DELOS [This map centres on the amphitheatre of ancient Mikonos. Go to the full-screen [MAP], and zoom in to see more!] - A small rocky island in the Aegean Sea, which has played an extraordinary part in history. It belongs to the Cyclades. It was the seat of a widespread worship of Apollo, who, with his sister Artemis, was said to have been born there. In 478 BC it was chosen as the meeting-place of the confederacy of Greek States united against their common enemy the Persians, and became a rival of Athens. In the 2nd and 1st cents. BC. it became a great harbour, and was under Roman protection from 197 to 168 BC. It flourished greatly after Corinth was destroyed (146 BC). It was later a portion of the Roman province Achaia. It is mentioned in the letter of the Romans in favour of the Jews (139-138 BC, 1 Mac.15.16-23). It was a great exchange, where slaves and products from the E. were bought for the Italian market. It was the scene in 87 BC of a horrible massacre carried out by Mithridates, king of Pontus, who slaughtered 80,000 Italians of the province of Asia there and in neighbouring islands. Its mercantile position was damaged by the refounding of Corinth in 46 or 44 BC. [Article: Dictionary of the Bible, J.Hastings, 2nd Ed., T&T.Clark, 1963. - A.So. - E.G.K.]