Listed 2 sub titles with search on: Archaeological sites for wider area of: "RHODES Town DODEKANISSOS" .
RODOS (Ancient city) DODEKANISSOS
Region: Dodecanese
Periods: Classical, Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, Modern
Type: Fortified City
Summary: Capital city of the island, established ca. 407 B.C. by
the cities of Kameiros, Lindos, and Ialysos.
Physical Description:
In 407 B.C. the Rhodian union established the new capital
city in a triangular area at the N tip of the island. The city was built on the
Hippodamian grid system with streets and underground drains oriented N-S and E-W.
The new city walls followed the coasts on the E and W sides of the triangle and
became well respected for their strength. At the S base of the triangle, on the
landward side of the city, the walls followed the land contours best suited for
defense. Two natural harbors, enhanced by the construction of moles, were located
on the E side of the city. The main harbor may have been the location for the
Colossus of Rhodes which had been erected in 290 B.C. and was destroyed by earthquake
in 225 B.C. North of the central port was a smaller harbor An unsheltered landing
S of the port also served the busy maritime activities of the city. On the less
sheltered W coast of the city a smaller harbor could be used in good weather.
The terrain of Rhodes rises slightly to a low ridge in the W where the unfortified
acropolis is located. The temple of Zeus and Athena and the sanctuary of Pythian
Apollo occupy the acropolis and a stadium, gymnasium and small theater are located
just below and E of the summit. The main theater of the city is located near the
S city wall. Beyond the S wall are the extensive necropoloi of the city.
Description:
At the time of Homer, Rhodes was under the control of the
three independent Dorian cities of Lindos, Ialysos, and Kameiros. The early history
of the island is not well known, but its location at the S edge of the Greek world
insured a rich commerce with Egypt and the East. The three cities of Rhodes, together
with the island of Kos and the Anatolian cities of Knidos and Halikarnassos made
up the confederation of the Doric Hexapolis. In 490 B.C. Rhodes came under the
control of the Persians. With the defeat of the Persians in Greece, Rhodes was
compelled to join the Delian League in 478 B.C., but it resigned from the League
in 411 B.C. The three main cities of Rhodes formed a union in 408 B.C. and established
the new federal capital at the N end of the island, which they populated with
their own citizens. The new city of Rhodes became immediately prosperous as the
three older cities declined in size. In the 4th century B.C. Rhodes submitted
first to Sparta, then to Athens, and in 357 B.C. became an ally of Persia. During
the 4th and 3rd centuries B.C. Rhodes was one of the greatest commercial and cultural
centers of the ancient world. When an earthquake devestated the city in 222 B.C.
its reputation as a center of arts and literature drew international aid for its
rebuilding. In the 2nd century B.C. Rome greatly weakened the economic position
of Rhodes when it established Delos as a preeminent maritime center and free port.
Rhodes continued, however, to remain a center of culture and a major commercial
port throughout the ancient and Medieval periods.
Exploration:
The Italians began excavations on the acropolis in 1916 under
Maiuri and continued in 1917-1929 under Jacopi and Laurenzi. In 1922-1925 Italian
excavations were carried out in the Old City. Since 1951 the Greek Archaeological
Service, represented by Kondis have worked in the Old City.
Donald R. Keller, ed.
This text is cited Feb 2003 from The Perseus Project URL below, which contains 16 image(s), bibliography & interesting hyperlinks.
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