Delos is a small island in the Aegean Sea, part of the Cyclades archipelago, renowned in ancient Greek history and mythology. Although Delos is not directly mentioned in the Bible, its historical and cultural significance during biblical times provides valuable context for understanding the broader Greco-Roman world in which early Christianity emerged.

Historical and Cultural Context

Delos holds a prominent place in Greek mythology as the birthplace of the twin deities Apollo and Artemis. According to myth, the island was originally adrift in the sea until it was anchored by Zeus to provide a sanctuary for the birth of his children. This mythological heritage made Delos a major religious center in the ancient world, attracting pilgrims and worshippers from across the Greek world.

During the Hellenistic period, Delos became a thriving commercial hub due to its strategic location and its status as a free port. The island's prosperity continued under Roman rule, further enhancing its significance as a center of trade and culture. The bustling marketplace of Delos would have been a melting pot of various cultures and religions, including those of the Jewish diaspora and early Christians.

Religious Significance

While Delos itself is not mentioned in the Bible, the religious practices and cultural exchanges that occurred there are reflective of the syncretistic environment encountered by early Christians. The presence of various temples and sanctuaries on the island, dedicated to Greek, Roman, and Eastern deities, exemplifies the religious pluralism of the time. This pluralism is echoed in the New Testament, where the Apostle Paul addresses the challenges of idolatry and the worship of false gods in his epistles.

For instance, in Acts 17:16-34, Paul’s speech at the Areopagus in Athens, not far from Delos, highlights the prevalence of idol worship in the region. Paul’s message to the Athenians, urging them to turn from idols to the living God, would have resonated with the religious atmosphere of Delos, where similar practices were widespread.

Economic and Social Influence

The economic prosperity of Delos, driven by its status as a major trading center, is indicative of the interconnectedness of the ancient Mediterranean world. This interconnectedness facilitated the spread of ideas, including the message of Christianity. The Apostle Paul’s missionary journeys, as recorded in the Book of Acts, often took him through key trade routes and cities that were influenced by the economic activities of places like Delos.

In Acts 19:23-41, the account of the riot in Ephesus over the worship of Artemis underscores the economic implications of religious practices. The silversmiths, who profited from making idols, saw Paul’s message as a threat to their livelihood. This incident reflects the broader economic dynamics at play in regions influenced by trade centers like Delos.

Conclusion

While Delos is not explicitly mentioned in the biblical text, its historical, cultural, and economic significance provides a backdrop for understanding the world in which early Christianity developed. The island's role as a religious and commercial hub exemplifies the diverse and complex environment that the early church navigated in its mission to spread the Gospel.DELOS

de'-los (Delos): An island, now deserted, one of the Cyclades in the Aegean Sea, about 3 miles long and 1 mile broad, with a rocky mountain (Cynthus) several hundred feet high in the center. In antiquity Delos enjoyed great prosperity. According to Greek legend the island once floated on the surface of the water, until Poseidon fastened it on four diamond pillars for the wandering Leto, who, like Io, was pursued by the vengeful Hera. It was here that Apollo and Artemis were born; hence, the island was sacred, and became one of the chief seats of worship of the two deities. Numerous temples embellished Delos. The most magnificent was that of Apollo, which contained a colossal statue of the god, a dedicatory offering of the Naxians. This temple was a sanctuary visited by all the Greeks, who came from far and near to worship at the deity's shrine. There was a Dorian peripteral temple in Delos from the beginning of the 4th century B.C. To the North was a remarkable altar composed entirely of ox-horns. The various Ionian cities sent sacred embassies (theoriai) with rich offerings. There was also a celebrated oracle in Delos which was accounted one of the most trustworthy in the world. Every five years the famous Delian festival was celebrated with prophecies, athletic contests and games of every kind. All the nations of Greece participated.

The earliest inhabitants of Delos were Carians; but about 1000 B.C. the island was occupied by Ionians. For a long time it enjoyed independence. In 478 Delos was chosen as the place for the convention of the representatives of the Greek states for deliberation about means for defense against Persia. The treasury of the Athenian Confederacy was kept here after 476. The island became independent of Athens in 454. During the 2nd and 1st centuries B.C. it became one of the chief ports of the Aegean. This was partly due to its location, and partly to the fact that the Romans, after 190 B.C., favored the island as a rival to the sea-power of Rhodes. In 166 Delos was given to Athens; the inhabitants fled to Achea, and the island was colonized by Athenians, together with Romans.

The ruins of the city of Delos, which became a flourishing commercial port, are to the North of the temple. It became the center of trade between Alexandria and the Black Sea, and was for a long time one of the chief slave markets of the Greek world. But Delos received a severe blow, from which it never recovered, in the war between Rome and Mithridates. The latter's general landed in 88 B.C. and massacred many, and sold the remainder of the defenseless people, and sacked and destroyed the city together with the temple and its countless treasures. At the conclusion of peace (84) Delos came into the possession of the Romans, who later gave it back to Athens. Under the Empire the island lost its importance entirely.

Delos was one of the states to which Rome addressed letters in behalf of the Jews (138-137 B.C.; see 1 Maccabees 15:16-23). Among those who came to Delos from the East must have been many of this nation. Josephus cites in full a decree passed in Delos which confirmed the Jewish exemption from military service (Ant., XIV, x, 4).

The excavations of the French have laid bare 8 temples within the sacred enclosure (Apollo, Artemis, Dionysus). Numerous statues, dating from the earliest times of Greek art down to the latest, have been discovered; also 2,000 inscriptions, among which was an inventory of the temple treasure.

By the side of Delos, across a very narrow strait, lies Rheneia, another island which was the burying-ground of Delos; for on the sacred isle neither births, deaths nor burials were permitted. In 426 B.C. Delos was "purified" by the Athenians-by the removal of the bodies that had been interred there previously.

LITERATURE.

Lebegue, Recherches sur Delos (Paris, 1876); V. v. Schoffer, De Deli Insulae rebus, Berliner Studien fur klass. Phil. (Berlin, 1889); Homolle, S. Reinach and others, in the Bulletin de corresp. Hellen. (VI, 1-167; VII, 103-25, 329-73; VIII, 75-158; XIV, 389-511; XV, 113-68); Homolle, Archives de l'intendance sacree a Delos; Jebb, Journal of Hellenic Studies (1880), 7-62.

J. E. Harry

1212. delos -- clear, evident
... 1211, 1212. delos. 1213 . clear, evident. ... evident, manifest. (delon) -- 3
Occurrences. 1211, 1212. delos. 1213 . Strong's Numbers.
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1212.htm - 6k

4271. prodelos -- evident beforehand
... Word Origin from pro and delos Definition evident beforehand NASB Word Usage evident
(1), quite evident (2). evident, manifest beforehand. ... see GREEK delos. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4271.htm - 6k

2612. katadelos -- quite manifest
... Word Origin from kata and delos Definition quite manifest NASB Word Usage clearer
(1). ... From kata intensive and delos; manifest -- far more evident. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2612.htm - 6k

1213. deloo -- to make plain, declare
... Word Origin from delos Definition to make plain, declare NASB Word Usage denotes
(1), indicating (1), informed (2), made clear (1), show (1), signifying (1). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1213.htm - 7k

82. adelos -- unseen, not manifest
... Word Origin from alpha (as a neg. prefix) and delos Definition unseen, not manifest
NASB Word Usage concealed (1), indistinct (1). ... see GREEK a. see GREEK delos. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/82.htm - 7k

1552. ekdelos -- wholly evident
... Word Origin from ek and delos Definition wholly evident NASB Word Usage obvious
(1). manifest. From ek and delos; wholly evident -- manifest. see GREEK ek. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1552.htm - 7k

The Law of Change, or Mutation, Universal.
... Even now her shape undergoes local mutations, when (some particular) spot is damaged;
when among her islands Delos is now no more, Samos a heap of sand, and ...
/.../tertullian/on the pallium/chapter ii the law of change.htm

The Death of Darius.
... Movements of the Persian fleet."The Persian fleet returns to Asia."Anxiety of
Datis."Datis finds a stolen statue."Island of Delos."Account of the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/abbott/darius the great/chapter xii the death of.htm

Of the Expedition against the Persians.
... them. First he sent to Delphi, to Delos and to Dodona, and to the other
oracles [649] and enquired of the seers if he should march. ...
/.../chapter xvi of the expedition against.htm

The Last Days of the Old Eastern World
... taking of Athens, Salamis"Platsae and the final retreat of the Persians:
Mycale"The war carried on by the Athenians and the league of Delos: Inaros, the ...
/.../chapter iithe last days of.htm

Introduction
... Pindar opens his first Isthmian Ode by apologizing for writing it when he had already
begun to compose a paean for Delos, which he is obliged to put aside ...
/.../moffat/the general epistles james peter and judas/introduction 4.htm

It is not to the Philosophers that we Resort for Information About ...
... The sacred ship had returned (from Delos), the hemlock draft to which he had been
condemned had been drunk, death was now present before him: (his mind) was ...
/.../tertullian/a treatise on the soul/chapter i it is not to.htm

The Heathen Gods were Simply Men.
... edging of stone. In form it is circular, and in size, as it seemed to me,
about equal to the lake at Delos called the Hoop. On this ...
/.../athenagoras/a plea for the christians/chapter xxviii the heathen gods were.htm

The Christians are not the Cause of Public Calamities: There were ...
... Where were the Christians when the islands Hiera, Anaphe, and Delos, and
Rhodes, and Cea were desolated with multitudes of men? ...
/.../tertullian/ad nationes/chapter ix name christians are.htm

Ridicule of the Heathen Divinities.
... account of Persephone; the sisters of Pha?�thon are changed into poplars, and Leto
into a bird of little value, on whose account what is now Delos was called ...
/.../tatian/tatians address to the greeks/chapter x ridicule of the heathen.htm

On the Contrary, they Deserve the Name of Faction who Conspire to ...
... We read of the islands of Hiera, and Anaphe, and Delos, and Rhodes, and Cos,
with many thousands of human beings, having been swallowed up. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/tertullian/apology/chapter xl on the contrary.htm

Delos
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia DELOS. de'-los (Delos): An island ... feet high
in the center. In antiquity Delos enjoyed great prosperity. ...
/d/delos.htm - 10k

Delivery (8 Occurrences)

/d/delivery.htm - 9k

Evidently (4 Occurrences)
... British and American) "to your face," margin, "And it will be evident unto you if
I lie," which is, perhaps, to be preferred to the text; delos, "manifest," is ...
/e/evidently.htm - 10k

Evidence (41 Occurrences)
... British and American) "to your face," margin, "And it will be evident unto you if
I lie," which is, perhaps, to be preferred to the text; delos, "manifest," is ...
/e/evidence.htm - 21k

Evident (26 Occurrences)
... British and American) "to your face," margin, "And it will be evident unto you if
I lie," which is, perhaps, to be preferred to the text; delos, "manifest," is ...
/e/evident.htm - 16k

Delude (2 Occurrences)

/d/delude.htm - 7k

Manifest (74 Occurrences)
... John 1:31 Romans 16:26); of emphanizo, "to make fully manifest" (John 14:21 f);
of emphanes, "fully manifest" (Romans 10:20); of delos, "evident," translated ...
/m/manifest.htm - 33k

Manifestation (11 Occurrences)
... John 1:31 Romans 16:26); of emphanizo, "to make fully manifest" (John 14:21 f);
of emphanes, "fully manifest" (Romans 10:20); of delos, "evident," translated ...
/m/manifestation.htm - 14k

Corinth (13 Occurrences)
...Delos became the commercial center for a time; but when Julius Caesar restored Corinth
a century later (46 BC), it grew so rapidly that the Roman colony soon ...
/c/corinth.htm - 21k

Graecia
...Delos, a little island in mid-Aegean, celebrated as a sanctuary of Apollo and as
the meeting-place of a most influential amphictyony, falls without the limits ...
/g/graecia.htm - 21k

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