Acropolis of Rhodes

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Temple of Apollo
The stadium
The ancient Odeion

The Acropolis of Rhodes ( Greek  Ακρόπολη της Ρόδου , also: Monte Smith Hill , St Stephens ) is an ancient acropolis , which mainly dates back to the 5th century BC. Until the 3rd century BC. Was expanded. It rises around three kilometers from the center of the modern city of Rhodes on the island of the same name in Greece . The finds from the excavation site have been partially reconstructed. You can visit a temple of Apollo and one of Athena Polias and Zeus Polieus, as well as a stadium and a small odeion . The area was designed as a park. The Monte Smith -Park named after the English admiral in the Napoleonic wars, William Sidney Smith , named.

history

Rhodes , the largest island in the Dodecanese , made around 408 BC. BC, towards the end of the Peloponnesian War , underwent an enormous development. Three of the island's cities merged and together they built a new city, the city of Rhodes. She was in the Ialysus district and was very rich. After the city had survived a siege by Demetrios I Poliorketes (305-303 BC), a collection was organized and the Colossus of Rhodes was built. The massive statue was a statue in honor of the god Helios , with whom Rhodes is associated in Greek mythology. The colossus is known as one of the seven wonders of the world . After the devastating earthquake in Rhodes in 227 BC. When the giant statue was knocked over and the city was destroyed, only the city was rebuilt. 42 BC It was sacked by Cassius , from which it never recovered.

Another earthquake in 515 AD led to a strong shrinkage, so that the city only included the area of ​​the Palais Polis , today's old town. During the next centuries it was repeatedly plundered by Persians and Arabs and after the unsuccessful siege of Rhodes (1480) it was finally conquered by the Ottomans after the siege of Rhodes (1522) .

At war with the Ottomans occupied the Italians in the battle of Rhodes (1912) , the Dodecanese Islands, which only in 1945, at the end of World War II were freed. The English took care of the business and incorporation into Greece in 1948. Today the island is a popular holiday destination.

Excavation and conservation

The first excavations were carried out by the Scuola Archeologica Italiana di Atene between 1912 and 1945. After the Second World War, the Greek Archaeological Service took over the excavations and restoration work. The temple of Pythian Apollo, which was badly damaged in the war, has been extensively restored. The excavations continue to this day. The Acropolis Archaeological Park covers 12,500 m².

Monuments

The Acropolis is at the highest point in the city. The buildings were built on stepped terraces held in place by retaining walls.

Temple of Athena Polias and Zeus Polieus

At the north end of the Acropolis is this temple, which is aligned on an east-west axis. The temple was of the Doric order and originally housed the records of the treaties that the Rhodians had concluded with other states. A stoa followed in the east .

Nymphaeum

To the southeast of the temple, four underground “structures” are carved into the rock. They have an entrance staircase, culverts and a large opening in the center of the ceiling, along with water cisterns and niches for statues. It is believed that these caves were used for rituals and recreational purposes.

Temple of Pythian Apollo

This temple, located at the southern end of the Acropolis, faces east like the temple of Athena. Part of the peripheral temple was rebuilt.

Odeion

The small marble theater, which served as an odeion, offered space for around 800 spectators. It's northwest of the stadium.

Stoa

The impressive facade could be seen as far as the harbor. Today only a foundation wall remains.

Artemision

This cult place is on the northeast side of the hill, between other ruins.

Stadion

The stadium is located southeast of the hill. It has a length of 210 m and was restored by the Italians. The preserved parts are the Sphendons (rounded ends with the turning marks), Prohedrien (official seats) and some stands. The starting device has also been preserved. The Haleion Games in honor of the sun god Helios were held in the stadium.

See also

  • Filerimos , the acropolis of the ancient city of Ialysus

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Lindos - The Acropolis and the Medieval Castle. Pp. 5, 18-24.
  2. ^ Acropolis of Rhodes. rhodesguide.com, accessed June 11, 2016.

literature

  • AB Tataki: Lindos. The Acropolis and the Medieval Castle . Ekdotike Athenon SA, 1978, pp. 5, 18-24.
  • Rhodesguide.com

Web links

Commons : Acropolis of Rhodes  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Coordinates: 36 ° 26 ′ 24.7 "  N , 28 ° 12 ′ 39.2"  E