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All Greece Mikonos Terrace of the Lions
AO Edited

Terrace of the Lions

Replicas of Apollo's leonine stone guard cats still line a sacred row in Greece.

Mikonos, Greece

Added By
philoursmars
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Terrace of the Lions   philoursmars / Atlas Obscura User
Terrace of the Lions   philoursmars / Atlas Obscura User
Terrace of the Lions   philoursmars
Terrace of the Lions   philoursmars / Atlas Obscura User
Terrace of the Lions   philoursmars / Atlas Obscura User
Terrace of the Lions   Roya Miller
  breaingram / Atlas Obscura User
  breaingram / Atlas Obscura User
Delos   epfromer / Atlas Obscura User
The original statues are on display in the museum.   Auxburg / Atlas Obscura User
  yassminh / Atlas Obscura User
  yassminh / Atlas Obscura User
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About

Located across the road from the now dry lake where legend places the birth of ancient Greek sun god Apollo, the Terrace of the Lions preserves the memory of what was once an imposing series of stone lions.

The original row of up to 12 (although there may have been as many as 16) stone lions was built around 600 BCE by the people of Naxos in honor of the god Apollo. The lions are faced East towards the Sacred Lake of Delos where Greek scholars of the time believed Apollo had been born. The lions seemed to have been placed in a position to either symbolically guard the site, or to simply inspire a sense of divine power to travelers on their way to Apollo's shrine in the area. While visitors can still stroll by the original location of the five remaining lion statues, these are simply marble replicas. The actual feline figures have been moved to a nearby museum so that no more of the holy cats goes missing or gets destroyed by the elements.  

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Statues Ancient Cats Animals

Know Before You Go

Take the small ferry from Mikonos to Delos. The Island of Delos is a visit-only archaeological site without any accommodation facilities so staying overnight is not possible.

Community Contributors

Added By

philoursmars

Edited By

royaannmiller, gmargaronis, breaingram, epfromer...

  • royaannmiller
  • gmargaronis
  • breaingram
  • epfromer
  • Auxburg
  • yassminh

Published

February 18, 2014

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Sources
  • http://www.mesogeia.net/trip/delos/delosnaxianlions_en.html
  • http://www.viator.com/Mykonos-attractions/Terrace-of-the-Lions/d958-a5085
  • http://www.travel-to-mykonos.com/page.php?page_id=29
  • http://proteus.brown.edu/greekpast/4920
  • http://www.mlahanas.de/Greeks/Arts/DelosLion.htm
Terrace of the Lions
Pillakiou
Mikonos, 846 00
Greece
37.446674, 25.331028
Get Directions

Nearby Places

The Temple of Dionysos

Delos, Greece

miles away

Catholic Church of Agios Georgios

Ano Syros, Greece

miles away

Kouros of Apollonas

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miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Greece

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Places 222
Stories 23

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The Temple of Dionysos

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Explore the Destination Guide

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