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Rhodes is the largest island of the Dodecanese archipelago with an area of about 1400 km2 and a population of about 130 people. It is located in the southeastern part of the Aegean Sea, very close to the Turkish coast (about 000 km).
Because of its beauty, Rhodes is also known as “pearl of the mediterranean”. There are mountains covered with forests, among which there are many fertile valleys, with rivers and streams, where oil, wine, honey are extracted, as well as the production of ceramics and carpets.
Rhodes is one of the most famous and visited islands in Greece. Most tourists coming from all over the world choose the cities of Rhodes (the capital of the island) and Lindos (the second largest center of the island) as their base in Rhodes. This part of the island is the most protected from the typical summer wind of the Aegean – the Etesian.
The island of Rhodes has 220 km of coastline, with crystal clear sea, one of the warmest in Greece, in addition, it is of great interest for archaeological expeditions.
We present you 10 interesting facts about the city of Rhodes and the island of the same name for students in grade 4 – a historical and cultural center that has survived to this day.
10 Numerous titles
The city of Rhodes was founded in 408 BC. e. original name – Ophius, later – estadia, Telkinis, Asteria, Etria, Trinacia, Corymbia, Pisa, Atabiria, Makaria, Olesa. These names are known mainly thanks to three authors: Estrabon, Amiano Marcelino (XVII, 7) and Plinio El Viejo.
Estrabo gives Rhodes the primitive names of Ophius, Estadia and Telkinis. The last name may have had something to do with the first inhabitants who inhabited the island: the so-called Telkhines.
Name “Pellagia”, chosen by Amiano Marcelino, may be related to the mythical origin of Rhodes from the sea.
9. Famous for urban structure
There are many attractions on the island. Some of them date from antiquity, but most of the others from the Middle Ages. These primarily include the Palace of the Grand Masters (destroyed by an explosion in 1856 and rebuilt by the Italians in 1940), the Archbishop’s Palace, the Church of the Annunciation, the post office building, the town hall, the theater, government headquarters and the Institute of Marine Biology.
The Palace of the Grand Masters is an important example of military architecture. This fortified complex played a fundamental defensive role in the city, representing the last refuge for the population in the event of an occupation of the island.
8. Many temples and statues – rich culture
On the island of Rhodes you can visit interesting archaeological sites, museums, art galleries, ancient churches, historical buildings, traditional villages, nature parks and hiking trails.
The most important archaeological sites of Rhodes are the ruins of three powerful city-states – Ialyssos, Kamiros and Lindos, who influenced the history of the island and Ancient Greece as a whole.
Once upon a time, the Knights of the Order of St. John built a large number of buildings here, including a beautiful “Old city“. The Turks created great examples of Arab architecture: even today in the capital you can admire the minaret of the mosque of Suleiman the Magnificent.
7. Rhodes city – a ticket to the Middle Ages
The Old Town of Rhodes is one of the best preserved medieval citadels in the world.. It is surrounded by massive walls built between the 14th and 15th centuries.
Walking through its narrow streets (ignoring the many shops, restaurants and taverns), you will feel like you are on a journey into the past, with your destination being the Middle Ages. By the way, the medieval city of Rhodes is declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
6. City during World War II
From 1943 to 1945 the island was under German occupation.. This continued until it was occupied by the British, who exercised control, until the island returned to Greece again on March 7, 1948.
5. First inhabitants
The primitive inhabitants of the island, according to Greek mythology, were the legendary telkins, who were the children of Ponto or Talata. They had a dog’s head and fish fins, and they were also the first settlers of Crete. Apparently, because of his spells with water, Zeus sent them a flood.
According to legend, they raised and trained Poseidon, made him a trident and a jagged sickle of flint, with which Kronos would be castrated. When the island was again above the water, it was occupied by Helios, who married the nymph Rhodo, who named the island. This nymph was the daughter of Poseidon and Haliya, the sister of the telkins. At that time, giants lived in the eastern part of the island.
4. Consolidation of cities
In 408 the three cities united and founded the new city of Rhodes., on the northern part of the island, which became the capital of a single state that covered the entire island.
3. Italian invasion
During the Italo-Turkish war of 1911-1912, in order to counter the Turkish offensive in Greece and Europe, in May 1912, Italian troops occupied some of the Aegean islands, including Rhodes. The island remained in Italian hands until the end of World War II, when it became part of the Hellenic Republic.
This period of occupation resulted in important infrastructural works that improved the lives of the inhabitants of the island and many interesting palaces of rationalist architecture.
2. Ottoman domination
The island became a sanjak of the eyalet archipelago under the rule of Kapudan Pasha. The administrative reform of 1867, which established the vilayet as the highest administrative unit, divided into sanjaks and kades, included it in the vilayet of the archipelago, divided into the sanjaks of Lesbos, Chios, Lemnos and Rhodes, with its capital in Chios. In 1876, the capital of the wilayat was moved to the city of Rhodes.
1. One of the seven wonders of the world was located
Colossus of Rhodes – a huge statue, personifying the ancient Greek god of the Sun – Helios, which was in Rhodes for 50 years. It is recognized as one of the Seven Wonders of the World.
Unfortunately, not a single reliable image of the Colossus has survived, so scientists still argue about the appearance of the giant statue. However, there are two most detailed and close to reality descriptions of the Colossus.
The first says that the statue stood in the harbor in full growth, in her hand was a torch, and her legs were placed in such a way that sea vessels could pass between them. Using this description, many artists depict the Colossus of Rhodes in this way, although this version of the structure of the statue is less plausible.
The second description indicates that the Colossus was a slender and tall youth-god, whose head was decorated with a radiant crown (similar to the one that goes around the head of the famous Statue of Liberty in the USA). Slightly leaning back, it was located on a marble pedestal. The statue stood right at the entrance to the harbor of the island, it was visible from neighboring islands.
The most grandiose statue of antiquity turned out to be short-lived. A little more than half a century later, in 220 BC, as a result of an earthquake, the statue cracked at the knees and fell. As a result, the expression “colossus with feet of clay. The locals did not restore it, as a result, the Colossus lay in this form for another 900 years. In 977, due to material needs, Helios was melted down.