RHODES, an island now belonging to Asiatic Turkey, and long an important, wealthy, and independent state of ancient Greece, in the Mediterranean, lies off the s.w. coast of Anatolia. from the nearest point of which it is distant about 12 miles. It is 45 m. long, and 20 in. in greatest breadth, and is traversed in the direction of its length—from n.e to s.w.—by a chain of mountains, which reach in mount Artemira (the former tabyro.v) a height of 4,070 ft., and in mount Artamiti of near 6.000 feet. Pop. about 30.000. of whom 6.000 are Turks, 1000 are .Jews, and the remainder Greeks. 'The moun tains are covered with forests, the valleys are fertile, and the well-watered plains form' rich and beautiful pasture-lands. Of all the islands in the Levant, Rhodes possesses the most beautiful and the most temperate climate. It produces oil, oranges, citrons, etc.. and might raise in profusion most necessaries and luxuries. But owing to the insecurity and extortion from which the Rhodians have long suffered, agriculture is in a very depressed state; winch fertile land lies waste, and the island doe's not even raise corn enough for its scanty population. A little marble is quarried. The harbors are neglected, and the
trade is now inconsiderable. _ Rhodes, the ancient Rhodos, was inhabited at a very early period. The Telchines, who are asserted by tradition to have been its most ancient inhabitants, are said to have migrated hither from Crete. It was not, however, until the immigration of a branch of the Doric race that the distinctive national character of the Rhodians became fixed. The first immigration of Dorians seems to have taken place before the Trojan war, for Rhodes is said to have sent nine ships to Troy under the leadership of the IIeraeleid Tlepolemus. Situated between the three ancient continents, a position highly favorable to the development of commercial enterprise, the Rhodians at an early period rose to great prosperity and affluence. Their three most ancient towns were Lindirs, Inlysos, and Camirus, and they planted numerous colonies not only on the shores in their vicinity, but also on the coast of Lycia. Italy, Sicily, and Spain. At the end of the 5th c. C. they founded the city of Rhodes (q.v.); and, after this event, the history of the island is comprised in that of the city.