15.745-879 (3) +3 Aphrodite
- The Oracle at Delos. hook: "The Trojans kneel before the god at Delos, seeking guidance for their future." goal: "The speaker seeks to learn where his people must go after leaving Troy." outcome: "The god commands the speaker to leave the Cretan shore and settle in Hesperia (Italy)." Aeneid 3.147 +3 Apollo
- The Return to Athens. hook: Theseus returns from Crete and stops at Delos to honor Aphrodite. goal: He establishes a festival to commemorate his deception of the Cretans. outcome: He founds the Oschophoria festival and a sacred precinct for his own worship. Plutarch, Theseus 21.1 +3 Theseus
- The Dedication in Delos. hook: Theseus travels to the island of Delos to honor Apollo. goal: He establishes athletic competitions and dedicates a statue to the god. outcome: He leaves the statue in Delos to avoid remembering Ariadne and renewing his grief. Pausanias 8.48.3 +2 Theseus
- The Abduction by Dawn. Dawn falls in love with Orion and abducts him, angering the gods. She transports him to the island of Delos. Apollodorus 1.4.4 +1 Orion
- The Rituals on Delos. hook: Theseus returns from Crete to Delos. goal: He performs rituals and establishes a statue of Cypris. outcome: The sons of Cecrops send offerings to Phoebus in response to his actions. Callimachus, Hymn 4 ¶12 +1 Theseus
- The Alliance Against the Achaeans. Poseidon agrees to ally with Athena to harm the Achaean army. He vows to punish the Achaeans by filling the Aegean Sea and specific bays with their corpses. Euripides, The Trojan Women 48-97 Poseidon