Minoan Fountain

The Minoan Fountain was a monumental public fountain hewn directly from the natural rock. It is located directly behind the Stoa of Antigonos outside the temenos of the Sanctuary of Apollo on the island of Delos. The fountainhouse formalized the use of the sacred spring, and was dedicated to the Cult of the Nymphs.[1]

Minoan Fountain
The Minoan Fountain
Location in Greece
Coordinates37.40124°N 25.26792°E / 37.40124; 25.26792
LocationDelos, Greece
Plan of the Sanctuary of Apollo
Minoan Fountain in Delos
Nine steps led to the water level.

Description

In the 6th century BC, the fountain was covered by a square building with a hipped roof and walls on three sides. It was built with regular courses of granite and gneiss. A monumental façade on the south side gave access to the fountain through a portico lined with small Doric columns. Nine steps led down to the level of the water. A thin Doric column stood on the third lowest step to further support the roof.[2] The column remains standing, and the spring still fills with water.

Decoration

When repairs were conducted in the mid-2nd century BC, the fountainhouse was decorated with a fresco of a river god with three nymphs. The inscription dedicated the spring to the Minion Nymphs. An inscribed stele dating to the 5th century regulated use of the public fountain with "no washing, swimming, or throwing of dung into the sacred spring". Transgressors faced a monetary fine.[3][4]

gollark: The hole is merely the name we ascribe to the communist revolution.
gollark: The hole is merely the absence of donut.
gollark: The hole isn't made of air. Go to space and consume a donut.
gollark: So who else is spying for some nation state or other?
gollark: <@357932279231807488> Slavery in the strict sense *has* mostly, so no.

References
  1. Langford-Verstegen, L.C.; Betancourt, P.P.; Davaras, C.; Stravopodi, E. (2016). Hagios Charalambos: A Minoan Burial Cave in Crete: II. The Pottery. Prehistory Monographs. INSTAP Academic Press (Institute for Aegean Prehistory). p. 122. ISBN 978-1-62303-402-3. Retrieved 2 October 2018.
  2. Hadjidakis, P.J. Delos. Eurobank Ergasias, 2003.
  3. Constantakopoulou, Christy. Aegean Interactions: Delos and its networks in the Third Century. Oxford University Press, 2017, p.107.
  4. "ID 69 - PHI Greek Inscriptions". Archived from the original on 2 September 2018. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
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