A.Sutherland – MessageToEagle.com – The famous Terrace of the Lions on Delos that dates to 3,000 BC, was erected north of the sanctuary of Apollo overlooking the Sacred Lake and dedicated to Apollo by the people of Naxos just before 600 BC.
They undeniably represent one of the most noticeable landmarks of the island.
Made of the typical coarse-grained Naxian marble, these fascinating lion sculptures are considered as one of the earliest examples of beautiful monumental Naxian sculpture. Moreover, these lions were a famous gift to that island of Delos from Naxos, which dominated commerce in the Cyclades, during the 8th and 7th centuries BC.
Today, the original marble lions are stored in the museum, and they have been replaced by replicas; a row of exact copies of the sculptures, standing on the modern rectangular pedestals on the terrace in Delos.
Originally, the sculptures must have stood on the terrace with their pedestals directly on the ground, and in excavations, 1904-1906, many of the statues (some, in an upright position), were discovered in their original places, according to experts. The sculptures – standing parallel to each other – were separated by approximately 3.20-3.50 m.
They faced east towards the Sacred Lake, where, according to a Greek myth, the sacred swans and geese of Apollo were kept.
The terrace consisted of a row of nine to twelve marble carved lions, with their mouths as if snarling or roaring, were meant to guard the sanctuaries and to give a special feeling of divine fear among the worshippers. There may have been up to 16 sculptures originally. The lion has always been regarded as a symbol of power and royalty.
Today only seven of the original lions remain.
The island of Delos, which is widely recognized as the birthplace of the god Apollo and his sister Artemis, has been a sacred area used for a long time and for various reasons throughout history. Between 900 BC and AD 100, sacred Delos was a major cult center. ¨
The famous Greek historian Herodotus described Naxos, circa 500 B.C., as the most prosperous Greek island. It was a very busy harbor port with a thriving slave market.
See also:
Statues Of Artemis And Apollo Found In Ancient City Of Aptera
The Majestic Lion: Ancient Symbol Of Power And Royalty Found World-Wide
Mysterious Cycladic Culture Lost In Time
In the 5th century, during the 6th year of the Peloponnesian war and under instruction from the Delphic Oracle, the entire island was purged of all dead bodies. It was then ordered that no one should be allowed to either die or give birth on the island due to its sacred importance. No inhabitant was allowed to be born or to die on this sacred island. Unlike other Greek islands, Delos did not have an indigenous, self-supporting community of its own. As a result, in later times, it became uninhabited.
Today, Delos is one of the most important archaeological sites in Greece. The French archaeologists have conducted excavations in Delos for more than 100 years. Delos is still uninhabited except for the French archaeologists and site guardians.
Written by – A. Sutherland – MessageToEagle.com Senior Staff Writer
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