Delos: The Mythical Island of Greek Mythology - See U in History

The tiny island of Delos is one of the most sacred places in the Hellenic world. Its origins go back to the myth of the birth of the gods Apollo and Artemis. Hera, the spouse of Zeus, was relentlessly persecuted by the deity Leto, a lover of Zeus, who had been impregnated by him. Trying to prevent Leto from giving birth, Hera managed to have Gaia as her ally, and so the persecuted goddess was forbidden to give birth in dry land. Poseidon, acknowledging Leto's suffering, decided to create the floating island of Dios. And because this land was under the jurisdiction of Gaia, Leto could finally give birth to the gods Apollo and Artemis. The island became a sacred place, and there, a temple in honor of the god Apollo was edified. The place became one of the most important religious centers in the Greek world. In the 6th century BC, childbirths were prohibited in the land, since it was regarded as a profanation of a sacred place. In addition to its mythological and religious importance, the island also had an important role in the realm of politics. It was the sacred island of Delos that Athena and her allies established a mutual defense alliance. The island, in addition to having the role of being the headquarters of the alliance, would also be responsible to shelter its treasure. During the era of Roman rule, due to its strategic location, the island became a busy trade post, being prominently known due to its slave trade. Still under the Roman rule, Delos started to face a period of decay, and, because of that, it was abandoned and crumbled into ruins. Nowadays, the island is still an important hub of pilgrimage for tourists who are passionate about the Hellenic culture.