Rhodes is the largest island of the Dodecanese archipelago with an area of about 1,400 km2 and a population of about 130,000 people. It is located in the southeastern Aegean Sea, very close to the coast of Turkey (about 20 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, and ceramics and carpets are extracted.
Rhodes is one of the most famous and visited islands of 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 the base on Rhodes. This part of the island is most protected from the typical summer wind of the Aegean - the Etezian.
The island of Rhodes has 220 km of coastline, with a crystal clear sea, one of the warmest in Greece, in addition, it is of great interest for archaeological expeditions.
We present to you 10 interesting facts about the city of Rhodes and the island of the same name for students of grade 4 - a historical and cultural center that has survived to this day.
10. Numerous names
The city of Rhodes was founded in 408 BC. e. Original title – Ofius, later - Estadia Telkinis, Asteria, Etria, Trinakia, Corymbia, Pisa, Atabiriya, Makariya, Olesa. These names are known mainly due to three authors: Estrabo, Amiano Marcelino (XVII, 7) and Plinio El Viejo.
Estrabon gives Rhodes the primitive names of Ofius, Estadius, and Telkinis. The last name, perhaps, was related to the first inhabitants who inhabited the island: the so-called telkhins.
Name “Pellagia”, chosen by Amiano Marcelino, may be due to the mythical origin of Rhodes from the sea.
9. It is famous for its urban structure.
The island has many attractions. Some of them date from antiquity, but most others date back to 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, town hall, 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 the 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, historic buildings, traditional villages, nature parks and hiking trails.
The most important archaeological site of Rhodes is 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 structures here, including the beautiful one. "Old city“. The Turks created great examples of Arabian architecture: today in the capital you can admire the minaret of the Suleyman the Magnificent Mosque.
7. The city of Rhodes - a ticket to the Middle Ages
Rhodes Old Town is one of the best preserved medieval strongholds in the world.. It is surrounded by massive walls built between the 14th and 15th centuries.
Walking along its narrow streets (ignoring the many shops, restaurants and taverns), you will feel like you are traveling to the past, with your destination - the Middle Ages. By the way, the medieval city of Rhodes, declared by UNESCO a World Heritage Site.
6. The city during the Second World War
From 1943 to 1945, the island was under the occupation of German troops. This continued until it was occupied by the British, who exercised control, until the island returned to Greece again on March 7, 1948.
5. The first inhabitants
The primitive inhabitants of the island, according to Greek mythology, were the legendary telkins, who were the children of Ponto or Talat. They had a dog 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 the belief, they raised and trained Poseidon, made his trident and serrated flint sickle with which Kronos would be castrated. When the island was again above the water, he was occupied by Helios, who married the nymph Rodo, who named the island. This nymph was the daughter of Poseidon and Halya, the sister of Telkins. At that time, giants lived in the eastern part of the island.
4. City Unification
In 408, three cities merged 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 forces occupied several islands of the Aegean Sea, including Rhodes. The island remained in the hands of Italians until the end of World War II, when it became part of the Hellenic Republic.
The result of this period of occupation was important infrastructure work that improved the lives of the inhabitants of the island and many interesting palaces of rationalist architecture.
2. Ottoman rule
The island became the sanjak of the Eyale archipelago under the rule of Kapudan Pasha. The administrative reform of 1867, which established vilayet as the highest administrative unit, divided into Sanjaks and Kades, included it in the vilayets of the archipelago, divided into Sanjaks of Lesbos, Chios, Lemnos and Rhodes, with its capital in Chios. In 1876, the capital of Vilayata was moved to the city of Rhodes.
1. There was one of the seven wonders of the world
Colossus of Rhodes - a huge statue representing the ancient Greek god of the Sun - Heliosthat has been 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 been preserved, so scientists still argue about the appearance of a giant statue. However, there are two most detailed and approximate descriptions of the Colossus.
The first one says that the statue stood in full length in the harbor, there was a torch in her hand, and her legs were spaced so that sea vessels could pass between them. Using this description, many artists portray 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 bends around the head of the famous Statue of Liberty in the United States). Leaning a little back, he was sitting on a marble pedestal. The statue towered right at the entrance to the harbor of the island, it was visible from neighboring islands.
The most grandiose statue of antiquity was short-lived. After a little more than half a century in 220 BC, as a result of an earthquake, the statue cracked in the area of the knees and fell. Thanks to this, the expression “colossus with feet of clay ". Locals did not begin to rebuild it; as a result, the Colossus lain in this form here for another 900 years. In 977, due to material needs, Helios was remelted.