Rhodes City
The City of Rhodes was seen as a glorious and majestic site even during ancient times as it was known throughout the world as the home of the Colossus of Rhodes. The Colossus of Rhodes was an iron and brass statue of the Greek sun god, Helios and it once stood more than a hundred feet high at the mouth of Rhodes’ harbor. Not only is it a fine work of art, the colossus was also considered as the tallest ancient statue during its time and was renowned as one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.
The magnificent Colossus of Rhodes was destroyed however, when an earthquake shook the city and brought the colossus to its knees, however, the glory and fame continues to be attached to the City of Rhodes although its towering protector has long been destroyed.
Rhodes City, aside from having a prestigious past, also holds the prestige of being the modern capital of Rhodes in the Dodecanese Prefecture of Greece. Although it is comparatively small in size compared to its neighboring Rhodes towns and villages, Rhodes City however has the largest population of all, with an approximate population of about 80,000. It is located at the norther region of the island where it has an advantageous location suitable for ship building, sailing and trading.
Because of its location and the location of the island of Rhodes itself, Rhodes City even through antiquity has become a boiling pot of cultures and ideas coming from the regions of Africa in the south, Turkey and the rest of the Middle East on the eastern side of the island, and main Greece on the west. During the era of Roman imperialism, Rhodes continued to flourish in the fields of arts and sciences with languages and education also benefiting from the harbor and location of the city.
Even during modern times, Rhodes City continues to stand out from other towns and villages surrounding it. At present it is considered as the only urban center not just in Rhodes but in the whole Aegean region. Modernity and technological advances has not done away with the charm that Rhodes City’s history and culture is known for and it remains to be a wonderful site to explore ancient Greek ruins and culture.