Rhodes, the daughter of sun, the island of Knights, the noble lady of Aegean Sea. From the wonderful narrations of greek mythology, to the latest historic times, was always the leader. With a history true and fairy.

MYTHOLOGY
A lot of myths are connected to the creation of Rhodes. According to Pindaros, when god Zeus gained master over Giants, he decided to split the land to the Gods of Olympus. But as god Sun was absent at that time he was left with no land. Zeus to be fair told him that the land that would come out of the sea was his. A beautiful and green island pumped out then. God Sun overwhelmed by her beauty, throw his rays on her. Since then Rhodes is the island of Sun, the most bright and shiny of all Dodecanese.
Another myth says that Rhodes was the daughter of Sun and of Nymph Rhodes.

ARHAIC TIMES
As first settlers of the island are reported Kares from Minor Asia. Phinics and Minoans followed from Crete, who settled in Ialisos in 1500 BC and contributed to the financial flourish of the island.
Later in 1100 BC Dorians conquer the island and establish three big cities: Lindos, Kamiro and Ialisos.
During the domination of Macedonians, the residents of Rhodes made an ally with them. After the death of Alexander The Great they made an ally with Ptolemeous of Egypt.
In 305BC the residents of Rhodes faced Dimitrios the Conqueror. In order to remember this victory they created Colossus of Rhodes, which was one of the seven miracles in the world.

ROMAN DOMINATION
From the end of 3^rd BC Rome dominates Mediterranean Sea as the new force of the time.
Residents of Rhodes during the Second Macedonian War made an ally with Romans. In 164BC Romans made the residents of Rhodes to sign a convention, according to which they would have common friends and enemies. The result for Rhodes was to meet a lot of catastrophes, as she was in the sight of Kasios, who in order to revenge Caesar, ravaged Rhodes.

BYZANTINE TIMES
Rhodes was one of the first Greek villages to adopt Christianity. In 57 Apostle Paul stayed in Rhodes, in Lindos and teached residents this new religion.
In 395 Rhodes becomes eparchy of the Byzantine Empire and the city of Rhodes the capital of the island.
In 620 Persians dominate the island.
Saracens and Seltzouki follow and plunder Rhodes.
In 1204, after the occupation of Constantinople, Rhodes as other Greek islands is relinquished to Venetians.
In 1261 admirals from Geneva domain the island.

VENETIAN DOMINATION
In 1306 Rhodes, Kos and Leros are sold to the Knights of Agios Ioannis. A new era begins for Rhodes, as it is elevated to a grand military, financial and trade force. Knights that came from Catholic countries managed to make deals with big forces of West Europe, in order to eliminate Muslim forces that had started to expand.
At the times of Venetian domination Rhodes was a strong trade center and evolved to a big war force. It is a period of bloom for the island.
The Medieval city was built then that stays alive until our days, all the important strongholds, the fortifications, as and many monasteries and churches. Art and literature flourish and people, impressed by Venetians, have a particular way of life that characterizes them.

OTTOMAN DOMINATION
In 1522, after a six-month siege, Rhodes is under the hands of Turkish and of Sultan Souleiman the Grandiose. For about four centuries Ottomans possessed Rhodes.
The residents of Rhodes did not take part in the Revolution of 1821 and as all Dodecanese were not part of the young Hellenic Union, but stayed under the possession of Ottoman.

LATEST YEARS
In 1912 Italians domained Rhodes and kept her until 1945. In March 1948 with the convention of Paris, Rhodes and Dodecanese adjust to the rest of Greece.
Today Rhodes exploiting its unique beauties and the important monuments, has evolved to a famous, globally, summer resort.