Sanctuary of Poseidon and Amphitrite
The main reason to come to this small community northwest of Tinos Town, apart from the beach, is to visit the large, untended Sanctuary of Poseidon, also dedicated to the bearded sea god's sea-nymph consort, Amphitrite. The present remains are from the 4th century BC and later, though the sanctuary itself is much older. It was a kind of hospital, where the ailing came to camp and solicit the god's help. The marble dolphins in the Tinos archaeological museum were discovered here. According to the Roman historian Pliny, Tinos was once infested with serpents (goddess symbols) and named Ophiousa (Serpent town), until über-masculine Poseidon sent storks to clean them out. The sanctuary functioned well into Roman times.
