Delos, Greece - Sacred Precinct of Apollo and Stoa of Naxians

5/18/2012
We continued our walk and moved in to the Sacred Precinct of Apollo.  This is the most important areas for visitors as it once contained three great temples dedicated to Apollo along with other temples, altars and monuments.

 We walked in to the Stoa of Naxians a large L shaped market on the southwestern side of the Sacred Precinct of Apollo.  A "stoa" in the context of ancient Greek architecture, is a covered walkway or portico, commonly for public usage.

 This is one of the homes that are in use on the island as housing for the staff and archaeologists.

 The island was covered with pretty wildflowers.

 Engraving in the stone.  I don't know if this was a street sign, building name, or warning.  Or, according to this website, it could be the original dedication in Archaic letters, or a 4th century dedication or graffiti from Venetians and 17th century travelers. Who knows!!

 More of the flowers.

 Maybe this was an early billboard.

 Flowers making their home in cracks and crevices in the stone.

This map will show you where we are, at #3.

Map Source: wikimapia.com
UNESCO Brief Background: According to Greek mythology, Apollo was born on this tiny island in the Cyclades archipelago. Apollo's sanctuary attracted pilgrims from all over Greece and Delos was a prosperous trading port. The island bears traces of the succeeding civilizations in the Aegean world, from the 3rd millennium B.C. to the palaeochristian era. The archaeological site is exceptionally extensive and rich and conveys the image of a great cosmopolitan Mediterranean port.  See more information on the UNESCO website.