Delos - Hall of the Bulls (Ship Hall)

The Hall of the Bulls, or Ship Hall, is one of the best preserved buildings on Delos, and dates to the Hellenistic period. Probably designed to house a ship dedicated after a naval victory, it measures 67.2m/220ft from northeast to southwest, with a width of 8.86m/29ft. The building stood on a granite platform approached by three marble steps (still partly preserved), with walls around the sides and the north end; the south end was probably open, with two columns between antae. The interior was in the form of a long gallery with a cavity in the center. Of the sculptural decoration only a nereid and a dolphin are left. At the entrance were pillars preceded by Doric half-columns, with capitals depicting recumbent bulls. The step-like structure southeast of the Hall of the Bulls is part of an altar of Zeus Polieus.

On the east side of the precinct of Apollo was the sanctuary of Dionysos, with several marble phalluses. On one of the bases are carvings of scenes from the cult of Dionysos (C. 300 B.C.). Along the north side of the precinct is the Stoa of Antigonos (third century B.C.), with bull's-head triglyphs. Behind the colonnade were rooms for housing representatives sent to the annual festival. Less than half-way along this is a semicircular structure dating from Mycenaean times: the tomb of the Hyperborean Maidens, who attended Leto at the birth of the divine twins.