4 June 2007

Notes from the Sea... Delos in Decline

Delos is a small island in the eastern Mediterranean sea. It is a place with little or no natural resources. In spite of this handicap, it became a very rich and important economic center of the ancient world. The Greeks had previously used it as a place of worship for Apollo and it remained so until the Romans. The Romans made it into a tax haven. Due to no taxes and freedom from government harassment the isle exploded with economic activity. Merchants and bankers flocked to the isle and prosperity ensued. As their economic fortunes exploded so did the population. On this tiny island there were about 40,000 people in it's heyday.

Ultimately, though, the isle fell into decline... not decline due to any natural phenomenon, but decline due to human action with the use of force, that is, government. As the power of the Romans waned, local kings grew jealous of Delos and wanted to sack it for a quick profit in order to fund their military and wars. These kings sacked Delos, which rapidly declined and was abandoned. The locals continued to ravage the remnants of the isle for the next 2000 years. Today, the latest plunderer is the UN. It has made the island into a protected (exploited) area, and by the use of force the UN says no one can live there. Of course, as is typical of government, the exception to the rule are the houses there where the UN agents live. Thanks to government, Delos is no more.

(other articles are archived on my Writings page.)

Rebecca Iocca

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