Delos Island was the refuge where Leto gave birth to Apollo and Artemis, while being chased by the jealous Zeus. The island was first settled, probably by the Kares, about the 3rd millennium B.C. In the beginning of the 8th century B.C., it developed into a center of worship and was the capital city of an amphictyony of Aegean island. As a result of the second purification (426 B.C.), the entire contents of all the islands graves were removed to neighbouring Rhenia. Afterwards, in order to prevent desecration of the sanctuary, both births and deaths were forbidden on the island of Apollo. Delos achieved its independence and developed commercially. During the Roman period, the island thrived, until 88 B.C., the population in Italians. Then, after two dreadful attacks during the Mithridatic War, Delos went into decline and was finally abandoned in the 6th century A.D.