From the ancient mole there is an approach to the precinct of Apollo through an avenue flanked by porticos. The temple of Apollo is the centre of the precinct. It is a Doric work, with 13 columns at either side, and six in front and rear; and having comparatively few sculp tural decorations. It dates from the early 4th century ac. The decorative groups on the two gables have been in part recovered, and are now in the National Museum, Athens. To the north of the precinct of Apollo are large remains of the commercial Delos. In the 2d and 1st cen turies ac., Delos was the chief commercial town of the eastern Mediterranean. The most extensive building in this region is a kind of exchange, with a very large court encircled by apartments. The shore, facing Rhenea, was lined with docks and warehouses. A well of six metres in depth was found filled with tablets of marble and bronze, having upon them 20 ancient inscriptions regarded as of great value. The sanctuaries contain exvotos, stela, and in scriptions on marble and bronze giving in full detail accounts of the high priests and cata logues of the offerings brought by pilgrims.
Streets, gardens, and sewage canalization may be distinctly traced. Interesting private houses have also been discovered. Mention should also be made of the long and narrow hall, ex tending north and south and entered through a portico at its southern end, having at its north ern end the famous "altar of composed of the horns of the victims and accounted one of the seven wonders of the world. The entire building is often called "The Sanctuary of the from the design of the capitals of the two columns separating the altar from the re mainder of the hall. Consult Diehl, sions in Greece> (Eng. trans. by Perkins, 1893); A. E. Haigh, Attic (3d ed., Ox ford 1907) ; Homolle, 'De Antiquissimis Diana Simulacriis) (Paris 1885) ; archives de l'intendance sacs& de Delos) (Paris 1886) and 'Exploration archeologique de Delos (parts 1-3, Paris 1910-11) ; Sir R. C. Jebb, 'Journal of Hellenic Studies) (Vol. I, London 1881); Lebegue, 'Recherches sur Delos) (Paris 1876) and Baedeker's