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Colossus of Rhodes
One of the seven wonders of the ancient world was the Colossus of Rhodes.
Built between 304 and 292 BC, this bronze statue stood 105 feet (32 m) high
and commemorated the island’s victory over Demetrius in 304-303 BC. It
depicted the sun god Apollo (Helios) and may have also have served as a
lighthouse. The Colossus of Rhodes was destroyed by an earthquake in
227-226 BC, and its remains were carried off by Arab raiders 800 years
later. According to tradition, it took 1,000 camels to haul the pieces
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Herod the Great
The importance of Rhodes in the New Testament period is attested by the
visits of Herod the Great to the island. Herod passed by Rhodes on his way
to Brundisium in the 40s BC (Ant 14:370-78; War
1.277-81). After Antony’s defeat at Actium in 31 BC, Herod returned to
Rhodes to profess his loyalty to Augustus. The emperor confirmed Herod’s
rule and honored him. Herod rebuilt the temple of Apollo Pythios on Rhodes.
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Paul's Visit
Paul visited the island while returning to Jerusalem from his third
missionary journey. Acts 21:1 (NIV) “After we had torn ourselves away from
them, we put out to sea and sailed straight to Cos. The next day we went to
Rhodes and from there to Patara.” One tradition says that Paul’s ship
landed in a harbor at Lindos on Rhodes, and another tradition says that he
traveled throughout the island spreading the gospel. There is no evidence
for either tradition. |
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Old Town
The Old Town owes its present-day appearance largely to the Knights of St.
John, from the 14th and 15th centuries AD. The Knights followed closely the
city’s Hippodamean grid-plan, and at times, their streets follow the exact
route of the 5th century BC streets. The main street today, Sokratous
Street was also the main commercial street in the Hellenistic period. |
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Temple of Lindian Athena
The Lindos Chronicle is an inscribed stele that dates to 99 BC. It was
discovered in reuse as a paving stone in a church below the acropolis of
Lindos. The inscription begins with a decision, during the priesthood of
Teisylos, to erect a stele recording the votive offerings which had been
lost to time. What follows is a list in three columns of votives, along
with a record of three epiphanies of Lindian Athena. Among those listed are
mythological figures and kings, including Minos, Herakles, Telephos, Helen
of Troy, the city of Cyrene, Kleoboulos, Pharaoh Amasis, and Alexander the
Great. |
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