Don't leave without visiting the Cities of Rhodes, Ialysos, Kamiros and Lindos!

Throughout its history, Rhodes has been sought after by gods & mortals alike. One of its many creation myths deals with Helios, the sun god, claiming it as it rose from the sea after the other gods in the Greek Pantheon left him out of casting lots to divvy up the Earth. Helios was very happy with his flower strewn island, and bathed it in his radiance.

The first human settlers of Rhodes in its pre-history are believed to be the Carians from Asia Minor. They were followed by the Phoenicians who introduced the first alphabet.

The first recorded appearance of Rhodes is from its settlement by the Minoan Cretans, who lived on the island for many centuries. Around 1400 BCE, they were ousted by the Greek Achaians. The Achaians influenced not only Rhodes, but also its neighboring islands and large sections of the coast along Asia Minor. The Dorians, in turn, overran Rhodes some centuries later, and the island’s reputation and influence spread and grew into a significant cultural and commercial center.

In the 5th century BCE, the island changed hands many times; first to Persia, then to the Greeks, who pulled the island into the Athenian lead Delian League. The Peloponnesian War (431-404 BCE) saw Rhodes flip-flop between Athens & Sparta, but they ended up supporting the Spartans. The capital of the island, the city of Rhodes, was developed in 408 BCE, which seems to have ushered in a period of political savvy leaders.

This politically-wise leadership sided the island with Macedonia, when the Macedonians rose to regional dominance. They lent assistance to Alexander the Great in the siege of Tyre; the allied themselves both in commerce and politics with the Egyptian Ptolemys. In 305 BCE, Demetrius Poliorketes (the 'Besieger'), son of the king of Syria, began a year long, abet unsuccessful, siege on the city of Rhodes to try and get them to give up their Egyptian alliance. Demetrius returned home a failure, leaving his great siege machines in the haste of his retreat. The sale of these famous war machines financed the construction of Rhodes’ famous bronze statue, the Colossus.

With the rise of Rome, Rhodes influence and power fell, leaving the island weakened and a lackey of Rome.


History & Myths of Rhodes Island
Greek Tourism (Rodos)

• Join the discussions and role-play in Seven Wonders.
• View some 360° Panoramas of Old Town Rhodes.