Rhodes

Rhodes has two harbours. The lesser lies towards the east, and admits cargo steamers, which can also anchor outside in fair weather. The larger is silted and only admits small craft. The two harbours are separated by a mole and at the eastern entrance is the fort of St. Elmo, with a lighthouse.

History.

Archaeological remains of the Late Minoan age show that the early Aegean culture maintained itself in Rhodes comparatively unimpaired until the historic period. Legend also peopled primitive Rhodes with skilful workers in metal, the "Tel chines," and with bold navigators, "Children of the Sun." In Homeric legend there was already a Heracleid settlement, and in historic times Rhodes was occupied by a Dorian population, mainly from Argos and subsequent to the "Dorian invasion" of Greece. The three Homeric cities refounded by these settlers—Lindus, Ialysus and Camirus—belonged to the "League of Six Cities," by which Dorian colonists in Asia Minor protected themselves against the neighbouring mainland. The early history of these towns records brisk commercial expansion and active colonization, illus trated by the rich tombs of Camirus. Rhodian colonies extended not only eastward along the southern coast of Asia Minor, but also to the westernmost parts of the Greek world. Examples are Pha selis in Lycia, Soli in Cilicia, Salapia on the east Italian coast, Gela in Sicily, the Lipari islands, and Rhoda in north-east Spain. In home waters the Rhodians dominated Carpathos and other islands.

The history of Rhodes during the Persian wars is quite obscure. In the 5th century B.C. the three cities were enrolled in the Delian League, and were democracies. In 412 the island revolted from Athens and became the headquarters of the Peloponnesian fleet. Four years later the inhabitants concentrated in the newly founded city of Rhodes, laid out on an exceptionally fine site according to a scientific plan by the architect Hippodamus of Miletus. This soon rose to considerable importance and attracted much Aegean and Levantine commerce which had hitherto been in Athenian hands. In the 4th century B.C. political development was arrested by constant struggles between oligarchs and democrats, who in turn brought the city under the control of Sparta 378), of Athens and of the Carian dynasty of Mausolus (357-340). About 34o it was conquered for the

Persian king by his Rhodian admiral, Mentor. In 332 it submitted to Alexander the Great, but on his death, the people expelled the Macedonian garrison, and henceforth not only maintained their independence but acquired great political influence. The expan sion of Levantine trade in the Hellenistic age brought especial profit to Rhodes, whose standard of coinage and code of maritime law became widely accepted in the Mediterranean. Under modified democracy, in which the six rpv7-6yets found a powerful executive, the city long enjoyed a good administration. In foreign politics it prudently avoided the ambitious schemes of Hellenistic mon archs, but gained prestige by energetic interference against all who threatened the balance of power or the security of the seas. Chief incidents are a memorable siege by Demetrius Poliorcetes in 304, who sought in vain to force the city into active alliance with King Antigonus ; a severe earthquake in 227, the damages of which all Hellenistic States contributed to repair, because they could not afford to see the island ruined ; some vigorous campaigns against Byzantine, Pergamene and Pontic kings, who threatened the Black sea trade route (22o sqq.), and against the pirates of Crete. In accordance with their settled policy the Rhodians sup ported the Romans when these made war upon Philip V. of Mace don and Antiochus III. of Syria on behalf of the minor Greek States. During the Third Macedonian War a false step deprived them of possessions in Lycia, and partially diverted their trade to Delos (167). Nevertheless, during the two Mithridatic wars they remained loyal to Rome, and in 88 successfully stood a siege. The Rhodian navy did further good service for Pompey in his cam paigns against the pirates and against Julius Caesar. But in 43 C. Cassius besieged and ruthlessly plundered the people for refusing to submit to his exactions, and though Rhodes continued a free town for another century, its commercial prosperity was crippled and extensive earthquakes after A.D. 155 completed its ruin.