Delos in Context

Catalog description

Delos was an important cult center since the archaic period, whose activity was inextricably linked to its economic role, and became central to discussions about the future of settlements in the twentieth century. Due to its advantageous geographical position in the center of the Aegean world, Delos commanded a huge cult network that intertwined religious, economic, and political activities from the archaic period onwards. Communities competing for political power and leadership exploited the cult network of Delos over time; Ionians, Athenians, the successors of Alexander and finally Romans. The geopolitical centrality and internationalism of Delos were evoked during the Delos Symposia (1963-75), which placed Ancient Greek cities at the center of discussions on contemporary sustainable urban planning. This course will focus on key moments in the island’s history to highlight how competing powers used art and architecture to establish their presence on the sacred island and how the ancient sanctuary and port-city was conceptualized in twentieth-century discussions.