Rhodes Island, Greece - A Pinch of Rhodes Town History

Rhodes town with around 45.000 permanentFor the following couple of centuries decay
inhabitants is the capital of Rhodes Island and ofcharacterized Rhodes, and in the 2nd century AD
the Dodecanese Island complex. Rhodes town isanother earthquake stroke and destroyed the
built on the Northeastern edge of the island. Thebeautiful island.
largest part of Rhodes island's population andDuring the ancient years Rhodes town islands has
tourist industry is concentrated in Rhodes town,been very "lucky", managing to get through many
and economical activities flourish in that area. Thedifficult occasions. The strong sector of the
city of Rhodes dates back to 408 BC, when theeconomy of ancient Rhodes has been shipping,
famous architect Ippodamos from Militos built thethe commerce and the good exchange.
city according to the latest architecturalIn the middle ages the Knights of Saint John
techniques. Soon the city of Rhodes developed tobecame rules of Rhodes town and the island and
one of the richest cities of Ancient Greece.in 1522 it became part of the Ottoman Empire.
In 396 BC the citizens of Rhodes town, foughtCenturies after that, in 1912, once again Rhodes
against the Persian Empires and the Spartans, astown was under the Italian rule. That lasted only
they have been members of the Athenianfor a decade, as in1923 with the Treaty of
coalition. Few years later Rhodians left theLausanne Rhodes became Greek again, along with
Athenian coalition, because they did not abide tothe rest of the islands of the Dodecanese
the rules set y the super power of the time. Incomplex.
334 BC the island of Rhodes was conquered byToday a visitor of Rhodes town can see the
the Macedonian army, which the locals managedremnants of all these civilizations, which makes
to over through few years after the death ofthe town a unique phenomenon. The feeling
Alexander the Great.provoked, while walking through the alleys of the
From 305-304 BC the citizens of Rhodes haveold town of Rhodes cannot be compared with
successfully resisted against the siege of Dimitios,anything else. It is a town with a large and
who was send to conquer the Rhodes island byimportant historical heritage, which has at the
the Egyptians. The empire of the Ptolemy wantedsame time a new modernized side. Universities
to use the island of Rhodes, for its strategicand numerous impressing public buildings, which
position in the southeastern Mediterranean sea. Atwere conserved and rebuilt mainly by the Italians,
the end, thanks to the brave local inhabitants, heconsists the face of Rhodes town today.
was forced to sign a peace treaty. It was thenMoreover thanks to its wonderful sweet climate
when the Rhodians constructed the Colossus ofof Rhodes and amazing sandy beaches, Rhodes
Rhodes, which is one of the seven wonders oftown attracts millions of tourists from all over the
the ancient world, to celebrate their victoryworld all year round. And therefore it becomes a
towards their powerful enemy. Unfortunatelycity where people from different backgrounds,
gigantic monument did not stand in the port ofdifferent nations meet. The Rhodes town hotels,
Rhodes for more than a century. An earthquakebuilt over the last 50 years, are plenty and able to
in 227-226 BC destructed the famous monument.serve all types of visitors. The island depends a
Here one can mention that its leftovers wherelot on tourism and improves every year to
sold as a trophy to the Saracens, who conqueredattract and serve more and more tourists.
the island of Rhodes, in 657 AD.The town of Rhodes offers its visitors the
Rhodes town developed significantly after thepleasant mixture of all the civilizations that have
foundation of Alexandria city. A sign of thatcharacterized the European continent; from
development is that the local coins of Rhodesancient Greek, to Alexander the Great, from
circulated all over the know world.Romans to Middle ages catholic Europe, from the
In the years of the Roman Empire Rhodesoriental ottoman empire to modern Italy and
became more self-centered. Taking care of theirGreece. The mixture of all these nations in one
own local interests, the Rhodians fought along withlittle corner of the world! It is unique, and is an
the Romans. The island of Rhodes was ravagedextra reason to visit the island of Rhodes!
and conquered in 42 BC by Cassius.