RHODES, an island off the coast of Carla in Asia Minor, opposite to Cape Volpe, between the gulfs of Syme and Macri. The harbour of the city of Rhodes is in 30* 26' N. let., 28* 12' E. long.
Rhodes was inhabited in very early times, and had acquired considerable eminence several centuries before the Christian era. Previous to the first Olympiad as 776, the Rhodiane had already manifested • disposition for maritime and commercial enterprise, which anbeequentIT more fully developed itaelf. They founded the colonies of Ithod6 en Iberia, Gala in Sioily (Gem], Parthenope among the Ord in Italy ; and nearer home, Corydalla and Phaselis in Lycia, and Soli in Cilicia. About B.C. 660, the ancient kingly form of govern ment which prevailed in the island, as in other Dorian states, was abolished, and magistrates, called Prytanes, probably substituted. In as 403, the city of Rhodes was founded, by collecting into one spot the inhabitants of Linder', Wyse., and Camirus; and from this time the history of the city is identical with the history of the island. In as 357 Rhodes reverted for a short time to the dominion of Athens, against which state it soon after formed a league with Coe, Chios, and Byzantium. It submitted, like the rest of Greece, to Alexander; but having taken • very decided stand, and courageously struggled through the conflicts which took place after Alexander's death, Rhodes became the mistrals of the Mediterranean.
The celebrated Colossus of Rhodes was made about an. SOO. It was tepn by Charge, • pupil of Lyaippus, and completed by Laches. It was formed of braes ; the height is said to have been 70 cubit.; the thumb was so large that few men could span it ; 12 years were employed in makiog it. The notion that its legs rested one on each side of the harbour at Rhodes does not seem to be supported by any pod authority, and modern travellers do not agree as to its site. After it bad stood for 56 years, it was thrown down by an earthquake, by which the buildings of the city suffered very mach. Such was the commercial importame of Rhodes, that on this occasion the great primes of the day vied with each other in the munificence of their presents to repair its losses, and came forward with ready zeal to serve • city wham fleets protected the seas against pirates and extended mercantile communication. The Rhodians (ac. 219), assisted by
Prudes, king of Bithynia, compelled the Byzantine' to remit the duty which they bad been in the habit of exacting from corn ships that passed through the Bosporus, and shortly afterwards they protected Sinop.g against klithridates IV., king of Pcnituit Rime's. joined Attaius, king of Pergamus, in his war against Philip 114 king of Macedon. The Romans entered into an alliance with the two powers agaloat Philip. After the defeat of Philip at Cynoecephalst, to 197, the Rhodians joined Rome In a war with Antloehus, In which their navy was of great service. In gratitude tc their new allies, the Romans gave them portions of Carla and Lycia From this time the prosperity of the oily began to decline. Her recently-acquired continental possessions resisted her sway, and in their struggles appealing from time to time to the Roman senate, gave that body an opportunity of practising their usual policy of inter ference. In the Mithridatio war the Rhodians gave important aid to the Romans by sea, and were in consequence attacked by the king of Pontus with a great armament, which they defeated. In requital for their fidelity, Sulla at the close of the war confirmed their liberty. Veepasian incorporated this island in a Provincia Insularum, of which it was probably the seat of government. Here the ancient history of Rhodes ceases.
The code of laws enacted by the Rhodians in regard to their navy, and adopted afterwards by other maritime states (Dig., 14, tit. 2, ' Do Lege Rhodis'), the powers vested in the several branches of their executive administration, their sumptuary statutes, and regulations to protect their poor, all claim especial attention from the student of ancient history. In their most flourishing age, their city, like Alexan dria at the same period, was the place of resort of learned meu from all countries, and a very similar style of literature sprung up in both places. The spirit of research and critical inquiry was awakened, and great progress was made in mathematics and other sciences.