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Rhodes (Rhodos)
The largest island of the Dodecanese (48 miles long, 23 miles wide) houses
nearly 100,000 inhabitants today (and scores of tourists). Rhodes (or Rodos)
has become the regional capital of the Dodecanese islands. The highest point
of the island is Mt. Ataviros (at 125 m ASL) in the center of the island.
The island is fertile with a great variety of vegetation. In antiquity the
island bore 11 different names, among them: Aithraia, Ophiousa and Telchinis.
The capital, also called Rhodos, occupies the northernmost tip of the island.
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Rhodes (probably form "rose" in Greek) has a long
and important history. The island was first inhabited in the Neolithic era.
During the Bronze Age (3000-1150 BCE) three early cities were formed on
the island: Kamiros (west), Lindos (east) and Ialysos (Near Filermos in
north, not far from Rhodos city). The wares have been discovered at excavations
in both Egypt and Italy. The island traded gold jewelry and ceramics decorated
with oriental motifs or plants and animals in stylised form. Through the
Greek Dark Age (1150-800 BCE) Rhodes was recalled in mythology (Pindar in
one of his Odes) as the island of Helios (the sun god) - born of the union
of Helios the sun god and the nymph Rhodia. By the Archaic Period (800-500
BCE) the Dorian invasion caused displacement of people groups in the Aegean.
Rhodes was included in the formation (700 BCE) of the "Dorian Hexapolis"
a union of cities with Knidos, Halikarnassos and Kos. It was home to Epimenedes
the poet (600 BCE). |
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During the Classical Period (500-336 BCE) the Persians occupied
the island for a brief time, but the Admiral Mentalos of Rhodes eventually
routed them. In 408 BCE, the three chief cities of the island founded Rhodos
city, which quickly outgrew them. The city was built under the plan of Hippodamos
of Miletus and the league was wisely administered under tyrants, and prosperity
increased, for a time finding themselves under Spartan rule. |
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