Naxian Lions - Delos, Greece
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m&m O
N 37° 24.142 E 025° 16.025
35S E 346621 N 4140919
The Naxian Lions can be found on the island of Delos in the Cyclades archipelago of Greece.
Waymark Code: WM127P8
Location: Greece
Date Posted: 03/22/2020
Views: 0
These are the Naxian Lions, placed and dedicated by the Naxians. Naxos is the largest island in the Cyclades and is approximately 20 miles, or 32 km, SSE of Delos. The lion statues were placed c. 600 BC, originally numbered from nine to sixteen statues, near where the ancients believed Apollo, god of daylight, and his twin sister Artemis, goddess of night light, were born.
Archaeologists believe the lions were carved with open roaring mouths to guard the Sacred Lake of Delos, Apollo’s birthplace, or to inspire travelers and worshipers to feel the divine power of the gods.
The lions at this location are marble replicas, the remaining originals were moved to the Archaeological Museum of Delos in 1999 “so that no more of the holy cats goes missing or gets destroyed by the elements.”
Information from Hellenica World [ (
visit link) ] and Atlas Obscura [ (
visit link) ].