Delos

Delos was a small island in the Cyclades, located between two larger islands, Rhenea and Myconus. It was probably called Asteria or Ortygia after Asteria, daughter of the Titans, Coeüs and Phoebe, and sister of Leto. Asteria was changed into a quail (ortyx) to escape Zeus' amorous pursuit. Asteria was the only island to offer her pregnant sister Leto refuge from Hera's wrath. There, Leto bore Apollo and possibly Artemis on the island.

At some point, Ortygia was renamed to Delos, and it became one of the principal cult centers of Apollo and possibly of Artemis.

Historically, when Athens established an empire across the Aegean during the second quarter of the 5th century BC, Delos was the base in which the treasury of Athens navy collected tributes from all allies, and it was known as the Delian League. But later, Athens put off all pretension, moving the treasury to Athens. Between the 2nd and 1st centuries BC, Delos was one of the bases for the Aegean pirates.