Colossus of Rhodes - Rhodes Rhodos Rodos

Colossus of Rhodes - Rhodes Rhodos Rodos

It would be insulting if the first article of sightseeings wouldn't refer to the Collosus of Rhodes and that's because that magnificent statue that it was said to have reigned at the port of Rhodes, has been recorded as one of the seven wonders of the world. Although it doesn't exist anymore so that we could refer to it as a ''sightseeing'' it is worth knowing about it because it belongs to the great history of the island.

At the end of 4th century Rhodian celebrated a great victory. Demetrius Poliorcetes after besieged for a year the city finally had to flee and leave behind much of his equipment. The Rhodian decided to sell the equipment of Demetrius and use the money to erect a magnificent statue in honor of Helios who protected them. Some people say that Rhodian melt bronze and other metals of the mechanisms that Demetrius left behind to build the outside of the Colossus, and the vast scaffolding of the war mechanism became the scaffolding for the construction of the statue. The commencement of work, according to historians, is estimated at around 304 BC, and according to the historian Plinius, was completed in 12 years.

One of the students of Lyssipus, Harris is said to be the construstor of the statue although people say that he hadn't had an experience in making a statue before. The statue had a height of 33 metres, was naked, wearing a crown on his head like rays of the sun (like the Statue of Liberty in New York). Presumably with the right hand he was protecting the eyes from the sun and the with the left he was holding a cloak. The legs of the statue were made first and the construction was made from the bottm to the top. The bronze figure reinforced inside with steel beams and stone columns. (The technique was copied for the construction of the Statue of Liberty New York, where copper is poured over steel-frame '). It took a lot of work to implement fully the inner shell (metal and stones) with the bronze 'skin' on the outside. The base of the statue was made of white marble. According to what a writer writes for the construction of the needed 12.7 tonnes and 7.6 tonnes of bronze iron.

While earlier believed that the Colossus stood in the entrance of the harbor (now Mandraki), archaeologists believe that this is impossible because of the magnitude of the statue and the relatively narrow port.Recent studies calculate the location of the statue just outside Mandraki. The huge statue had a tragic end. Tragically, 60 years after its completion, a violent earthquake ruined and scattered the statue in the sea. Colossus after the devastating earthquake remained intact for centuries and that's because of an omen. Later, in 653 AD the Islamic Army invanded in Rhodes seized the bronze and carried it to Syria. There, it is said that a trader bought sheets of copper, and took them to the desert to melt them. It is also said that 900 camels needed to carry the bronze.

Archaeological Museum Of Rhodes

Ι'm pretty sure you loved epta piges (seven springs) in the previous article, (besides its nature, who wouldn't love nature?), but now it's time to return to the town of Rhodes and learn... some history!

The Archaeological Museum is housed at the Hospital of the Knights which is one of the most impressive buildings you will see in the medieval city of Rhodes. It is a two storey building, which halls and courtyard displayed huge variety of exhibits. Let me remind you, as we said in previous article palace-of-grand-master that the building started in 1440 by Grand Master De Lactic, who spent for the construction the astronomical sum of 10,000 golden guilders and completed in 1489. As a museum, it has been operated since 1940.

In the courtyard opposite the entrance stands a seated lion with a bull's head at his feet coming from late Hellenistic period and in front of it a mosaic floor from the basilica of Arkasa Karpathos is exposed. A second mosaic Arkasa Karpathos has been put in the inner courtyard in front of the stores of the Museum, on the ground floor. In the floor we can see the large room that the patients used to be and the dining rooms of the archaeological collection. In the great hall of the patients were exposed carved tombstones of knights, chivalric emblems and the Roman sarcophagus used as a tomb of the Grand Master Kornegian. In the dining room we can see carved tombstones of Late Antiquity from Nisyros

Its important for every visitor to know that the Museum houses important archaeological finds coming from almost all the island. The excibition aims to highlight the major findings from Rhodes to help better understand the ancient history of the island.The most worth seeing exhibits are the following:
The grave stele of Kalliarista, dated in about 350 b.C., where the dead woman is presented seated, dressed in a chiton, with the himation covering her head. Her servant, standing beside her, holds a pyxis (jewel box) with her jewels. The capping of the stele is in form of a pediment resting on pilasters.
A black-figured attic amphora or the 6th century b.C., presenting the departure of a warrior.
An amphora dated in the 6th century b.C. of Fikellura style, made in a Rhodian workshop. Both sides are depicted with a representation of an animal and fleurons decorate the space below the handles.

A kylix of Vroullian style, dated in the 6th century b.C., that was also made in a workshop.
The grave stele of Krito and Timarista, dated in about 420-410 b.C. It presents two standing female figures. Timarista, full face, wearing a chiton and peplos embraces Krito, who wears a chiton and himation and has short hair.

The head of an athlete, made of marble and dated in the 4th century b.C.
The head of the god Helios. It is dated between 250 and 160 b.C.
A marble statue of a nude squatting Aphrodite, dated in circa 100 A.D., a remodeling of the Doidalsas type.
Apart from the above, you will be able to see important collections of tomb groups found in various sites of the island, dated in different periods. There are also displayed other statues and mosaics of the Hellenistic period, which have been found in the ancient city of Rhodes.
In the end of your visiting dont miss to see the two headless archaic kouroi, dated in circa 550-530 b.C., as well as several grave stones from the period of the Knights with relief representations of the dead persons or of their blazons.
Don't miss this great oppurtunity to ''live'' the history that island has. Besides it's the island that will make you have unforgetable holidays! It's worth knowing its rich history!!! Enjoy!

Smells already summer in Rhodes...

Smells already summer in Rhodes.

Rhodes is one of the biggest islands in greece. It is said to be the island of Knights because of it's history and has developed a strong civilization over the years. As we know from history the island Rhodes has been the capital of the medieval aristocracy.




The Medieval Town of Rhodes is the result of different architectures belonging to various historic eras, predominantly those of the Knights of St. John. As a result of the large variety of different people who settled on the island there are many impressive and magnificent monuments that are worth visiting. Let's start our journey to a magic destination. The island of Rhodes!!!

I Hope the photos below are going to make you look forward for the articles of the monuments and give you a taste of rhodes. Every island in greece one way or another is full of sun, and wonderfull smell of the sea breeze mixed with a saltness tha will never leave from your lips once you taste it...

Smells already summer in Rhodes