"Greece is a bleak, unsmiling desert, without agriculture, manufactures, or commerce apparently." Mark Twain, Innocents Abroad, 1869
The earliest known settlers to Rhodes were the Phoenicians who made it an important trading center. In the 3rd century Rhodes was conquered by the Romans. It was occupied by the Saracens in the 7th century. And, in 1082 the port was used by Venice and occupied by the Genoese (Remember, Italy as sovereign country and political state was an artificial construct of the late 19th Century). In 1306 Genoa sold Rhodes to the Knights of the Battalion of St. John, which they maintained until 1522 when Souleiman the Magnificent conquered the island. In 1912 Italy gained control of the island and held it until 1948 when Rhodes became part of Greece under the Treaty of Paris.
Rhodes is probably best remembered as the site of the
Colossus of Rhodes, a 100 foot bronze statue of the god Helios which stood not
far from the habour. The Colossus was considered one of the Seven
Wonders of the Ancient World because it was both a technical triumph and a
artistic masterpiece. Completed in 292 B.C., the Colossus stood for only 66
years before an earthquake broke it at the knees. The
remains were left at the
site for centuries before being sold for scrap. So closely connected was Rhodes
with the Colossus that Rhodians were for centuries known as Colossians. To a
lesser extent Rhodes is also known as another site claimed as the birthplace of
Aphrodite and one sculpture in particular, the Aphrodite
of Rhodes, is recognized the world over and has been copied many times (In
fact, one well-known copy is in the gardens of Hearst Castle).
According to Greek mythology, Helios was given Rhodes
by Zeus and the island was named for Rodos, the daughter of Poseidon. Other
sources indicate the islands name comes from the Greek word for rose. However
the town and island got their name,
something magical is at work in Rhodes.
Everything about the ancient town of Rhodes, from the approach to 
its ancient harbour,
to its beautiful streets, squares,
and courtyards, to
its fabulous historic
sites and museums, make it the garden place of the
Mediterranean. It's
no wonder that UNESCO has designated the entire ancient town of Rhodes a World
Heritage Site. The only real mystery is why 
Twain and his group
didn't visit
Rhodes on their Grand Tour in 1869. Perhaps Twain's impression of Greece would
have been much better if he had.
As one approaches the largest
gate facing the harbour, with its massive marble plaque of the three Knights
of St. John over the entrance, one can't help but be impressed. The Rhodians are
very proud of their historical connection to the Knights of St. John. The
Knights conquered Rhodes in 1309, having been pushed out of their earlier base
of operations in Acre. Much of the character of the ancient city of Rhodes is
the result of the architecture and fortifications of the Knights. Built on the
site of the ancient temple of Helios and the original location of the Colossus,
The
Palace of the Grand Masters is the most impressive structure in the ancient
city, Today the Palace a
nd its massive courtyard
and galleries serve as a wonderful museum of
antiquities. The old Knight's Hospital has served since 1916 as The
Archaeological Museum and it exhibits
are truly
excellent. In fact, it would be no exaggeration to say that 
the museums in
Rhodes may be the best places to see antiquities anywhere in the
world.
As if the history, architecture, and beauty of Rhodes
wasn't enough, Rhodes is also
one of the best places to shop anywhere in the
Mediterranean. In the Bazaar and shops of Rhodes one
can find very good prices on jewelry, leather good, and rugs of the finest
quality sold by polite and knowledgeable Rhodians.
For more information, please visit the following websites.
