Reneia island
Overview
Reneia is a small island southwest of Mykonos, part of the Cyclades complex, with beautiful shallow waters, secluded beaches, isolated from the summer crowds. Accessible only by private boat, it is really worth taking a long swim, anchor for a while and relax. Apart from a few houses on the island there is no place to provide you with food or water. I visited Reneia in early May, and luckily we were the only boat there. I have a few reservations as to the serenity of the landscape during the high season in the summer when many boats from Mykonos sail around.
Mythology
While Leto was carrying the fruits of her intercourse with Zeus, Hera driven by jealousy banned Leto from all the places in the world in her effort to make it impossible for her to find a place where she could deliver her children. Leto could not stop moving from place to place. According to other versions of the myth Hera had sworn to hinder Leto from giving birth on any place covered by sunlight. Then Voreas, ordered by Zeus accordingly, guided Leto to Poseidon who lifted the waves of the sea into a water dome above the island.
On the island of Reneia Leto, pursued by Hera gives birth to Artemis protectress of children and animals, after nine days and nine nights. All the godesses attendented Leto except from Hera and Eiletheia who remained at Olympus. Eiletheia was protectress of child birth and by being absent the completion of birth was hindered. Iris was then sent as a messenger to Eiletheia promising a necklace made of gold and amber in order to comvince her to attend for Leto.
As soon as Artemis was delivered she helped her mother pass to a close by island called Ortegia in order to give birth to Apollo. The information regarding the exact location where Artemis was born, is rather confusing due to the different versions of the myth. A slight preference for the small archipelago of Delos (former Ortegia) is evident owed to its geographical position during antiquity. Other writers argue that she was born on Ortegia - Delos. Other versions of the myth considerd Delos and Ortegia two different islands, identifying the latter with Reneia.
History
Trails of habitation date to the 5th millenium B.C, while throughout historical times Reneia was overshadowed by nearby Delos.To the northwest end of Reneia (location: Ampelonas) an abandoned ancient city dating back to the 5th century B.C was discoverd; the inhabitants left the city when a part of the hill where the city was built precipitated into the sea.
It is highly probable that all the while Delos maintained its exclusive sacred character, Reneia was the initial city of Delos, where the people who were not immediately related to the Sanctuary of Apollo were housed.
Remains of the hellenistic city as well as the Sanctuary of Hercules were found at Agia Triada. An exact small scale replica of the Alexandreia Lighthouse is beleived to have stood on a hill to the south of the island.
In 530 B.C, Polycrates tyrant of Samos conquered the islands of the Aegean Sea with a naval force of 100 penteconters and an army of 100 archers. He even conquered the small island of Reneia which he chained to nearby Delos as a dedication to Apollo. This is recited by Thukydides, making it the first relevant historical reference to Reneia.
When the Athenians imposed the second "catharsis" (the first was imposed by Peissistratos in 540 B.C) on the island of Delos in 426 B.C, during the first years of the Peloponnesian War and decided that no man nor woman was to be born or die on the sacred island, Reneia became an immense necropolis. All the graves of Delos were uncovered and their content was transfered to Reneia and deposited in a common pit. Even Strabo recites in his account that the Delians buried their dead in Reneia for it is unlawful to bury, or even burn a corpse in Delos itself ; even keeping a dog was considered unlawful.
An infirmary on Reneia was the place where the heavily sick and mothers to be were sent, banished from Delos. As soon as Delos was stricken by decadence, Reneia was abandoned as well.
Reneia is now the place where shepherds from Mykonos bring their herds to pasture.
Location
