find Delos placed under the control of Paros, but with municipal autonomy, and with the right of nominating archons. In a decree preserved by Josephus[1], Julius Caesar charges the Senate and People of Paros to protect the Jews of Delos in the free exercise of their religion. Delos was finally restored to Athens about 42 B.C.[2]. Henceforth, as from 166 to 87 B.C., it is administered by an Athenian governor (ἐπιμελητής).
The island never completely recovered from the blow dealt by Menophanes. It further suffered from the piracy which then infested the Aegean[3]. If Cicero may be believed, Verres attempted to carry off some statues by night, but failed to ship them[4]. It would, however, be a mistake to conceive Delos as already abandoned to the spoiler. Though much had been injured or removed, it was still the isle radiant with marble of which the poets speak[5]: its holy places could still attract the lovers of art and
- ↑ Ant. Jud. xiv. 10, 8.
- ↑ Ἁλέξανδρος Πολυκλείτου Φλυεύς is named as ἐπιμελητής (Athenian governor) of Delos in the archonship of Zenon: Corp. Inscr. Graec. 2287. Two archons of the name occur at this period—in 54 B.C. and 41 B.C. (Dumont, La Chronol. athén à Délos). M. Homolle recognises the earlier Zenon here (Bulletin de C. h. iii. 372): M. Lebégue (p. 321), the later.
- ↑ Photius (cod. 97) quotes Phlegon of Tralles for the statement that the pirate Athenodorus made a successful descent upon Delos, and carried many of the inhabitants into slavery.
- ↑ In Verrem, De praetura urbana, 17, 18.
- ↑ Ovid, Heroid. Ep. xxi. 82, Candida Delos: Anthol. Gr., ed. Jacobs, ii. 149, No. 421, v. 5, ἡ τότε λευκὴ Δῆλος.
