View source for Rhodes

{{Short description|Island in Greece}}
{{Redirect|Rhodes Island|other uses|Rhodes (disambiguation)|and|Rhode (disambiguation)|and|Rhode Island (disambiguation)|and|Rodi (disambiguation)}}

{{Infobox settlement
| name                    = Rhodes
| native_name             = Ρόδος
| native_name_lang        = ell
| official_name           = 
| settlement_type         = [[Islands of Greece|Island]] and [[List of municipalities of Greece (2011)|municipality]]
| image_skyline           = Rhodes sentinel2 (cropped).jpg
| image_caption           = 
| image_flag              = File:Flag of Rhodes Island.svg
| image_seal              = File:Emblem of Rhodes.svg
| nickname                = Island of the Sun
| image_map               = 2011 Dimos Rodou.png
| map_caption             = Location in the South Aegean administrative region of Greece
| coordinates             = {{Coord|36.17|N|27.92|E|type:isle_region:GR-L_dim:100000|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type        = Country
| subdivision_name        = {{flag|Greece}}
| subdivision_type1       = [[Administrative regions of Greece|Administrative region]]
| subdivision_name1       = [[South Aegean]]
| subdivision_type2       = [[Prefectures of Greece|Prefecture]]
| subdivision_name2       = [[Dodecanese]]
| subdivision_type3       = [[Regional units of Greece|Regional unit]]
| subdivision_name3       = [[Rhodes (regional unit)|Rhodes]]
| seat                    = [[Rhodes (city)|Rhodes]]
| leader_title            = Mayor
| leader_name             = Alexandros Koliadis di Koufidis
| unit_pref               = Metric
| area_footnotes          = 
| area_urban_footnotes    = 
| area_rural_footnotes    = 
| area_water_percent      = 
| area_rank               = 
| area_total_km2          = 1400.68
| area_water_km2          = 
| area_urban_km2          = 
| area_rural_km2          = 
| length_km               = 
| width_km                = 
| elevation_footnotes     = 
| elevation_m             = 
| population_as_of        = 2025
| population_total        = 127613
| population_density_km2  = auto
| population_demonym      = [[wikt:Rhodian|Rhodian]], [[wikt:Rhodiot|Rhodiot]] or {{nowrap|Rhodiote (rare)}}
| website                 = {{URL|http://www.rhodes.gr}}
| timezone1               = [[Eastern European Time|EET]]
| utc_offset1             = +2
| timezone1_DST           = [[Eastern European Summer Time|EEST]]
| utc_offset1_DST         = +3
| postal_code_type        = [[Postal codes in Greece|Postal codes]]
| postal_code             = 851 00, 851 31, 851 32, 851 33 (for Rhodes town)
| area_code_type          = [[Telephone numbers in Greece|Telephone]]
| area_code               = 2241, 2244, 2246
| elevation_max_m         = 1216
| elevation_max_point     = [[Attavyros]]
| elevation_max_rank      = 
| elevation_min_footnotes = 
| elevation_min_m         = 0
}}
[[File:Lindos Rhodes 1.jpg|alt=General view of the village of Lindos, with the acropolis and beaches, island of Rhodes, Greece.|thumb|General view of the village of Lindos, with the acropolis and beaches, island of Rhodes, Greece]]

'''Rhodes''' ({{IPAc-en|audio=En-us-roads.ogg|r|oʊ|d|z}}; {{langx|el|Ρόδος |translit=Ródos}} {{IPA|el|ˈroðos|}}) is the largest of [[Greece|Greece's]]  [[Dodecanese]] islands and their historical capital; it is the [[List of islands in the Mediterranean#By area|ninth largest island]] in the  [[Mediterranean Sea]]. Administratively, Rhodes constitutes a separate municipality within the [[Rhodes (regional unit)|Rhodes regional unit]], which is part of the [[South Aegean]] [[Administrative regions of Greece|administrative region]]. The principal town of the island and seat of the municipality is the [[Rhodes (city)|city of Rhodes]],<ref name=Kallikratis>{{cite web |url=http://www.et.gr/idocs-nph/search/pdfViewerForm.html?args=5C7QrtC22wGYK2xFpSwMnXdtvSoClrL8-SrPzKAEPjjtIl9LGdkF53UIxsx942CdyqxSQYNuqAGCF0IfB9HI6hq6ZkZV96FIukI0UzcPsWCK0LpLhpa7rhiWB4R5ntTnoWw7U8E1Amg. |title=ΦΕΚ A 87/2010, Kallikratis reform law text |language=el |work=[[Government Gazette (Greece) |Dubirny Gazette|Government Gazette]] |access-date=7 September 2021 |archive-date=6 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210906083234/http://www.et.gr/idocs-nph/search/pdfViewerForm.html?args=5C7QrtC22wGYK2xFpSwMnXdtvSoClrL8-SrPzKAEPjjtIl9LGdkF53UIxsx942CdyqxSQYNuqAGCF0IfB9HI6hq6ZkZV96FIukI0UzcPsWCK0LpLhpa7rhiWB4R5ntTnoWw7U8E1Amg. |url-status=live}}</ref> home to its 50,636 inhabitants according to its 2011 census. By 2022, the island’s population had grown to 125,113 people.<ref>{{Cite web |title=census 2025|url=https://elstat-outsourcers.statistics.gr/Census2022_GR.pdf}}</ref> Located northeast of [[Crete]] and southeast of [[Athens]], Rhodes is often referred to by several nicknames: the "Island of the Sun" after its patron sun god [[Helios]]; "The Pearl Island"; and "The Island of the Knights", a reference to the [[Knights Hospitaller|Knights of Saint John of Jerusalem]], who ruled the island from 1310 to 1522.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.visitgreece.gr/en/greek_islands/dodecanese/rhodes |title=Rhodes |work=VisitGreece |publisher= Rothschild Funds |access-date=29 December 2014 |archive-date=29 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141229235333/http://www.visitgreece.gr/en/greek_islands/dodecanese/rhodes |url-status=live}}</ref>

Historically, Rhodes was famous for the [[Colossus of Rhodes]], one of the [[Seven Wonders of the Ancient World]]. [[Fortifications of Rhodes|The Medieval Old Town of the City of Rhodes]] has been declared a [[World Heritage Site]]. During the early 21st century the island was one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe.

==Name==
The island has been known as {{lang|el|Ρόδος}} (Ródos) in Greek throughout its history. Similar-sounding {{lang|el|ῥόδον}} (''rhódon'') in ancient Greek was the word for the rose, whilst in modern Greek the also similar-sounding ρόδι (''ródi'') or ρόιδο (''róido'') refers to the pomegranate. It was also called Lindos ({{langx|grc|Λίνδος}}).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cs.uky.edu/~raphael/sol/sol-entries/rho/205 |title=SOL Search |website=www.cs.uky.edu |access-date=29 September 2019 |archive-date=18 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190918020254/https://www.cs.uky.edu/~raphael/sol/sol-entries/rho/205 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cs.uky.edu/~raphael/sol/sol-cgi-bin/search.cgi?login=guest&enlogin=guest&db=REAL&field=adlerhw_gr&searchstr=lambda,562 |title=SOL Search |website=www.cs.uky.edu |access-date=29 September 2019 |archive-date=31 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201231184843/https://www.cs.uky.edu/~raphael/sol/sol-cgi-bin/search.cgi?login=guest&enlogin=guest&db=REAL&field=adlerhw_gr&searchstr=lambda%2C562 |url-status=live}}</ref> In addition, the island has been called {{lang|it|Rodi}} in [[Italian language|Italian]], {{lang|tr|Rodos}} in [[Turkish language|Turkish]], and {{lang|lad|רודי (Rodi)}} or {{lang|lad|רודיס (Rodes)}} in [[Ladino language|Ladino]].

Other ancient names were Ρόδη (Rodē), Τελχινίς ([[Telchines|Telchinis]]) and Ηλιάς (Helias).

''[[The Travels of Sir John Mandeville]]'' incorrectly reports that Rhodes was formerly called "Collosus", through a conflation of the [[Colossus of Rhodes]] and [[Paul the Apostle|Paul]]'s ''[[Epistle to the Colossians]]'', which refers to [[Colossae]].<ref>Anthony Bale, trans., ''The Book of Marvels and Travels'', Oxford 2012, {{ISBN|0199600600}}, [{{Google books |plainurl=yes |id=KqonpxzxlFoC |page=16 }} p. 16] and footnote</ref>

The island's name might be derived from ''erod'', [[Phoenician language|Phoenician]] for snake, since the island was home to many snakes in antiquity.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Rhodes-island-Greece |title=Rhodes &#124; island, Greece |website=Encyclopedia Britannica |access-date=11 February 2018 |archive-date=31 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150831021011/https://www.britannica.com/place/Rhodes-island-Greece |url-status=live}}</ref>

==History==
===Prehistory===
During the [[Late Pleistocene]], the island was inhabited by an unnamed species of [[dwarf elephant]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last1=Athanassiou |first1=Athanassios |last2=van der Geer |first2=Alexandra A.E. |last3=Lyras |first3=George A. |date=August 2019 |title=Pleistocene insular Proboscidea of the Eastern Mediterranean: A review and update |url=https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0277379119300848 |journal=Quaternary Science Reviews |language=en |volume=218 |pages=306–321 |bibcode=2019QSRv..218..306A |doi=10.1016/j.quascirev.2019.06.028 |s2cid=199107354|url-access=subscription }}</ref> The island has been inhabited by humans since at least the late [[Neolithic]], as evidenced by remains found at Kalythies cave on the northeast of the island.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Tomkins |first=Peter |date=May 2009 |title=Domesticity by Default. Ritual, Ritualization and Cave-Use in the Neolithic Aegean |url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1468-0092.2009.00322.x |journal=Oxford Journal of Archaeology |language=en |volume=28 |issue=2 |pages=125–153 |doi=10.1111/j.1468-0092.2009.00322.x|url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref>Menelaou, S. (2 December 2021). [https://www.researchgate.net/publication/358461799_Insular_marginal_or_multiconnected_Maritime_interaction_and_connectivity_in_the_East_Aegean_Islands_during_the_Early_Bronze_Age_through_ceramic_evidence Insular, marginal or multiconnected? Maritime interaction and connectivity in the East Aegean Islands during the Early Bronze Age through ceramic evidence]. p. 137 ''European'' ''Islands Between Isolated and Interconnected Life Worlds: Interdisciplinary Long-Term Perspectives'' Tübingen University Press.</ref>

=== Bronze age ===
At the end of the [[3rd millennium BC]], during the Early [[Bronze Age]], major urban settlements began to develop on Rhodes, such as Asomatos, which is the earliest known urban centre on the island. Duck shaped vases found at Asomatos suggest contact with Cyprus as well as elsewhere in the Aegean region during this time.<ref>T. MARKETOU, Rhodes and Cyprus in the Bronze Age: 3ld and new evidence of contacts and interactions, in V. KARAGEORGHIS – O. KOUKA (eds), Cyprus and the East Aegean, Intercultural contacts from 3000 to 500 BC. An international archaeological symposium held at Pythagoreion, Samos, October 17th-18th 2008, Nicosia 2009, 48-58.</ref>

==== Minoan Era ====
{{Main|Minoan civilization}}The [[Minoan Civilisation]] established a settlement at Tiranda on the northwest of the island during the [[16th century BC]], presumably to facilitate trade.<ref>{{Citation |last1=Mee |first1=C. B. |title=Rhodes |date=2016-03-07 |encyclopedia=Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Classics |url=https://oxfordre.com/classics/view/10.1093/acrefore/9780199381135.001.0001/acrefore-9780199381135-e-5588 |access-date=2025-02-10 |publisher=Oxford University Press |language=en |doi=10.1093/acrefore/9780199381135.013.5588 |isbn=978-0-19-938113-5 |last2=Rice |first2=Ellen E.}}</ref>

==== Mycenaean Era ====
{{Main|Doric Hexapolis|Mycenaean Greece|Greek Dark Ages}}
[[File:Carnelian necklace As 7702.jpg|thumb|180px|Mycenaean necklace of carnelian found in [[Kattavia]]]]
 
In the 15th century BC, [[Mycenaean Greece|Mycenaean Greeks]] invaded. After the [[Bronze Age collapse]], the first renewed outside contacts were with [[Ancient history of Cyprus|Cyprus]].<ref>B. d'Agostino, "Funerary customs and society on Rhodes in the [[Geometric Period]]: some observations", in E. Herring and I. Lemos, eds. ''Across Frontiers: Etruscans, Greeks, Phoenicians and Cypriots. Studies in Honour of D. Ridgway and F.R. Serra Ridgway'' 2006:57–69.</ref>

In Greek legend, Rhodes was claimed to have participated in the [[Trojan War]] under the leadership of [[Tlepolemus]].<ref>[[Iliad]] [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0134%3Abook%3D2%3Acard%3D653 2.653–654] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210106113303/http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0134%3Abook%3D2%3Acard%3D653 |date=6 January 2021 }}</ref>

===Archaic Era===
{{Main|Archaic Greece}}
[[File:Warrior head vases Ashmolean, Camirus, Rhodes, 590-575 BC.jpg|thumb|upright|Warrior-headed vase, [[Camirus]], Rhodes, 590–575 BC]]

In the 8th century BC, the island's settlements started to form, with the coming of the [[Dorians]], who built the three important cities of [[Lindus]], [[Ialysus]] and [[Camirus]], which together with [[Kos]], [[Knidos|Cnidus]] and [[Halicarnassus]] (on the mainland) made up the so-called [[Doric hexapolis|Dorian Hexapolis]] (Greek for six cities).

In [[Pindar]]'s ode, the island was said to be born of the union of [[Helios]] the sun god and the nymph [[Rhodos]], and the cities were named for their three sons. The ''rhoda'' is a pink [[hibiscus]], native to the island. [[Diodorus Siculus]] added that [[Actis (mythology)|Actis]], one of the sons of Helios and Rhode, travelled to [[Egypt]]. He built the city of [[Heliopolis (Ancient Egypt)|Heliopolis]] and taught the Egyptians [[astrology]].<ref>{{cite book |url={{Google books |plainurl=yes |id=agd-eLVNRMMC}} |title=''The Historical Library of Diodorus Siculus'', Book V, ch.III |access-date=2010-01-24}}</ref>

In the second half of the 8th century BC, the sanctuary of Athena received votive gifts that are markers for cultural contacts: small ivories from the Near East and bronze objects from Syria. At [[Kameiros]] on the northwest coast, a former Bronze Age site, where the temple was founded in the 8th century BC, there is another notable contemporaneous sequence of carved ivory figurines. The cemeteries of Kameiros and Ialyssos yielded several exquisite exemplars of the Orientalizing Rhodian jewelry, dated in the 7th and early 6th centuries BC.<ref>{{cite web|title =Orientalizing Rhodian Jewellery in the Aegean|website = Cultural Portal of the Aegean Archipelago|year =2007 |first =Sideris |last =Athanasios|url =http://www2.egeonet.gr/Forms/fLemmaBodyExtended.aspx?lemmaID=10632}}</ref>

===Classical Era===
[[File:Apollon temple acropolis Rhodes.jpg|thumb|upright|Temple of Apollo at the [[Acropolis of Rhodes]]]]
{{Main|Classical Greece}}
The [[Achaemenid Empire|Persians]] invaded and overran the island, but they were in turn defeated by forces from [[Classical Athens|Athens]] in 478 BC. The Rhodian cities joined the [[Delian League|Athenian League]]. When the [[Peloponnesian War]] broke out in 431 BC, Rhodes remained largely neutral, although it remained a member of the League. The war lasted until 404 BC, but by this time Rhodes had withdrawn entirely from the conflict and decided to go their own way.

Being the eastern gate to the Aegean Sea, Rhodes was an important stopping point for [[Phoenicians|Phoenician]] merchants, and prosperous trading colonies and Phoenician communities emerged there, some within the Greek cities.<ref>Giorgos Bourogiannis, [https://www.researchgate.net/publication/341821252_Bourogiannis_G_The_Phoenician_presence_in_the_Aegean_during_the_Early_Iron_Age_Trade_settlement_and_cultural_interaction_Rivista_di_Studi_Fenici_46_2018_43-88 The Phoenician presence in the Aegean during the Early Iron Age: Trade, settlement and cultural interaction], ''Rivista di Studi Fenici'' 46, 2018, pp. 43–88; {{Cite journal |last=Fraser |first=P. M. |date=1970 |title=Greek-Phoenician Bilingual Inscriptions from Rhodes |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/30103207 |journal=The Annual of the British School at Athens |volume=65 |pages=31–36 |doi=10.1017/S0068245400014672 |jstor=30103207 |s2cid=161972095 |issn=0068-2454}}</ref>

In 408 BC, the cities [[Synoecism|united to form one territory]]. They built the [[city of Rhodes]], a new capital on the northern end of the island. Its regular plan was, according to [[Strabo]], superintended by the Athenian architect [[Hippodamus]].

In 357 BC, the island was conquered by the king [[Mausolus]] of [[Caria]]; then it fell again to the Persians in 340 BC. Their rule was also short.

===Hellenistic and Roman periods===
{{Main|Hellenistic Greece|Greece in the Roman era}}
Rhodes then became a part of the growing empire of [[Alexander the Great]] in 332 BC, after he defeated the Persians.
[[File:Colosse de Rhodes (Barclay).jpg|thumb|left|upright|The [[Colossus of Rhodes]], as depicted in an artist's impression of 1880]]
Following the death of Alexander, his generals ([[Diadochi]]) vied for control of the kingdom. Three — [[Ptolemy I Soter|Ptolemy]], [[Seleucus I Nicator|Seleucus]], and [[Antigonus I Monophthalmus|Antigonus]] — succeeded in dividing the kingdom among themselves. Rhodes formed strong commercial and cultural ties with the Ptolemies in [[Alexandria]], and together formed the Rhodo-Egyptian alliance that controlled trade throughout the Aegean in the 3rd century BC.<ref>A. Agelarakis"Demographic Dynamics and Funerary Rituals as Reflected from Rhodian Handra Urns", ''Archival Report'', Archaeological and Historical Institute of Rhodes, 2005.</ref>

The city developed into a maritime, commercial and cultural center; its coins circulated nearly everywhere in the Mediterranean. Its famous schools of philosophy, science, literature and [[rhetoric]] shared masters with Alexandria: the Athenian rhetorician [[Aeschines]], who formed a school at Rhodes; [[Apollonius of Rhodes]], who wrote about [[Jason]] and [[Medea]] in the ''[[Argonautica]]''; the observations and works of the astronomers [[Hipparchus]] and [[Geminus]]; and the rhetorician [[Dionysius Thrax]]. Its school of sculptors developed, under [[Pergamon|Pergamese]] influence, a rich, dramatic style that can be characterized as "[[Hellenistic civilization|Hellenistic]] [[Baroque]]". [[Agesander of Rhodes]], with two other Rhodian sculptors, carved the famous ''[[Laocoön and His Sons|Laocoön group]]'', now in the [[Vatican Museums]], and the [[Sperlonga sculptures|large sculptures rediscovered at Sperlonga]] in the villa of [[Tiberius]], probably in the early [[Roman Empire|Imperial period]].<ref>Boardman, pp. 199–201</ref>

In 305 BC, Antigonus directed his son, [[Demetrius I of Macedon|Demetrius]], to [[Siege of Rhodes (305–304 BC)|besiege Rhodes]] in an attempt to break its alliance with Egypt. Demetrius created huge [[siege engines]], including a {{cvt|180|ft|m|0|adj=on}} [[battering ram]] and a [[siege tower]] called [[Helepolis]] that weighed {{cvt|360000|lb|kg|0}}. Despite this engagement, in 304 BC after only one year, he relented and signed a peace agreement, leaving behind a huge store of military equipment. The Rhodians sold the equipment and used the money to erect a statue of their sun god, [[Helios]], the statue since called the [[Colossus of Rhodes]]. The Rhodians celebrated in honour of Helios a grand festival, the [[Halieia]].<ref>Smith, s. v. [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text.jsp?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0063%3Aalphabetic+letter%3DH%3Aentry+group%3D1%3Aentry%3Dhalia-cn-02 Halia] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220616112032/https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text.jsp?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0063%3Aalphabetic+letter%3DH%3Aentry+group%3D1%3Aentry%3Dhalia-cn-02 |date=16 June 2022 }}, perseus.tufts.edu. Accessed 31 August 2022.</ref>

Throughout the 3rd century BC, Rhodes attempted to secure its independence and commerce, particularly its virtual control over the [[grain trade]] in the eastern Mediterranean. Both of these goals depended on none of the three great Hellenistic states achieving dominance. Consequently, the Rhodians pursued a policy of maintaining a balance of power among the Antigonids, Seleucids, and Ptolemies, even if that meant going to war with its traditional ally, Egypt. To this end, they employed their economy and their excellent navy as leverage, which was manned by proverbially the finest sailors in the Mediterranean world: “If we have ten Rhodians, we have ten ships.”<ref>{{langx|grc|Ἡμεῖς δέκα Ῥόδιοι, δέκα νῆες: ἐπὶ τῶν ἀλαζονευομένων|italics=yes}}. This is a bragging proverb from Pseudo-[[Diogenes]] collected in {{cite book |last1=von Leutsch |first1=E. L. |author-link=Ernst Ludwig von Leutsch |last2=Schneidewin |first2=F. G. |title=Corpus paroemiographorum Graecorum, Vol. I |series='Diogeniani', Century V, 18 |date=1839 |place=Göttingen |publisher=Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht |language=Ancient Greek, Latin |page=254 |url=https://archive.org/details/corpusparoemiogr01leutuoft/page/254/mode/2up}}

In a footnote they cite the adage in {{langx|la|Nos decem Rhodii, decem naves. De iactubundis.|italics=yes}} 'We [are] ten Rhodians, [we have] ten ships. On boasting.' in [[Michael Apostolius]] (ed. Daniel Heinsius). [https://books.google.com/books?id=7qxAAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA116 ''Paroemiae (Graece et latine.)'' IX, 85] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210609154146/https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=7qxAAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA116 |date=9 June 2021 }} (in Ancient Greek and Latin). Leiden: Elsevir, 1616, pg. 116.</ref>

The Rhodians also established their dominance on the shores of [[Caria]] across from their island, which became known as the "[[Rhodian Peraia]]". It extended roughly from the modern city of [[Muğla]] (ancient ''Mobolla'') in the north and [[Kaunos]] bordering [[Lycia]] in the south, near the present-day [[Dalyan]], Turkey.

Rhodes successfully carried on this policy through the course of the third century BC, an impressive achievement for what was essentially a democratic state. By the end of that period, however, the balance of power was crumbling, as declining Ptolemaic power made Egypt an attractive target for Seleucid ambitions. In 203/2 BC the young and dynamic kings of Antigonid Macedon and Seleucid Asia, [[Philip V of Macedon|Philip V]] and [[Antiochus III]], agreed to accept—at least temporarily—their respective military ambitions: Philip's [[Cretan War (205–200 BC)#War against Pergamum and Rhodes|campaign in the Aegean]] and [[Cretan War (205–200 BC)#Asia Minor campaign|western Anatolia]] and Antiochus's plan for Egypt. Heading a coalition of small states, the Rhodians [[Battle of Chios (201 BC)|checked Philip's navy]], but not his superior army. Without a third power to which to turn, the Rhodians (along with ambassadors from Pergamum, Egypt, and Athens) appealed in 201 BC to the [[Roman Republic]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Errington |first=Robert Malcolm |title=A History of Macedonia |url=https://archive.org/details/historyofmacedon00erri |page=201 |url-access=registration |year=1990 |publisher=University of California Press |isbn=978-0520063198}}</ref><ref>{{cite thesis |last=Willoughby |first=Jack James |title=Interventions by the Roman Republic in Illyria 230–167 BC |date=2018 |publisher=University of Exeter |type=D.Phil. thesis |pages=119–120 |url=https://ore.exeter.ac.uk/repository/bitstream/handle/10871/39525/WilloughbyJ.pdf?isAllowed=y&sequence=1 |access-date=28 June 2021 |archive-date=9 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709181709/https://ore.exeter.ac.uk/repository/bitstream/handle/10871/39525/WilloughbyJ.pdf?isAllowed=y&sequence=1 |url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Rhodos Ritterkastell bei Lindos.jpg|thumb|upright|Medieval gate at the Acropolis of [[Lindos]]]]
[[File:Rhodes 88-42 BC-AD.jpg|thumb|Silver [[Ancient drachma|drachma]] of Rhodes, 88/42 BC. Obverse: radiate head of [[Helios]]. Reverse: [[rose]], ''"rhodon"'' (ῥόδον), the symbol of Rhodes.]]
Despite being exhausted by the [[Second Punic War]] against [[Hannibal]] (218–201 BC) the Romans agreed to intervene, still angry over the Macedonian alliance with Carthage that had led to the [[First Macedonian War]] from 214 to 205 BC. The Senate saw the appeal from Rhodes and her allies as the opportunity to pressure Philip. The result was the [[Second Macedonian War]] (200–196 BC), which Rome won and greatly reduced Macedon's power, prestige, and territory. Rhodian independence was preserved. Rhodian influence in the Aegean was cemented through the organization of the [[Cyclades]] into the [[Second Nesiotic League]] under Rhodian leadership.

The Romans withdrew from Greece after the end of the conflict, but the resulting power vacuum quickly drew in Antiochus III and subsequently the Romans. The [[Roman–Seleucid War]] lasted from 192 to 188 BC with Rome, Rhodes, Pergamon, and other Roman-allied Greek states defeated the Seleucids and their allies, the last Mediterranean power that might even vaguely threaten Roman dominance. Having provided Rome with valuable naval help in her first foray into Asia, the Rhodians were rewarded with territory and enhanced status by the [[Treaty of Apamea]] (188 BC).<ref>{{cite book |last=Livy |author-link=Livy |editor-last=Rhys |editor-first=Ernest |title=History of Rome, vol. V |pages=38–39 |others=Translated by Rev. Canon Roberts |date=1905 |publisher=J. M. Dent & Sons |place=London |url=http://mcadams.posc.mu.edu/txt/ah/Livy/Livy38.html |access-date=1 July 2021 |archive-date=17 June 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090617135735/http://mcadams.posc.mu.edu/txt/ah/Livy/Livy38.html |url-status=live}}</ref> The Romans once again evacuated the east – the Senate preferred clients to provinces – but it was clear that Rome now ruled the Mediterranean and Rhodian autonomy was ultimately dependent upon good relations with them.

Those good graces soon evaporated in the wake of the [[Third Macedonian War]] (171–168 BC). In 169 BC, during the war against [[Perseus of Macedon|Perseus]], Rhodes sent [[Agepolis]] as ambassador to the consul [[Quintus Marcius Philippus (consul 186 BC)|Quintus Marcius Philippus]], and then to Rome in the following year, hoping to turn the Senate against the war.<ref>{{cite book |last=Polybius |author-link=Polybius |editor=Friedrich Otto Hultsch |title=The Histories of Polybius |publisher=[[Macmillan Publishers|Macmillan & Co.]] |year=1889 |location=London |pages=xxviii. 14, 15, xxix. 4, 7 |url={{Google books |plainurl=yes |id=pjQNAAAAIAAJ}} }}</ref>

Rhodes remained scrupulously neutral during the war, but in the view of hostile elements in the Senate she had been a bit too friendly with the defeated King Perseus. Some actually proposed declaring war on the island republic, but this was averted. In 164 BC, Rhodes became a "permanent ally" of Rome, which was essentially a reduction to [[client state]] of nominal but meaningless independence. It was said that the Romans ultimately turned against the Rhodians because the islanders were the only people they had encountered who were more arrogant than themselves.

After surrendering its independence, Rhodes became a cultural and educational center for Roman noble families. It was especially noted for its teachers of rhetoric, such as [[Hermagoras of Temnos|Hermagoras]] and the unknown author of ''[[Rhetorica ad Herennium]]''. At first, the state was an important ally of Rome and enjoyed numerous privileges, but these were later lost in various machinations of Roman politics. [[Gaius Cassius Longinus|Cassius]] eventually invaded the island and sacked the city in 43 BC. In the early Imperial period Rhodes became a favorite place for political exiles.<ref>On Rhodes in antiquity see esp. [[Richard Berthold|R.M. Berthold]], ''Rhodes in the Hellenistic Age'', Cornell University Press, 1984.</ref>

In the 1st century AD, the Emperor [[Tiberius]] spent a brief term of exile on Rhodes. By tradition, [[Paul the Apostle]] evangelized and helped establish an [[Early Christianity|early Christian]] church on the island during the first century.<ref>See [[Acts of the apostles|Acts]] 21, although note that Acts was probably not written by an actual companion of Paul by modern scholars; see [[Authorship of Luke–Acts]].</ref>

In ancient times there was a Roman saying: "[[Hic Rhodus, hic salta]]!"—"Here is Rhodes, jump here!" (as translated from Ancient Greek "Αὐτοῦ γὰρ καὶ Ῥόδος καὶ πήδημα"), an admonition to prove one's idle boasts by deed, rather than boastful talk. It comes from an [[Aesop's fable]] called "[[s:Three Hundred Æsop's Fables/The Boasting Traveller|The Boasting Traveller]]" and was cited by [[Hegel]], [[Marx]], and [[Kierkegaard]].

===Byzantine period===
{{Main|Byzantine Greece}}

In 395 with the division of the [[Roman Empire]], the long [[Byzantine Empire|Byzantine]] period began for Rhodes. In [[Late Antiquity]], the island was the capital of the [[Roman province]] of the [[Islands (Roman province)|Islands]], headed by a ''[[praeses]]'' (''[[hegemon]]'' in Greek), and encompassing most of the [[Aegean islands]], with twenty cities. Correspondingly, the island was also the [[Metropolis of Rhodes|metropolis]] of the ecclesiastical province of Cyclades, with eleven [[suffragan]] sees.<ref name="ODB">{{ODB |last=Gregory |first=Timothy E. |title=Rhodes |pages=1791–1792}}</ref>

Beginning from ca. 600 AD, its influence in maritime issues was manifested in the collection of [[Admiralty law|maritime laws]] known as "[[Rhodian Sea Law]]" (''Nomos Rhodion Nautikos''), accepted throughout the Mediterranean and in use throughout Byzantine times (and influencing the development of [[Admiralty law#History|admiralty law]] up to the present).{{Citation needed|reason='up to the present' needs some kind of footnote|date=April 2011}} In 622/3, during the climactic [[Byzantine–Sasanian War of 602–628]], Rhodes was captured by the [[Sasanian navy]].{{sfn|Kia|2016|page=223}}{{sfn|Greatrex|Lieu|2005|page=197}}{{sfn|Howard-Johnston|2006|page=33}}

Rhodes was occupied by the Islamic [[Umayyad Caliphate|Umayyad]] forces of Caliph [[Muawiyah I]] in 654, who carried off the remains of the Colossus of Rhodes.<ref name="ODB"/><ref>{{cite book |last=Treadgold |first=Warren |author-link=Warren Treadgold |title=A History of the Byzantine State and Society |url={{Google books |plainurl=yes |id=nYbnr5XVbzUC}} |location=Stanford, California |publisher=Stanford University Press |year=1997 |isbn=0-8047-2630-2 |page=313}}</ref> The island was again captured by the Arabs in 673 as part of their [[Siege of Constantinople (674–678)|first attack on Constantinople]]. When their fleet was destroyed by [[Greek fire]] before Constantinople and by storms on its return trip, however, the Umayyads evacuated their troops in 679/80 as part of the Byzantine–Umayyad peace treaty.<ref>{{cite book |last=Treadgold |first=Warren |author-link=Warren Treadgold |title=A History of the Byzantine State and Society |url={{Google books |plainurl=yes |id=nYbnr5XVbzUC}} |location=Stanford, California |publisher=Stanford University Press |year=1997 |isbn=0-8047-2630-2 |pages=325, 327}}</ref> In 715 the Byzantine fleet dispatched against the Arabs launched a rebellion at Rhodes, which led to the installation of [[Theodosios III]] on the Byzantine throne.<ref name="ODB"/><ref>{{cite book |last=Treadgold |first=Warren |author-link=Warren Treadgold |title=A History of the Byzantine State and Society |url={{Google books |plainurl=yes |id=nYbnr5XVbzUC}} |location=Stanford, California |publisher=Stanford University Press |year=1997 |isbn=0-8047-2630-2 |page=344}}</ref>

From the early 8th to the 12th centuries, Rhodes belonged to the [[Cibyrrhaeot Theme]] of the Byzantine Empire, and was a centre for shipbuilding and commerce.<ref name="ODB"/> In {{abbr|c.|circa}} 1090, it was occupied by the forces of the [[Seljuk dynasty|Seljuk Turks]], after the long period of chaos resulting from the [[Battle of Manzikert]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Brownworth |first=Lars |year=2009 |title=Lost to the West: The Forgotten Byzantine Empire That Rescued Western Civilization |publisher=Crown |isbn=978-0-307-40795-5 |quote=... the Muslims captured Ephesus in 1090 and spread out to the Greek islands. Chios, Rhodes, and Lesbos fell in quick succession. |page=[https://archive.org/details/losttowestforgot00brow/page/233 233] |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/losttowestforgot00brow/page/233}}</ref> Rhodes was recaptured by the Emperor [[Alexios I Komnenos]] during the [[First Crusade]].
[[File:Rhodes-TerrePleinSpain.JPG|thumb|Part of the late medieval [[fortifications of Rhodes]]]]

As Byzantine central power weakened under the [[Angeloi]] emperors (1185–1204), in the first half of the 13th century, Rhodes became the centre of an independent domain under [[Leo Gabalas]] and his brother [[John Gabalas|John]],<ref name="ODB"/> until it was [[Genoese occupation of Rhodes|occupied]] by the [[Republic of Genoa|Genoese]] in 1248–1250. The Genoese were evicted by the [[Empire of Nicaea]], after which the island became a regular province of the Nicaean state (and after 1261 of the restored Byzantine Empire). In 1305, the island was given as a fief to [[Andrea Morisco]], a Genoese adventurer who had entered Byzantine service.

===Crusader and Ottoman rule===
{{Further|Ottoman Greece|Hospitaller Rhodes}}
[[File:OttomanJanissariesAndDefendingKnightsOfStJohnSiegeOfRhodes1522.jpg|thumb|Ottoman [[Janissaries]] and defending [[Knights of Saint John]] at the [[Siege of Rhodes (1522)|Siege of Rhodes]] in 1522, from an Ottoman manuscript]]
[[File:A small harbour in Rhodes.jpg|thumb|Rhodes in the 19th century]]

In 1306–1310, the Byzantine era of the island's history came to an end when [[Hospitaller conquest of Rhodes|the island was occupied]] by the [[Knights Hospitaller]].<ref name="ODB"/> Under the rule of the newly named "Knights of Rhodes", the city was rebuilt into a model of the European medieval ideal. Many of the city's famous monuments, including the [[Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights of Rhodes|Palace of the Grand Master]], were built during this period.
[[Image:Maltan knights castle in rh.jpg|thumb|right|[[Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights of Rhodes|Palace of the Grand Master]] in the city of Rhodes]]

The  walls had been strengthened by the Knights through hiring Italian engineers that used knowledge of ballistics to design defences against gunpowder attacks, and which withstood the attacks of the [[Sultan of Egypt]] in 1444, and a [[Siege of Rhodes (1480)|siege]] by the [[Ottoman Empire|Ottomans]] under [[Mehmed II]] in 1480. Eventually, however, Rhodes [[Siege of Rhodes (1522)|fell]] to the large army of [[Suleiman the Magnificent]] in December 1522. The Sultan deployed 400 ships delivering 100,000 men to the island (200,000 in other sources). Against this force the Knights, under Grand Master [[Philippe Villiers de L'Isle-Adam]], had about 7,000 men-at-arms, with an English, Spanish, French, and Italian contingent each defending separate areas and their fortifications. The siege lasted six months, at the end of which the surviving defeated Hospitallers were allowed to withdraw to the [[Kingdom of Sicily]]. Despite the defeat, both Christians and Muslims seem to have regarded the conduct of Villiers de L'Isle-Adam as extremely valiant, and the Grand Master was proclaimed a Defender of the Faith by Pope Adrian VI (see [[Knights Hospitaller#Knights of Cyprus and Rhodes|Knights of Cyprus and Rhodes]]). The knights would later move their base of operations to [[History of Malta under the Order of Saint John|Malta]] and [[Gozo]].

Rhodes was thereafter a possession of the [[Ottoman Empire]] (see [[Sanjak of Rhodes]]) for nearly four centuries.

===Modern history===

[[File:Rhodus type Müller A86.jpg|thumb|upright=0.55|5 soldi Austrian Levant stamp cancelled in brown ''RHODUS''.<ref>{{cite book |title=Die Poststempel auf der Freimarken-Ausgabe 1867 von Österreich und Ungarn |first=Edwin |last=Mueller |year=1930}}</ref>]]
[[File:Rhodes Italian landing.jpg|thumb|Italian landing at Rhodes on May 4, 1912, during the Italo-Turkish War]]
[[File:Offices of the Prefecture of the Dodecanese 02.jpg|thumb|''Palazzo Governale'' (today the offices of the Prefecture of the Dodecanese), built during the [[Italian Islands of the Aegean|Italian period]]]]

In the 19th century the island was populated by ethnic groups from the surrounding nations, including Jews, whose presence goes back 2,300 years.<ref name="auto"/> Under Ottoman rule, they generally did fairly well, but discrimination and bigotry occasionally arose. In February 1840, the Jews of Rhodes were falsely accused by the Greek Orthodox community of ritually murdering a Christian boy. This became known as the [[Rhodes blood libel]].

Austria opened a post-office at ''RHODUS'' (Venetian name) before 1864,<ref>{{cite book |title=Handbook of Austria and Lombardy-Venetia Cancellations on the Postage Stamp Issues 1850–1864 |first=Edwin |last=Mueller |year=1961 |page=217}}</ref> as witnessed by stamps with [[Franz Joseph I of Austria|Franz Joseph]]'s head.

In 1912, Italy seized Rhodes from the Ottomans during the [[Italo-Turkish War]]. Being under Italian administration, the island's population was thus spared the [[Population exchange between Greece and Turkey|"exchange of the minorities"]] between Greece and [[Turkey]]. Rhodes and the rest of the Dodecanese Islands were assigned to Italy in the Treaty of Ouchy. Although the treaty stipulated that the islands were to be returned to Turkey, the advent of [[World War I]] prevented this from happening. Turkey ceded them officially to Italy with the 1923 [[Treaty of Lausanne]]. It then became the core of their possession of the ''[[Isole Italiane dell'Egeo]]''.

Thousands of [[Italian colonists in the Dodecanese|Italian colonists]] settled in the island, mainly in the capital "Rodi", while some of them founded farm villages (like "Peveragno Rodio" (1929), "Campochiaro" (1935), "San Marco" (1936) and "Savona" (1938): in 1940 the creation of the "[[Italian Islands of the Aegean|Provincia italiana di Rodi]]" in the Dodecanese islands was officially proposed. In the late 1930s, Mussolini embarked on a program of [[Italianization]], attempting to make the island of Rhodes a transportation hub that would facilitate the spread of Italian culture in [[Greece]] and the [[Levant]]. The [[Italian Fascism|Fascist]] program coincided with improvements to infrastructure, building imposing buildings such as the Hotel Rodon, the Puccini Theater and many administrative buildings with master architects such as [[Armando Bernabiti]] and [[Florestano Di Fausto]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rhodesgreece.co.uk/italian-architecture-of-rhodes.html|title=Italian architecture of Rhodes |website=www.rhodesgreece.co.uk}}</ref> While the government worked at modernization, they also obliterated many historical buildings that did not match their ideal of a modern society.

The island suffered through many "governors" appointed by the Italian government. As such, in 1938, the "Leggi razziali" (Racial Laws) were passed, mimicking the footsteps of the antisemitic policies promoted in other European countries. All Jews who served in the government, including the military, were forced to resign, school children were forced to abandon their studies, and all commerce that included any dealings with Jews was forbidden.

Following the [[Armistice between Italy and Allied armed forces|Italian Armistice of 8 September 1943]], the British attempted to get the Italian garrison on Rhodes to change sides. This was anticipated by the [[German Army (Wehrmacht)|German Army]], which succeeded in occupying the island with the [[Battle of Rhodes (1943)|Battle of Rhodes]]. In great measure, the German occupation caused the British failure in the subsequent [[Dodecanese Campaign]].

After September 1943, the Jews were sent to concentration camps. However, the [[Turkey|Turkish]] Consul [[Selahattin Ülkümen]] succeeded, at considerable risk to himself and his family, in saving 42 Jewish families, about 200 persons in total, who had Turkish citizenship or were members of Turkish citizens' families.
[[File:The Liberation of Rhodes, 1945 E30950.jpg|thumb|Indian soldiers taking over a sentry post from a German soldier following the German surrender in 1945]]
On 8 May 1945, the Germans under [[Otto Wagener]] surrendered Rhodes as well as the Dodecanese as a whole to the British, who soon after then occupied the islands as a military protectorate.<ref>[https://greekherald.com.au/culture/history/on-day-unification-dodecanese-islands-with-greece/ Germans surrender Dodecanese to British] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220325175512/https://greekherald.com.au/culture/history/on-day-unification-dodecanese-islands-with-greece/ |date=25 March 2022 }}, greekherald.com.au. Accessed 31 August 2022.</ref>

At the [[Paris Peace Treaties, 1947#Italy|Paris Peace Treaties]], Rhodes, together with the other islands of the [[Dodecanese]], was united with [[Greece]] in February 1947. 6,000 Italian colonists were forced to abandon the island and returned to Italy.

===Contemporary period===
In 1949, Rhodes was the venue for negotiations between [[Israel]] and [[Egypt]], [[Jordan]], [[Lebanon]], and [[Syria]], concluding with the [[1949 Armistice Agreements]].
<ref>[https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1949v06/d575 1949 Armistice Agreements: Historical Documents] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220901015448/https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1949v06/d575 |date=1 September 2022 }}, History.state.gov. Accessed 31 August 2022.</ref>

In 2023, the island was hit by the [[2023 Greece wildfires]], which forced the largest evacuations in the history of Greece. Nearly 19,000 people had to evacuate.<ref>{{Cite web |author1=Duarte Mendonca |author2=Chris Liakos |author3=Elinda Labropoulou |author4=Amy Cassidy |date=2023-07-22 |title=Tourists flee Rhodes wildfires in Greece's largest-ever evacuation |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/07/22/europe/greece-record-breaking-heat-wave-climate-intl/index.html |access-date=2023-07-25 |publisher=CNN |language=en}}</ref>

==Geography==

The island of Rhodes is shaped like a [[spear]]head, {{cvt|79.7|km|mi|1}} long and {{cvt|38|km|mi|0}} across at its widest, with a total area of approximately {{cvt|1400|km2|sqmi|0}} and a coastline of approximately {{cvt|220|km|mi|0}}. [[Limestone]] is the main bedrock.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aegeanislands.gr/islands-aigaio/geographic-information/info-aigaio.html |title=Geography and Geomorphology – South Aegean |publisher=www.aegeanislands.gr |access-date=15 June 2016 |archive-date=4 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200704210716/http://www.aegeanislands.gr/islands-aigaio/geographic-information/info-aigaio.html |url-status=dead}}</ref> The [[Rhodes, Greece|city of Rhodes]] is located at the northern tip of the island, as well as the site of the ancient and modern commercial [[harbour]]s. The main airport is the [[Diagoras Airport|Diagoras International Airport]] (IATA code: RHO), located {{cvt|14|km|mi|0}} to the southwest of the city in [[Paradisi, Greece|Paradisi]]. The road network radiates from the city along the east and west coasts.

Outside the city of Rhodes, the island is dotted with small villages of whitewashed homes and spa resorts, among them [[Faliraki]], [[Lindos]], [[Kremasti]], [[Haraki]], [[Pefkos]], [[Archangelos, Rhodes|Archangelos]], [[Afantou]],<!-- Kiotari, --> [[Koskinou]], [[Embona]] (Attavyros), [[Paradisi, Greece|Paradisi]], and [[Trianta]] (Ialysos).

Rhodes is situated {{cvt|363|km|mi|0}} east-southeast from the Greek mainland, and {{cvt|18|km|mi|0}} from the southern shore of [[Turkey]]. Mount [[Attavyros]], at {{cvt|1216|m|ft|0}}, is the island's highest point of elevation.

===Flora===
{{further|Natural history of Rhodes}}

The interior of the island is mountainous, sparsely inhabited and covered with forests of [[pine]] (''[[Pinus brutia]]'') and [[Cupressus sempervirens|cypress]] (''Cupressus sempervirens''). While the shores are rocky, the island has arable strips of land where [[citrus]] fruit, [[wine]] grapes, vegetables, [[olives]] and other crops are grown. Many flowering plants for which the island is named are abundant.

===Fauna===
{{further|Natural history of Rhodes}}

The Rhodian population of [[fallow deer]] was found to be genetically distinct in 2005, and to be of urgent conservation concern.<ref>{{Citation |author1=Marco, M |author2=Cavallaro, A |author3=Pecchioli, E |author4=Vernesi, C |name-list-style=amp |title=Artificial Occurrence of the Fallow Deer, Dama dama dama (L., 1758), on the Island of Rhodes (Greece): Insight from mtDNA Analysis |journal=Human Evolution |volume=21 |issue=2 |pages=167–175 |date=11 November 2006 |doi=10.1007/s11598-006-9014-9 |s2cid=84328010}}</ref> In [[Petaloudes]] Valley (Greek for "Valley of the Butterflies"), large numbers of [[Euplagia quadripunctaria|tiger moths]] gather during the summer months.

===Earthquakes===
Earthquakes include the [[226 BC Rhodes earthquake|226 BC earthquake]] that destroyed the [[Colossus of Rhodes]]; [[1481 Rhodes earthquake|one on 3 May 1481]] which destroyed much of the city of Rhodes;<ref>{{cite web |url=http://nisee.berkeley.edu/elibrary/Image/KZ13 |title=Rhodes, Greece, 1481 |work=Jan Kozak Collection: KZ13, The Earthquake Engineering Online Archive |access-date=15 July 2008 |archive-date=10 June 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070610044958/http://nisee.berkeley.edu/elibrary/Image/KZ13 |url-status=live}}</ref> and one on 26 June 1926.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Ambraseys |first1=N. N. |last2=Adams |first2=R. D. |year=1998 |title=The Rhodes earthquake of 26 June 1926 |journal=[[Journal of Seismology]] |volume=2 |issue=3 |pages=267–292 |doi=10.1023/A:1009706415417 |bibcode=1998JSeis...2..267A |s2cid=127587361}}</ref>

On 15 July 2008, Rhodes was struck by a [[2008 Dodecanese earthquake|6.3 magnitude earthquake]], causing minor damage to a few old buildings and one death.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.discover-rhodes.com/news/earthquakes-aftermath/ |title=Earthquake's aftermath |work=Discover Rhodes |date=16 July 2008 |access-date= |archive-date=21 November 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081121032752/http://www.discover-rhodes.com/news/earthquakes-aftermath/ |url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Climate===
Rhodes has a hot-summer [[Mediterranean climate]] (''Csa'' in the [[Köppen climate classification]]) with mild winters and hot summers. The South East of the island experiences a significantly warmer climate with [[Lindos]] registering a mean annual temperature of around {{cvt|22.0|C|F}},<ref name="[[National Observatory of Athens]]">{{cite web |url=https://www.meteo.gr/climate/ |title=Climate normals |publisher=[[National Observatory of Athens]] |access-date=30 April 2022}}</ref> making it the warmest area in Greece.<ref name="National Observatory of Athens">{{cite web |url=https://www.meteo.gr/article_view.cfm?entryID=173 |title=The warmest area of the country is |publisher=National Observatory of Athens |access-date=19 July 2021 |archive-date=11 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210711030604/https://www.meteo.gr/article_view.cfm?entryID=173 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Iefimerida">{{cite web |url=https://www.iefimerida.gr/travel/sti-lindo-tis-rodoy |title=Lindos, Rhodes |date=22 August 2019 |publisher=Iefimerida |access-date=19 July 2021 |archive-date=18 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210718153344/https://www.iefimerida.gr/travel/sti-lindo-tis-rodoy |url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Rhodes International Airport]] in coastal [[Paradeisi]] has never dropped below {{cvt|1.2|C|F}} from 1977 when the station started its operation.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.infoclimat.fr/fr/cartes/observations-meteo/archives/temperature_min/14/fevrier/2004/0h/carte-interactive.html | title=1.2C Paradeisi 2004 | accessdate=29 March 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.infoclimat.fr/fr/cartes/observations-meteo/archives/temperature_min/19/fevrier/1983/0h/carte-interactive.html | title=1.2C Paradeisi 1983 | accessdate=29 March 2025}}</ref> The old inland [[Rhodes Air Base|Maritsa Airport]] has dropped as low as {{cvt|-4.0|C|F}}.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.itia.ntua.gr/el/getfile/211/2/documents/1998_FragmaGadoura_Ydrologia.pdf | title=Maritsa -4.0C | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220616054418/https://www.itia.ntua.gr/el/getfile/211/2/documents/1998_FragmaGadoura_Ydrologia.pdf | accessdate=29 March 2025| archive-date=16 June 2022 }}</ref> The highest temperature ever recorded in Paradeisi was {{cvt|40.2|C|F}} while the highest temperature ever recorded on the island was {{cvt|43.6|C|F}} in [[Lindos]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.infoclimat.fr/fr/cartes/observations-meteo/archives/temperature_max/12/aout/2002/0h/carte-interactive.html#8/36.2063/27.9544 | title=40.2C Paradeisi | accessdate=2 April 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://penteli.meteo.gr/stations/lindos/NOAAPRYR.TXT | title=43.6C Lindos | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250402135831/https://penteli.meteo.gr/stations/lindos/NOAAPRYR.TXT | accessdate=2 April 2025| archive-date=2 April 2025 }}</ref> Coastal Rhodes falls in 11a [[hardiness zone]]. <ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.emy.gr/emy/el/climatology/climatology | title=HNMS | accessdate=5 May 2024}}</ref> Moreover, according to the [[Hellenic National Meteorological Service]], South East Rhodes records the highest mean annual sunshine in Greece with over 3,100 hours.<ref>[http://climatlas.hnms.gr/sdi/ Climate Atlas] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220204171218/http://climatlas.hnms.gr/sdi/ |date=4 February 2022 }}, climatlas.hnms.gr/]. Accessed 31 August 2002.</ref>
{{Weather box
|width=80%
|metric first = yes
|single line = yes
|location = [[Rhodes International Airport]], [[Paradeisi]] 7 m a.s.l. (1995-2025). Extremes 1977-present
|Jan high C = 15.3
|Feb high C = 15.6
|Mar high C = 17.3
|Apr high C = 20.2
|May high C = 24.0
|Jun high C = 27.9
|Jul high C = 30.5
|Aug high C = 30.7
|Sep high C = 28.2
|Oct high C = 24.6
|Nov high C = 20.8
|Dec high C = 17.1

|Jan mean C = 13.1
|Feb mean C = 13.2
|Mar mean C = 14.7
|Apr mean C = 17.3
|May mean C = 21.0
|Jun mean C = 25.0
|Jul mean C = 27.5
|Aug mean C = 27.8
|Sep mean C = 25.6
|Oct mean C = 22.0
|Nov mean C = 18.1
|Dec mean C = 14.7

|Jan low C = 10.9
|Feb low C = 10.8
|Mar low C = 12.1
|Apr low C = 14.4
|May low C = 18.0
|Jun low C = 22.0
|Jul low C = 24.4
|Aug low C = 25.0
|Sep low C = 22.9
|Oct low C = 19.3
|Nov low C = 15.4
|Dec low C = 12.4

|Jan record high C  = 21.0
|Feb record high C  = 22.6
|Mar record high C  = 27.6
|Apr record high C  = 29.6
|May record high C  = 34.6
|Jun record high C  = 39.4
|Jul record high C  = 38.0
|Aug record high C  = 40.2
|Sep record high C  = 34.8
|Oct record high C  = 33.0
|Nov record high C  = 28.0
|Dec record high C  = 23.4

|Jan record low C   = 1.4
|Feb record low C   = 1.2
|Mar record low C   = 1.8
|Apr record low C   = 5.8
|May record low C   = 11.0
|Jun record low C   = 14.4
|Jul record low C   = 17.5
|Aug record low C   = 21.0
|Sep record low C   = 17.0
|Oct record low C   = 8.8
|Nov record low C   = 6.0
|Dec record low C   = 4.0

|rain colour = green
|Jan rain mm = 133.4
|Feb rain mm = 84.3
|Mar rain mm = 57.6
|Apr rain mm = 28.4
|May rain mm = 18.1
|Jun rain mm = 2.0
|Jul rain mm = 0.8
|Aug rain mm = 1.4
|Sep rain mm = 7.9
|Oct rain mm = 42.0
|Nov rain mm = 95.7
|Dec rain mm = 138.0

| Jan sun = 152.2
| Feb sun = 171.5
| Mar sun = 233.0
| Apr sun = 277.1
| May sun = 318.5
| Jun sun = 370.3
| Jul sun = 391.6
| Aug sun = 359.0
| Sep sun = 307.4
| Oct sun = 254.9
| Nov sun = 189.3
| Dec sun = 150.3
|source 1 = [[Hellenic National Meteorological Service]] (Apr 1995-Mar 2025),<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.emy.gr/emy/el/climatology/climatology | title=HNMS | accessdate=5 May 2024}}</ref> Infoclimat,<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.infoclimat.fr/fr/cartes/observations-meteo/archives/temperature_max/1/avril/1995/0h/carte-interactive.html | title=Paradeisi 1995-2009 | accessdate=2 April 2025}}</ref> Extremes from 1977,<ref>{{cite web | url=https://weatherspark.com/h/y/148607/1977/Historical-Weather-during-1977-at-Rhodes-International-Airport-Greece | title=1977-2025 extremes | accessdate=2 April 2025}}</ref> Sunshine (Aug 2009-Feb 2025)<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.emy.gr/emy/el/climatology/climatology | title=HNMS | accessdate=5 May 2024}}</ref> 
}}

{{Weather box
| metric first = yes
| single line = yes
|width=80%
| collapsed = y
| location = Rhodes Airport (Integrated [[Rhodes Air Base|Maritsa]] and [[Paradeisi]] climate normals)
| Jan record high C = 22.0
| Feb record high C = 22.6
| Mar record high C = 27.6
| Apr record high C = 30.6
| May record high C = 34.8
| Jun record high C = 36.2
| Jul record high C = 39.0
| Aug record high C = 41.2
| Sep record high C = 35.4
| Oct record high C = 33.2
| Nov record high C = 28.4
| Dec record high C = 23.4
| year record high C = 41.2
| Jan high C = 15.1
| Feb high C = 15.2
| Mar high C = 17
| Apr high C = 20.0
| May high C = 24.1
| Jun high C = 28.3
| Jul high C = 30.4
| Aug high C = 30.7
| Sep high C = 28.1
| Oct high C = 24.5
| Nov high C = 20.2
| Dec high C = 16.7
| Jan mean C = 12.0
| Feb mean C = 12.0
| Mar mean C = 13.5
| Apr mean C = 16.3
| May mean C = 20.0
| Jun mean C = 24.2
| Jul mean C = 26.4
| Aug mean C = 26.7
| Sep mean C = 24.4
| Oct mean C = 20.7
| Nov mean C = 16.7
| Dec mean C = 13.5
| Jan low C = 9.2
| Feb low C = 9.1
| Mar low C = 10.5
| Apr low C = 13
| May low C = 16.3
| Jun low C = 20.4
| Jul low C = 22.7
| Aug low C = 23.2
| Sep low C = 21
| Oct low C = 17.4
| Nov low C = 13.7
| Dec low C = 10.8
| Jan record low C = -4.0
| Feb record low C = -1.6
| Mar record low C = 0.2
| Apr record low C = 5.2
| May record low C = 8.6
| Jun record low C = 12.6
| Jul record low C = 16.8
| Aug record low C = 17.0
| Sep record low C = 10.6
| Oct record low C = 7.2
| Nov record low C = 2.4
| Dec record low C = 1.2
| year record low C = -4.0
|rain colour = green
| Jan rain mm = 151.8
| Feb rain mm = 101.7
| Mar rain mm = 68.9
| Apr rain mm = 29.4
| May rain mm = 16.4
| Jun rain mm = 1.8
| Jul rain mm = 0.3
| Aug rain mm = 0.2
| Sep rain mm = 6.3
| Oct rain mm = 56.9
| Nov rain mm = 89.6
| Dec rain mm = 152.8
| Jan rain days = 15.5
| Feb rain days = 12.7
| Mar rain days = 10.5
| Apr rain days = 7.6
| May rain days = 4.6
| Jun rain days = 1.2
| Jul rain days = 0.2
| Aug rain days = 0.1
| Sep rain days = 1.5
| Oct rain days = 6.7
| Nov rain days = 9.5
| Dec rain days = 15.4
| Jan humidity = 70.1
| Feb humidity = 69.1
| Mar humidity = 68.7
| Apr humidity = 66.5
| May humidity = 64.4
| Jun humidity = 58.5
| Jul humidity = 57.6
| Aug humidity = 59.9
| Sep humidity = 61.4
| Oct humidity = 67.5
| Nov humidity = 71.4
| Dec humidity = 72.4
| Jand sun = 5.0
| Febd sun = 6.0
| Mard sun = 7.0
| Aprd sun = 9.0
| Mayd sun = 11.0
| Jund sun = 13.0
| Juld sun = 14.0
| Augd sun = 13.0
| Sepd sun = 11.0
| Octd sun = 8.0
| Novd sun = 6.0
| Decd sun = 5.0
| source 1 = Hellenic National Meteorological Service (1955–2010 averages)<ref name="HNMS">{{cite web |url=http://www.hnms.gr/emy/en/climatology/climatology_city?perifereia=South%20Aegean&poli=Rodos |title=Climatology – Rodos |publisher=Hellenic National Meteorological Service |access-date=24 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170325112626/http://www.hnms.gr/hnms/english/climatology/climatology_region_diagrams_html?dr_city=Rodos |archive-date=25 March 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
| source 2 = NOAA (1961–1977 temperatures taken from [[Rhodes Air Base|Maritsa Airport]] and 1977–1990 from [[Rhodes International Airport]]<ref>[https://www.itia.ntua.gr/el/getfile/211/2/documents/1998_FragmaGadoura_Ydrologia.pdf Documents] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220616054418/https://www.itia.ntua.gr/el/getfile/211/2/documents/1998_FragmaGadoura_Ydrologia.pdf |date=16 June 2022 }}, itia.ntua.gr. Accessed 31 August 2022.</ref>),<ref name=NOAA>
{{cite web |url=ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/TABLES/REG_VI/GR/16749.TXT |title=Rhodes Climate Normals 1961–1990 |publisher=[[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201231184918/ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/TABLES/REG_VI/GR/16749.TXT |archive-date=2020-12-31 |url-status=dead |access-date=1 March 2015}}</ref> Weather Atlas (sunshine data)<ref name="Weather Atlas">{{cite web |url=https://www.weather-atlas.com/en/greece/rhodes-climate |title=Rhodes, Greece – Climate data |publisher=Weather Atlas |access-date=24 March 2017 |archive-date=25 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170325112732/https://www.weather-atlas.com/en/greece/rhodes-climate |url-status=live}}</ref>
| source = 
}}
{{Weather box
|width=80%
|metric first = yes
|single line = yes
| collapsed = y
|location = Rhodes Port 4 m a.s.l.
|Jan high C = 16.1
|Feb high C = 16.4
|Mar high C = 17.3
|Apr high C = 20.2
|May high C = 23.9
|Jun high C = 27.9
|Jul high C = 30.9
|Aug high C = 30.7
|Sep high C = 28.6
|Oct high C = 25.6
|Nov high C = 21.9
|Dec high C = 18.4

|Jan mean C = 14.0
|Feb mean C = 14.3
|Mar mean C = 15.1
|Apr mean C = 18.0
|May mean C = 21.4
|Jun mean C = 25.3
|Jul mean C = 28.2
|Aug mean C = 28.4
|Sep mean C = 26.5
|Oct mean C = 23.4
|Nov mean C = 19.7
|Dec mean C = 16.3

|Jan low C = 11.9
|Feb low C = 12.2
|Mar low C = 12.9
|Apr low C = 15.7
|May low C = 18.9
|Jun low C = 22.4
|Jul low C = 25.3
|Aug low C = 26.0
|Sep low C = 24.4
|Oct low C = 21.3
|Nov low C = 17.5
|Dec low C = 14.2

|Jan record high C  = 20.8
|Feb record high C  = 20.9
|Mar record high C  = 24.6
|Apr record high C  = 27.6
|May record high C  = 36.4
|Jun record high C  = 37.9
|Jul record high C  = 37.4
|Aug record high C  = 37.6
|Sep record high C  = 34.4
|Oct record high C  = 32.6
|Nov record high C  = 26.8
|Dec record high C  = 22.2

|Jan record low C   = 2.9
|Feb record low C   = 4.7
|Mar record low C   = 3.8
|Apr record low C   = 9.4
|May record low C   = 14.2
|Jun record low C   = 16.2
|Jul record low C   = 22.4
|Aug record low C   = 23.1
|Sep record low C   = 18.7
|Oct record low C   = 17.1
|Nov record low C   = 9.3
|Dec record low C   = 9.0

|rain colour = green
|Jan rain mm = 113.6
|Feb rain mm = 58.5
|Mar rain mm = 44.5
|Apr rain mm = 19.2
|May rain mm = 6.5
|Jun rain mm = 6.3
|Jul rain mm = 0.1
|Aug rain mm = 0.3
|Sep rain mm = 14.1
|Oct rain mm = 22.3
|Nov rain mm = 89.4
|Dec rain mm = 144.1

| Jan sun = 155.4
| Feb sun = 187.0
| Mar sun = 238.8
| Apr sun = 269.3
| May sun = 326.8
| Jun sun = 374.8
| Jul sun = 393.5
| Aug sun = 363.7
| Sep sun = 311.8
| Oct sun = 264.8
| Nov sun = 193.7
| Dec sun = 153.7
|source 1 = Municipal Port Fund of South Dodecanese (January 2019 – Mar 2025)<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.meteocam.gr/rhodes/ | title=Rhodes, Tourist Port - Municipal Port Fund of South Dodecanese Current Weather Conditions }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.litando.gr/|title=Αρχική - Δημοτικό Λιμενικό Ταμείο Νότιας Δωδεκανήσου|website=www.litando.gr|accessdate=19 April 2023}}</ref> 
|source 2 = Sunshine Rhodes AP <ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.emy.gr/emy/el/climatology/climatology | title=HNMS | accessdate=5 May 2024}}</ref> 
}}
{{Weather box
| location = Lindos 65 m a.s.l.
| metric first = yes
| single line = yes
| width = 80%
| collapsed = y
| Jan record high C = 21.9
| Feb record high C = 24.8
| Mar record high C = 25.9
| Apr record high C = 32.4
| May record high C = 36.2
| Jun record high C = 43.6
| Jul record high C = 42.7
| Aug record high C = 43.1
| Sep record high C = 39.8
| Oct record high C = 37.9
| Nov record high C = 27.2
| Dec record high C = 22.5
|Jan high C=16.4
|Feb high C=16.9
|Mar high C=18.6
|Apr high C=22.5
|May high C=26.9
|Jun high C=31.8
|Jul high C=35.5
|Aug high C=35.0
|Sep high C=31.6
|Oct high C=26.7
|Nov high C=22.0
|Dec high C=18.3

|Jan mean C= 13.8
|Feb mean C=14.2
|Mar mean C=15.7
|Apr mean C=19.1
|May mean C=23.2
|Jun mean C=27.9
|Jul mean C=31.5
|Aug mean C=31.4
|Sep mean C=28.2
|Oct mean C=23.7
|Nov mean C=19.4
|Dec mean C=15.8


|Jan low C= 11.3
|Feb low C= 11.6
|Mar low C= 12.8
|Apr low C=15.7
|May low C=19.5
|Jun low C=24.1
|Jul low C=27.6
|Aug low C=27.8
|Sep low C=24.8
|Oct low C=20.7
|Nov low C=16.7
|Dec low C= 13.2

| Jan record low C = 1.1
| Feb record low C = 3.3
| Mar record low C = 3.1
| Apr record low C = 9.4
| May record low C = 13.8
| Jun record low C = 16.8
| Jul record low C = 21.1
| Aug record low C = 24.0
| Sep record low C = 16.3
| Oct record low C = 13.1
| Nov record low C = 8.8
| Dec record low C = 4.3
|rain colour = green
|Jan rain mm=107.2
|Feb rain mm=74.5
|Mar rain mm=45.1
|Apr rain mm=10.8
|May rain mm=11.0
|Jun rain mm=2.5
|Jul rain mm=1.4
|Aug rain mm=0.04
|Sep rain mm=6.1
|Oct rain mm=22.5
|Nov rain mm=77.0
|Dec rain mm=123.9

|source 1=[[National Observatory of Athens]] (May 2014 – Feb 2025)<ref name="auto1">{{cite web|url =https://www.meteo.gr/climate/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220927081043/https://meteo.gr/climate/|archive-date=27 September 2022|title= Climate |publisher = National Observatory of Athens|language = el}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.meteo.gr/Monthly_Bulletins.cfm | title=N.O.A Monthly Bulletins }}</ref>
|source 2=[[World Meteorological Organization]]<ref name="WMO">{{cite web | url=https://oscar.wmo.int/surface/#/search/station/stationReportDetails/0-300-1-lindos|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230712151921/https://oscar.wmo.int/surface/#/search/station/stationReportDetails/0-300-1-lindos
|archive-date=12 July 2023 |title=World Meteorological Organization | accessdate=12 July 2023}}</ref>
}}
{|style="float:left;text-align:center;line-height:1.2em;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto" class="wikitable mw-collapsible"
|-
!Colspan=14|Sea temperature for Rhodes
|-
!Month
!Jan
!Feb
!Mar
!Apr
!May
!Jun
!Jul
!Aug
!Sep
!Oct
!Nov
!Dec
!style="border-left-width:medium"|Year
|-
!Average sea temperature °C (°F)
| style="background:#ffedb2; color:#000;"|17.9<br />(64.2)
| style="background:#fff; color:#000;"|17.0<br />(62.6)
| style="background:#fffdf6; color:#000;"|17.1<br />(62.8)
| style="background:#fff3cb; color:#000;"|17.6<br />(63.7)
| style="background:#ffc200; color:#000;"|20.1<br />(68.2)
| style="background:#ff8100; color:#000;"|23.4<br />(74.1)
| style="background:#ff5000; color:#000;"|25.9<br />(78.6)
| style="background:#ff3600; color:#fff;"|27.2<br />(81.0)
| style="background:#ff4000; color:#000;"|26.7<br />(80.1)
| style="background:#ff7900; color:#000;"|23.8<br />(74.8)
| style="background:#ffb200; color:#000;"|20.9<br />(69.6)
| style="background:#ffdb65; color:#000;"|18.8<br />(65.8)
| style="background:#ffa900; color:#000; border-left-width:medium;"|21.4<br />(70.5)
|-
!Mean daily daylight hours
| style="background:#f0f011; color:#000;"|10.0
| style="background:#f7f722; color:#000;"|11.0
| style="background:#ff3; color:#000;"|12.0
| style="background:#ff4; color:#000;"|13.0
| style="background:#ff5; color:#000;"|14.0
| style="background:#ff6; color:#000;"|15.0
| style="background:#ff5; color:#000;"|14.0
| style="background:#ff4; color:#000;"|13.0
| style="background:#ff3; color:#000;"|12.0
| style="background:#f7f722; color:#000;"|11.0
| style="background:#f0f011; color:#000;"|10.0
| style="background:#f0f011; color:#000;"|10.0
| style="background:#ffff34; color:#000; border-left-width:medium;"|12.1
|-
!Average [[Ultraviolet index]]
| style="background:#289500; color:#000;"|2
| style="background:#f7e400; color:#000;"|3
| style="background:#f7e400; color:#000;"|5
| style="background:#f85900; color:#000;"|7
| style="background:#d8001d; color:#000;"|8
| style="background:#d8001d; color:#000;"|10
| style="background:#d8001d; color:#000;"|10
| style="background:#d8001d; color:#000;"|9
| style="background:#f85900; color:#000;"|7
| style="background:#f7e400; color:#000;"|5
| style="background:#f7e400; color:#000;"|3
| style="background:#289500; color:#000;"|2
| style="background:#f85900; color:#000; border-left-width:medium;"|5.9
|-
!Colspan=14 style="background:#f8f9fa;font-weight:normal;font-size:95%;"|Source: Weather Atlas<ref name="Weather Atlas" />
|}
{{clear}}

[[File:RhodesAndKos2022OSM.png|thumb|Detailed map of Rhodes, Kos and nearby lands|200x200px]]
[[File:Rhodos topo.png|thumb|Topographic map of Rhodes|200x200px]][[File:Akramitis.jpg|thumb|Akramitis mountain]]

==Archaeology==
[[File:Kameiros - Fountain square 03.jpg|thumb|Fountain square at the ancient site of [[Kameiros]]]] 
[[File:KastroMonolithouMay112023 03.jpg|thumb|Medieval castle of [[Monolithos, Greece|Monolithos]]]]
[[File:KastroKritiniasRhodesMay112023 12.jpg|thumb|Kastro Kritinias, [[Kritinia]] Castle, The Kastellos]]

The [[Colossus of Rhodes]] was considered to be one of the [[Seven Wonders of the Ancient World]]. This giant bronze statue was documented as once standing at the harbour. It was completed in 280 BC and destroyed in an [[226 BC Rhodes earthquake|earthquake in 226 BC]]. No trace of the statue remains today.

Historical sites on the island of Rhodes include the [[Lindos|Acropolis of Lindos]], the [[Acropolis of Rhodes]] with the Temple of Pythian Apollo and an ancient theatre and stadium,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.greeka.com/dodecanese/rhodes/rhodes-history/rhodes-acropolis.htm |title=Acropolis if Rhodes:Information |access-date=15 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120805000406/http://www.greeka.com/dodecanese/rhodes/rhodes-history/rhodes-acropolis.htm |archive-date=5 August 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> ancient [[Ialysos]], ancient [[Kamiros]], the [[Governor's Palace on Rhodes|Governor's Palace]], [[Fortifications of Rhodes|Rhodes Old Town]] (walled medieval city), the [[Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights of Rhodes|Palace of the Grand Masters]], [[Kahal Shalom Synagogue]] in the [[La Juderia|Jewish Quarter]], the [[Archaeological Museum of Rhodes|Archaeological Museum]], the ruins of the [[Monolithos, Greece|castle of Monolithos]], the [[Kritinia|castle of Kritinia]], [[St. Catherine Hospice]] and [[Rhodes Footbridge]].

==Religion==
[[File:Rhodes Filerimos3 tango7174.jpg|thumb|Filerimos Monastery in [[Ialysos]]]]

===Christianity===
The predominant religion of Rhodes is [[Greek Orthodox]]; the island is the seat of the [[Metropolis of Rhodes]].

There is a [[Roman Catholic Church|Latin Catholic]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.catholicchurchrhodes.com |title=Καθολικη Εκκλησια Τησ Ροδου |publisher=Catholicchurchrhodes.com |access-date=2009-03-22 |archive-date=20 March 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080320092550/http://www.catholicchurchrhodes.com/ |url-status=live}}</ref> minority on the island of 2,000, many of whom are descendants of Italians who remained after the end of the Italian occupation, pastorally served by the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Rhodes]].{{Citation needed|date=June 2022}}

===Islam===
{{Main|Turks of the Dodecanese}}
Rhodes has a [[Turkish people|Turkish]] Muslim minority, {{citation span|which includes [[Greek Muslims]] whose ancestors from Crete and the Dodecanese converted to Islam in the Ottoman period|date=May 2025}}. Although a remnant from [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman Turkish]] times they were not required in the [[Population exchange between Greece and Turkey|population exchange]] of 1923–24 to resettle in Turkey like the Turkish, Greek, and other Muslim communities living mainly in [[Macedonia (Greece)|Macedonia]] and other parts of Northern Greece because unlike these areas the [[Dodecanese|Dodecanese Islands]] were under Italian administration at the time. They are organized around the Turkish Association of Rhodes ({{langx|tr|Rodos Türk Derneği}}), which gives the figure 3,500 for the population they bring together and represent for the island.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.milliyet.com.tr/siyaset/rodosta-misket-havasi-caldi-5181670 |title=Rodos'ta misket havası çaldı |website=Milliyet |date=5 May 2003 |access-date=29 May 2020 |archive-date=6 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806172537/https://www.milliyet.com.tr/siyaset/rodosta-misket-havasi-caldi-5181670 |url-status=live}}</ref> The number of the Turks in Rhodes could be as many as 4,000.<!---6,000 minus the 2,000 in Kos--><ref>{{Google books |plainurl=|id=h0xoAAAAMAAJ |title=Ürkek bir siyasetin tarih önündeki ağır vebali: Oniki ada : hatalı kararlar, acı kayıplar }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.batitrakya.4mg.com/onkada01.htm |title=MUM GİBİ ERİYORLAR |website=www.batitrakya.4mg.com |access-date=10 October 2014 |archive-date=1 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170701081644/http://www.batitrakya.4mg.com/onkada01.htm |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mfa.gov.tr/bati-trakya-turk-azinligi.tr.mfa |title=T.C. Dışişleri Bakanlığı'ndan |access-date=6 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903075849/http://www.mfa.gov.tr/bati-trakya-turk-azinligi.tr.mfa |archive-date=3 September 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Judaism===
{{Main|History of the Jews in Rhodes}}
{{See also|Selahattin Ülkümen}}
The Jewish community of Rhodes<ref>See Angel, Marc. ''The Jews of Rhodes: The History of a Sephardic Community''. Sepher-Hermon Press Inc. and The Union of Sephardic Congregations. New York: 1978 (1st ed.), 1980 (2nd ed.), 1998 (3rd ed.).</ref> goes back 2,300 years.<ref name="auto">{{cite web |url=https://www.ushmm.org/information/exhibitions/online-exhibitions/special-focus/holocaust-in-greece/rhodes |title=Rhodes |publisher=United States Holocaust Memorial Museum |access-date=2009-09-08}}</ref> [[Kahal Shalom Synagogue]], established in 1557, during the [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] era, is the oldest synagogue in Greece and still stands in the Jewish quarter (''[[La Juderia]]'') of the old town of Rhodes. At its peak in the 1920s, the Jewish community was one-third of the town's total population.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/vjw/Greece.html |title=History of Jewish Greece |publisher=Jewishvirtuallibrary.org |access-date=2010-01-24 |archive-date=29 April 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110429011548/http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/vjw/Greece.html |url-status=live}}</ref> In the 1940s, there were about 2000 Jews of various ethnic backgrounds. The Nazis deported and killed most of the community during the [[The Holocaust|Holocaust]]. ''Kahal Shalom'' has been renovated with the help of foreign donors but few Jews live year-round in Rhodes today, so services are not held on a regular basis.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/vjw/Greece.html |title=The Virtual Jewish History Tour&nbsp;— Greece |publisher=Jewishvirtuallibrary.org |access-date=2010-01-24 |archive-date=29 April 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110429011548/http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/vjw/Greece.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

The [[Jewish Museum of Rhodes]] was established in 1997 to preserve the Jewish history and culture of the Jews of Rhodes. It is adjacent to the Kahal Shalom Synagogue.

The Congolese businessman and politician, and former governor of Katanga, [[Moïse Katumbi Chapwe|Moïse Katumbi]]'s father, Nissim Soriano was a Greek [[Sephardi Jews|Sephardic Jew]], who fled Rhodes in 1938, who settled in [[Katanga Province|Katanga]], in the [[Belgian Congo|Congo]], a Belgian colony at the time.<ref name=Versi13>{{cite news |title=Katumbi: The Moses of Katanga |author=Anver Versi |author-link=Anver Versi |url=http://africanbusinessmagazine.com/uncategorised/katumbi-the-moses-of-katanga/|work=[[African Business]]|date=4 April 2013 |access-date=4 February 2016}}</ref>

==Government==
[[File:Archangelos042.JPG|thumb|View of [[Archangelos, Rhodes|Archangelos]]]]
[[File:Lindos Rhodes.jpg|thumb|View of [[Lindos]] with the Acropolis]]
[[File:EmponasRhodesMay2023 03.jpg|thumb|View of [[Embonas]] and the mountain of [[Attavyros]]]]
[[File:Rodi - Spiaggia 04.JPG|thumb|St Paul's Bay, Lindos]]

The present municipality Rhodes was formed at the 2011 local government reform by the merger of the following 10 former municipalities, that became municipal units (constituent communities in parentheses):<ref name=Kallikratis/>
*[[Afantou]] (Afantou, Archipoli)
*[[Archangelos, Rhodes|Archangelos]] (Archangelos, Malonas, Masari)
*[[Attavyros (municipality)|Attavyros]] (Embonas, Kritinia, Monolithos, Siana, Agios Isidoros)
*[[Ialysos]]
*[[Kallithea, Rhodes|Kallithea]] (Kalythies, Koskinou, Psinthos)
*[[Kameiros (municipality)|Kameiros]] (Soroni, Apollona, Dimylia, [[Kalavarda]], Platania, Salakos, Fanes)
*[[Lindos]] ([[Lindos]], Kalathos, Laerma, Lardos, Pylona)
*[[Petaloudes]] (Kremasti, Pastida, Maritsa, Paradeisi, Theologos, Damatria)
*[[Rhodes (city)|Rhodes]]
*[[South Rhodes]] (Gennadi, Apolakkia, Arnitha, Asklipieio, Vati, Istrios, Kattavia, Lachania,<ref>F.Fornol: [http://lachania.laena.de Lachania] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140319062424/http://lachania.laena.de/ |date=19 March 2014 }}</ref> [[Mesanagros]], Profilia)

The municipality has an area of 1400.681&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>.<ref name=stat01>{{cite web |url=http://dlib.statistics.gr/Book/GRESYE_02_0101_00098%20.pdf |publisher=National Statistical Service of Greece |title=Population & housing census 2001 (incl. area and average elevation) |language=el |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150921212047/http://dlib.statistics.gr/Book/GRESYE_02_0101_00098%20.pdf |archive-date=21 September 2015}}</ref>{{Failed verification|date=June 2022}} It covers the island of Rhodes and a few uninhabited offshore islets. Rhodes city was the capital of the former [[Dodecanese]] Prefecture. Rhodes is the most populated island of the [[South Aegean]] Region.{{Citation needed|date=June 2022}}

===Towns and villages===
Rhodes has 43 towns and villages:
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Town/Village !! Population !! Municipal unit
|-
 |[[Rhodes City]] || 50,636 || Rhodes
|-
 |[[Ialysos]] || 11,331 || [[Ialysos]]
|-
 |[[Afantou]] || 6,329 || [[Afantou]]
|-
 |[[Archangelos, Rhodes|Archangelos]] || 5,476 || [[Archangelos, Rhodes|Archangelos]]
|-
 |[[Kremasti]] || 5,396 || [[Petaloudes]]
|-
 |[[Kalythies]] || 4,832 || [[Kallithea]]
|-
 |[[Koskinou]] || 3,679 || [[Kallithea]]
|-
 |[[Pastida]] || 3,641 || [[Petaloudes]]
|-
 |[[Lindos]] || 3,087 || [[Lindos]]
|-
 |[[Paradeisi]] || 2,667 || [[Petaloudes]]
|-
 |[[Maritsa, Rhodes|Maritsa]] || 1,808 || [[Petaloudes]]
|-
 |[[Lartos|Lardos]] || 1,380 || [[Lindos]]
|-
 |[[Soroni]] || 1,278 || [[Kameiros (municipality)|Kameiros]]
|-
 |[[Embonas]] || 1,242 || [[Attavyros]]
|-
 |[[Malona]] || 1,135 || [[Archangelos, Rhodes|Archangelos]]
|-
 |[[Massari, Rhodes|Massari]] || 1,004 || [[Archangelos, Rhodes|Archangelos]]
|-
 |[[Fanes]] || 858 || [[Kameiros (municipality)|Kameiros]]
|-
 |[[Psinthos]] || 853 || [[Kallithea]]
|-
 |[[Apollona]] || 845 || [[Kameiros (municipality)|Kameiros]]
|-
 |[[Theologos, Rhodes|Theologos]] || 809 || [[Petaloudes]]
|-
 |[[Asklipio]] || 646 || [[South Rhodes]]
|-
 |[[Archipoli]] || 582 || [[Afantou]]
|-
 |[[Gennadi]] || 671 || [[South Rhodes]]
|-
 |[[Damatria]] || 641 || [[Petaloudes]]
|-
 |[[Pylona]] || 627 || [[Lindos]]
|-
 |[[Salakos]] || 576 ||  [[Kameiros (municipality)|Kameiros]]
|-
 |[[Kritinia]] || 503 || [[Attavyros (municipality)|Attavyros]]
|-
 |[[Kalavarda]] || 502 || [[Kameiros (municipality)|Kameiros]]
|-
 |[[Kalathos]] || 502 || [[Lindos]]
|-
 |[[Apolakkia]] || 496 || [[South Rhodes]]
|-
 |[[Dimylia]] || 465 || [[Kameiros (municipality)|Kameiros]]
|-
 |[[Laerma]] || 361 || [[Lindos]]
|-
 |[[Agios Isidoros, Rhodes|Agios Isidoros]] || 355 || [[Attavyros (municipality)|Attavyros]]
|-
 |[[Vati (Rhodes)|Vati]] || 323 || [[South Rhodes]]
|-
 |[[Kattavia]] || 307 || [[South Rhodes]]
|-
 |[[Profilia]] || 304 || [[South Rhodes]]
|-
 |[[Istrios]] || 291 || [[South Rhodes]]
|-
 |[[Arnitha]] || 215 || [[South Rhodes]]
|-
 |[[Platania]] || 196 || [[Kameiros (municipality)|Kameiros]]
|-
 |[[Monolithos, Greece|Monolithos]] || 181 || [[Attavyros (municipality)|Attavyros]]
|-
 |[[Mesanagros]] || 155 || [[South Rhodes]]
|-
 |[[Lachania]] || 153 || [[South Rhodes]]
|-
 |[[Siana (Rhodes)|Siana]] || 152 || [[Attavyros (municipality)|Attavyros]]

|}

==Economy==
[[File:Hafenmarkt Rhodos01.jpg|thumb|View of the market (Nea Agora) of Mandraki (Rhodes city), built during the Italian period]]

The economy is tourist-oriented, and the most developed sector is service. Tourism has elevated Rhodes economically, compared to the rest of Greece.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.3comma14.gr/pi/?survey=4349 |title=3comma14.gr |website=www.3comma14.gr |access-date=24 April 2014 |archive-date=24 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140424225707/http://www.3comma14.gr/pi/?survey=4349 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Small industries process imported raw materials for local retail, though other industry includes agricultural goods production, stockbreeding, fishery and winery.

==Transportation==

===Air===
[[File:Airpoort rhodes 02.JPG|thumb|Diagoras Airport, arrivals terminal]]

Rhodes has two airports, but only one is public. [[Diagoras Airport]], southwest of [[Rhodes City]], is the fourth biggest by passenger volume in Greece, and the main entrance/exit point to the island for both locals and tourists. The island is well connected with other major Greek cities and islands as well as with major European capitals and cities via charter flights. Until 1977, [[Rhodes Maritsa Airport]], built in 1938, was a public airport; it is now used by the [[Hellenic Air Force]] and occasionally for car races.

There are also two inoperative airfields. Kalathos Airfield, north of [[Lindos]], and Kattavia Airstrip, to the south of the island, were built by the Italians during the [[Second World War]]. Neither remains operational.

Two pilot schools offer aviation services (small plane rental and island hopping).

===Sea===
[[File:Louis Majesty Rhodes 2.jpg|thumb|[[MS Crown Iris|''Louis Majesty'']] at the harbour of Rhodes]]
[[File:Rhodes SkalaKamirou tango7174.jpg|thumb|The Kameiros Skala Dock]]

Rhodes has five ports, three of them in [[Rhodes City]], one in the west coast near [[Kamiros]] and one in east coast near [[Lardos]].{{citation needed|date=September 2013}}

*Central Port: located in the city of Rhodes serves exclusively international traffic consisting of scheduled services to/from Turkey, cruise ships and yachts. Since Summer 2012, the port is also a homeport for Costa Cruises during the summer period.
*Kolona Port: opposite and north of the central port, serves intra-Dodecanese traffic and all sizes yachts.
*Akandia Port: the new port of the island, south and next to the central port, being built since the 1960s, for domestic, cargo and general purpose traffic. Since 2017 summer a passenger terminal is finally in use hosting a cafe and waiting lounges.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dimokratiki.gr/02-09-2017/anamorfonete-telios-limani-tis-akantias/ |title=Αναμορφώνεται τελείως το λιμάνι της Ακαντιάς |date=2 September 2017 |access-date=6 June 2018 |archive-date=2 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170902114946/http://www.dimokratiki.gr/02-09-2017/anamorfonete-telios-limani-tis-akantias/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
*Mandraki Port: the oldest port of the island, in the center of Rhodes city. Many cruise boats begin their daily trips to Symi island or to the southern east coast until Lindos.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://news-business-info.com/rhodes-greece/ |title=rhodes sea cruises |date=3 September 2020 |access-date=3 September 2020 |archive-date=22 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201022070525/https://news-business-info.com/rhodes-greece/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
*Kamiros Skala Dock: {{cvt|30|km|mi|0}} south west of the city near [[Ancient Kamiros]] ruins serves mainly the island of [[Halki (Greece)|Halki]].
*Lardos Dock: formerly servicing local industries, now under development as an alternative port for times when the central port is inaccessible due to weather conditions. It is situated in a rocky shore near the village of Lardos in south east Rhodes.

=== From Rhodes to Marmaris and Fethiye ===

* [https://www.blueguide.com Blue Guide]
* [https://www.marmarislines.com Marmaris Lines]
* [https://www.fethiyelines.com Fethiye Lines]
* [https://www.marmarisrodos.com Marmaris Rodos]
* [https://www.odek.com Odek Lines]

===Road network===
The road network of the island is mostly paved and consists of 3 national roads plus one planned, 40 provincial and numerous local. These are the four major island arteries:
*[[Rhodes-Kamiros Province Avenue]]: Province road 2 till [[Kalavarda]] village and 21 from there till [[Kamiros]] with two lane that runs through the west coast north to south and connects Rhodes City with [[Diagoras Airport]] and [[Kamiros]].{{citation needed|date=September 2013}}
*Rhodes-Lindos National Avenue ([[Greek National Road 95]]): Four and two lane, runs mainly inland north to south and connects Rhodes City with Lindos.{{citation needed|date=September 2013}} Part from Rhodes Town until Kolympia is now 4 lanes, the rest until Lindos is 2 lanes.
*Rhodes-Kallithea-Faliraki Province Avenue 4: Two lanes, runs through the east coast north to south and connects Rhodes City with Kallithea monument and Faliraki Resort.{{citation needed|date=September 2013}}
*Tsairi-Airport National Avenue ([[Greek National Road 100]]): Four and two lane, runs inland east to west and connects the east coast with the west and the airport.{{citation needed|date=September 2013}}
*Lindos-Katavia Province Road 1: Two lane, begins just before Lindos and though villages and resorts leads to Katavia village, the southernmost of the island, from where a further deviation leads to Prasonissi.{{citation needed|date=September 2013}}
*Rhodes Town [[Ring Road]] (Phase 1): Beginning from the new marina and ending to Rhodes-Kallithea province avenue is a four lane expressway.

Future roads:{{citation needed|reason=needs concrete announcement for cite. Otherwise [[WP:CRYSTAL]]|date=September 2013}}
*Further widening of Rhodes-Lindos National Avenue ([[Greek National Road 95]]) from Kolympia to Lindos. This is to be four lane with a [[jersey barrier]] in the middle. A tender is expected to take place by end of 2019 so as constructions can begin.
*Ring Road phases 2, 3, and 4 pending; phase 2 will extend the expressway to [[Greek National Road 95]] and then to Rhodes General Hospital where it supposedly will connect to also planned new Rhodes City-Airport expressway. In June 2018 Rhodes municipality stated that plans for the final 700 meters of the ring road leading to Akandia Port are pending approval.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dimokratiki.gr/15-06-2018/anaferthike-se-ola-ta-erga-poy-ektelei-trechontos-o-dimos/ |title=Αναφέρθηκε σε όλα τα έργα που εκτελεί τρεχόντως ο Δήμος |date=15 June 2018 |access-date=19 June 2018 |archive-date=19 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180619163119/http://www.dimokratiki.gr/15-06-2018/anaferthike-se-ola-ta-erga-poy-ektelei-trechontos-o-dimos/ |url-status=live}}</ref> Phases 3 and 4 which plan to run the ring road from hospital hill down to Ixia and then through Kritika back to the town will most probably never occur.
*Plans also exist for a new four lane express road connecting Rhodes Town with [[Diagoras Airport]]. The road, recognised as National back in 2014,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.et.gr/idocs-nph/search/pdfViewerForm.html?args=5C7QrtC22wEc63YDhn5AeXdtvSoClrL8lj0jDA0wBrh5MXD0LzQTLWPU9yLzB8V6dxiWmYHFUbmCiBSQOpYnTy36MacmUFCx2ppFvBej56Mmc8Qdb8ZfRJqZnsIAdk8Lv_e6czmhEembNmZCMxLMtXdfQOB6C00YZBnEysLAU6pj8keECmvdb6G_FckhY0ki |title=Προβολή ΦΕΚ Α.Α.Π. 159/2014 |access-date=16 July 2018 |archive-date=16 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180716130442/http://www.et.gr/idocs-nph/search/pdfViewerForm.html?args=5C7QrtC22wEc63YDhn5AeXdtvSoClrL8lj0jDA0wBrh5MXD0LzQTLWPU9yLzB8V6dxiWmYHFUbmCiBSQOpYnTy36MacmUFCx2ppFvBej56Mmc8Qdb8ZfRJqZnsIAdk8Lv_e6czmhEembNmZCMxLMtXdfQOB6C00YZBnEysLAU6pj8keECmvdb6G_FckhY0ki |url-status=live}}</ref> will follow existing Provincial Road 3 routing with a total length of 8.6&nbsp;km and including 3 main junctions and is intended to relieve congestion on the coastal west avenue. The so-called Leoforos Mesogeion is vastly anticipated and is a top priority for local authorities.

===Bus===
Bus services are handled by two operators:<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ando.gr/upload/files/eot/BUS.pdf |title=Bus schedule |publisher=Ministry of Economy, Development and Tourism |access-date=24 March 2017 |archive-date=25 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170325113101/http://www.ando.gr/upload/files/eot/BUS.pdf |url-status=live}}</ref>

*RODA: Municipal bus company that serves Rhodes city as well suburban areas (Koskinou, Faliraki, Ialysos, Kremasti, Airport, Pastida, Maritsa, Paradeisi) and the west coast of the island
*KTEL: Limited liability private transport company that serve villages and resorts in the east coast of the island

===Cars and motorbikes===
Families in Rhodes often own more than one car, along with a motorbike. Traffic jams are common particularly in the summer months as vehicles more than double while parking spots downtown and around the old town are limited and can't cope with demand. Moreover, the island is served by 450 taxis and some 200 public and private buses adding to the traffic burden.

==Sports==
[[File:Rhodos003.JPG|right|thumb|[[Diagoras Stadium]] in the city of Rhodes]]

*Football: [[AS Rodos]] and [[Diagoras F.C.]] are the island's biggest teams and rivals. The latter competed in the 2018–19 season at the national level third tier ([[Gamma Ethniki]]) along with [[GAS Ialysos 1948 F.C.|GAS Ialysos]] and both achieved promotion to ([[Greek Football League]]). [[AS Rodos]] competed in 1st tier of the local league and ranking 1st achieved promotion and returned after one year to ([[Gamma Ethniki]]) which in the 2019–20 season became tier 4. Local football leagues (organized at the prefecture-level) contain three divisions with more than 50 teams.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.epsdod.gr/ |title=ΕΠΣ Δωδεκανήσου: Αρχική Σελίδα |website=www.epsdod.gr |access-date=6 June 2018 |archive-date=11 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180611185919/http://www.epsdod.gr/ |url-status=live}}</ref> Many stadiums are grass-covered.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.epsdod.gr/field/fields_map.php |title=ΕΠΣ Δωδεκανήσου: Γήπεδα |website=www.epsdod.gr |access-date=6 June 2018 |archive-date=16 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180616040315/http://www.epsdod.gr/field/fields_map.php |url-status=live}}</ref>
*Basketball: [[Kolossos Rodou BC|Colossus BC]] sponsors professional basketball and after more than a decade of presence in the top-level [[Greek Basket League]] was relegated to [[Greek A2 Basket League]]. The local league includes a single division with two groups, one for Rhodes and the other for the other islands, with 7 and 5 teams respectively.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.12basket.gr/ |title=LOCAL COMMITTEE OF DODECANESE BASKETBALL - ΤΟΠΙΚΗ ΕΠΙΤΡΟΠΗ Ε.Ο.Κ ΔΩΔΕΚΑΝΗΣΟΥ |website=www.12basket.gr |access-date=29 May 2020 |archive-date=6 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806191659/https://www.12basket.gr/ |url-status=live}}</ref> Three indoor courts exist in Rhodes City, and one each in Ialysos, Kremasti, and Faliraki. [[Archangelos, Rhodes|Archangelos]] town will also get an indoor court according to Rhodes municipality planned works and regional government's approved funds.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rodiaki.gr/article/392771/kleisto-arxaggeloy-ena-oneiro-etoimo-na-parei-sarka-kai-osta |title=Κλειστό Αρχαγγέλου: Ένα όνειρο, έτοιμο να πάρει σάρκα και οστά! &#124; Η ΡΟΔΙΑΚΗ |date=19 July 2019 |access-date=19 June 2018 |archive-date=19 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180619140905/https://www.rodiaki.gr/article/392771/kleisto-arxaggeloy-ena-oneiro-etoimo-na-parei-sarka-kai-osta |url-status=live}}</ref>
*Volleyball: Rodion Athlisis managed to escape local obscurity and until 2018–19 season competed at the national level second-tier failing to achieve promotion to the first level in playoffs for three consecutive seasons.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.volleyball.gr/a2-andron/article/1717/a2-andron-mparaz-anodou-a-omilou-apollon-athhnon-rodion-athlhsis-3-1-photos |title=Α2 Ανδρών (Μπαράζ ανόδου Α' ομίλου): Απόλλων Αθηνών - Ροδίων Άθλησις 3-1 (photos) |date=31 March 2018 |access-date=19 June 2018 |archive-date=19 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180619140351/http://www.volleyball.gr/a2-andron/article/1717/a2-andron-mparaz-anodou-a-omilou-apollon-athhnon-rodion-athlhsis-3-1-photos |url-status=live |last1=s. a. |first1=Suntech }}</ref> This unlucky streak caused team sponsors to withdraw from the men's team and focus solely on developing youth academies.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.12sports.gr/News_Teams.php?team=367&s=0 |title=Ροδίων Άθλησις - ΣΟΚ! Τέλος το Ροδίων Άθλησις - Βόλεϊ |access-date=11 June 2019 |archive-date=12 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200212180307/https://www.12sports.gr/News_Teams.php?team=367&s=0 |url-status=live}}</ref> 
*Water polo: mostly amateur-based. There is not any single public indoor pool on the island.
*Rugby: introduced in 2007. Teams compete at the national level.{{citation needed|date=September 2013}}
*Tennis: Rhodes Tennis Club (Ροδιακός Όμιλος Αντισφαίρισης) promotes officially tennis since 1949. Club operates on two separate locations, one downtown next to the casino and one next to [[Kallipateira National Athletic Centre]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rhodestennis.gr/index.php?option=com_k2&view=itemlist&layout=category&task=&id=&Itemid=663 |title=Ροδιακός Όμιλος Αντισφαίρισης – rhodes tennis club |publisher=Rhodestennis.gr |access-date=2022-02-26 |archive-date=19 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180619145204/http://www.rhodestennis.gr/index.php?option=com_k2&view=itemlist&layout=category&task=&id=&Itemid=663 |url-status=live}}</ref>
*Sailing: Island has competed at the international level{{citation needed|date=September 2013}}
*Cycling: For a long period of time Rhodes had the only velodrome in Greece. For the moment, the island is the seat of the Dodecanissos Local Cycling Committee. Most notable cycling clubs are [[Rodilios CC]], [[Diagoras GC]], [[Elafos CC]], [[Iviskos CC]], all based in the city of Rhodes, plus [[Antaios SC]] of [[Kremasti]] and [[Athlos SC]] of [[Paradeisi]]. In Rhodes, the [[International Tour of Rhodes]], part of [[UCI Europe Tour]] Cycling Calendar, is annually organized. 
*Rhodes competed in the bi-annual [[International Island Games Association|Island Games]], which it hosted in 2007.<ref>[http://www.islandgames.net/cms/games.html International Island Games Association website] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306115546/http://www.islandgames.net/cms/games.html |date=6 March 2012}}. Retrieved 27 June 2018.</ref> Since 2019 is suspended from competition.

==Cuisine==
[[File:Pitaroudia.jpg|thumb|160px|''Pitaroudia'', a traditional chickpea dumpling from Rhodes and Dodecanese]]
[[File:Fanouropita.jpg|thumb|160px|[[Fanouropita]]]]
[[File:Μελεκούνι.jpg|thumb|160px|Melekouni]]

Rhodian tradition in cuisine is rich. [[Koriantolino]] and [[Souma (Greek cuisine)|Souma]] (colorless alcoholic beverage produced from grape distillation) are the main alcoholic drinks of Rhodes. Local foods include:

*Escharitis, type of bread
*Pitaroudia
*Milla and Tsiriggia, meat fat
*[[Pougia]] pie
*Lakani, goat meat with chickpeas
*Lópia (beans) with goat
*Matsi, hand made pasta used to make [[Koulourakia|Koulouría]], a traditional recipe
*Synoro, traditional cheese 
*[[Tahinopita]]
*Zvigoi, type of [[loukoumades]]
*[[Melekouni]]
*[[Fanouropita]]
*Takakia (Mantinades)
*Katimeria (tiganites, pancakes)
*[[Amygdalota]], white almond cookies
*Moschopougia

==Notable people==
[[File:Head of Hipparchus (cropped).jpg|thumb|140px|Head of [[Hipparchus]]]]
[[File:Panaetius Nuremberg Chronicle.jpg|thumb|140px|[[Panaetius]], from Nuremberg Chronicle]]

<!--Weintraub, David A. "Hipparcos." How Old Is the Universe? Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN. 7 September 2016. Lecture.-->
<!--- Ancient ---> 
*[[Agesander of Rhodes]] (1st century BC), sculptor.<ref>{{Cite EB1911 |wstitle= Agesander |volume= 1 | last= |first=  |author-link= | page= 374 |short=1}}</ref>
*[[Apollonius Molon]] (fl. 70s BC), Greek [[rhetorician]] had a celebrated school on the island; his students included [[Marcus Tullius Cicero]].<ref>{{Cite EB1911 |wstitle= Apollonius Molon |volume= 2 | last= |first=  |author-link= | page= 186 |short=1}}</ref> 
*[[Apollonius of Rhodes]] (3rd century BC), epic poet.<ref>{{Cite EB1911 |wstitle= Apollonius of Rhodes |volume= 2 | last= |first=  |author-link= | page= 188 |short=1}}</ref>
*[[Chares of Lindos]] (3rd century BC), sculptor.<ref>{{Cite EB1911 |wstitle= Chares (of Lindus) |volume= 5 | last= |first=  |author-link= | page= 859 |short=1}}</ref>
*[[Cleobulus of Lindos]] (6th century BC), philosopher and one of the Seven Sages of Ancient Greece.<ref>{{Cite EB1911 |wstitle= Cleobulus |volume= 6 | last= |first=  |author-link= | page= 494 |short=1}}</ref>
*[[Dinocrates]] (4th century BC), architect and technical adviser for Alexander the Great.<ref>{{Cite EB1911 |wstitle= Dinocrates |volume= 8 | last= |first=  |author-link= | page= 277 |short=1}}</ref>
*[[Hecato of Rhodes]] (c. 100 BC), Stoic philosopher.<ref>{{Cite EB1911 |wstitle= Hecato of Rhodes |volume= 13 | last= |first=  |author-link= | page= 194 |short=1}}</ref>
*[[Hieronymus of Rhodes]], (c.290-c.230 BC), Peripatetic philosopher
*[[Hipparchus]], (2nd century BC), astronomer, mathematician, geographer, founder of trigonometry.<ref>{{Cite EB1911 |wstitle= Hipparchus |volume= 13 | last= |first=  |author-link= | page= 516 |short=1}}</ref>
*[[Joannicius II of Constantinople]], (died 1659) [[Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople]]
*[[Memnon of Rhodes]] (380–333 BC), commander of mercenary army.<ref>{{Cite EB1911 |wstitle= Memnon of Rhodes |volume= 18 | last= |first=  |author-link= | page= 106 |short=1}}</ref>
*[[Mentor of Rhodes]] (385–340 BC), [[mercenary soldier]], brother of Memnon.<ref>{{Cite EB1911 |wstitle= Mentor of Rhodes |volume= 18 | last= |first=  |author-link= | page= 146 |short=1}}</ref>
*[[Panaetius]] (c. 185 – c. 110/109 BC), Stoic philosopher.<ref>{{Cite EB1911 |wstitle= Panaetius |volume= 20 | last= |first=  |author-link= | pages= 663-664 |short=1}}</ref>
*[[Timocreon]] (5th century BC), poet.<ref>{{Cite EB1911 |wstitle= Timocreon |volume= 26 | last= |first=  |author-link= | page= 989 |short=1}}</ref>
and
<!--- More recent ---> 
*[[Lawrence Durrell]] (1912–1990), writer and poet, author of [[The Alexandria Quartet]], resided on Rhodes 1945–1947. In 1953 his travel book about Rhodes – ''Reflections on a Marine Venus'' – was published.
*[[Reşit Galip]] (1893–1934), Turkish politician, one of the first ministers of education of the [[Republic of Turkey]]
*[[Ferruccio Lamborghini]] (1916–1993), Italian automobile designer, was stationed on the island as an air-force mechanic in WW2 
*[[George Marshall (gunner)|George Marshall]] (1781–1855) author and Master Gunner, [[United States Navy]] 
*[[Murat Reis the Elder|Murat Reiz Plaku]] (1534–1609), Albanian Navy Commander and Ottoman privateer 
*{{ill|Panagiotis Rodios|el|Παναγιώτης Ρόδιος|vertical-align=sup}} (1789–1851), revolutionary and Hellenic Army officer
*{{ill|Ioannis Zigdis|el|Ιωάννης Ζίγδης|vertical-align=sup}} (1913–1997), politician and economist

=== Sport ===
[[File:Vinchon Diagoras porté en triomphe.JPG|thumb|140px|[[Diagoras of Rhodes]] carried in the stadium by his two sons]]
*[[Diagoras of Rhodes]] (5th century BC), boxer, multiple Olympic winner.<ref>{{Cite EB1911 |wstitle= Diagoras |volume= 8 | last= |first=  |author-link= | page= 146 |short=1}}</ref>
*[[Leonidas of Rhodes]] (2nd century BC), Olympic champion runner
*[[Braith Anasta]] (born 1982), rugby league player and [[NRL]] premiership winner, ancestral ties to the island through his father
*[[Stergos Felegakis]] (born 1986), professional football player
*[[Nick Galis]]  (born 1957), basketball player, [[FIBA Hall of Fame]] and [[Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame]] member (his father was born in a small village called [[Agios Isidoros, Rhodes|Agios Isidoros]])
*[[Niki Xanthou]] (born 1973), long jumper

==Tourism==
{{unreferenced section|date=December 2022}}
Rhodes is one of the most attractive tourist destinations in Greece. After [[Crete]], the island is the most visited destination in Greece, with arrivals standing at 1,785,305 in 2013. In 2014 they stood at 1,931,005, while in 2015 the arrival number reduced slightly and stood at 1,901,000.{{Citation needed|date=June 2022}} The average length of stay is estimated at 8 days. Guests from Great Britain, Israel, France, Italy, Sweden and Norway constitute the biggest portion in terms of the arrivals by country. In Rhodes, the supply of available rooms is high, since more than 550 hotels are operating in the island, the majority of which are two star hotels.

==In popular culture==
*"[[Wikt:hic Rhodus, hic salta|Hic Rhodus, hic salta!]]", a phrase from antiquity
*The ''[[Hellenic Traders]]'' series of historical novels by Harry Turtledove centers around the adventures of a trading galley based in Rhodes during the 4th century BCE. 
*Movies shot on the island include ''[[The Guns of Navarone (film)|The Guns of Navarone]]'' (1961), ''[[Kiss the Girls (1965 film)|Kiss the Girls]]'' by [[Giannis Dalianidis]] (1965), and ''[[Escape to Athena]]'' (1979).  Rhodes was also the setting of Agatha Christie's "Triangle at Rhodes".

==Panoramas==
[[File:Rhodes D81 3478 (37745913995).jpg|thumb|center|800px|Rhodes harbor in 2017]]
[[File:Rhodes D81 3370 (37746014135).jpg|thumb|center|800px|Rhodes panorama in 2017]]

==See also==
{{Portal|Greece}}
* [[95th National Guard Higher Command (Greece)]]
* [[Ancient regions of Anatolia]]
* [[Brygindara]]
* [[Medieval Rose]]

==Citations==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==General and cited sources==
* {{Cite book |editor-last=Boardman |editor-first=John |editor-link=John Boardman (art historian) |year=1993 |title=The Oxford History of Classical Art |location=Oxford |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=0198143869 |oclc=27431987}}
* {{Cite book |last1=Greatrex |first1=Geoffrey |last2=Lieu |first2=Samuel N. C. |date=2005 |title=The Roman Eastern Frontier and the Persian Wars AD 363–628 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1134756469}}
* {{Cite book |last1=Howard-Johnston |first1=J.D. |author-link1=James Howard-Johnston |date=2006 |title=East Rome, Sasanian Persia and the End of Antiquity: Historiographical and Historical Studies |publisher=Ashgate Publishing, Ltd. |isbn=978-0860789925 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1U4rUaLdYnQC&q=sasanians+rhodes+weakness}}
* {{Cite book |last1=Kia |first1=Mehrdad |date=2016 |title=The Persian Empire: A Historical Encyclopedia |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=B5BHDAAAQBAJ&q=sasanians+rhodes |publisher=ABC-CLIO |isbn=978-1610693912}} Two volumes.
* {{Cite book |last=Nicolle |first=David |author-link=David Nicolle |year=1996 |title=Sassanian Armies: The Iranian Empire Early 3rd to Mid-7th Centuries AD |location=Stockport, Cheshire, UK |publisher=Montvert Publications |isbn=978-1-874101-08-6}}

==External links==
{{Sister project links|voy=Rhodes}}
* [https://cityofrhodes.com/ City of Rhodes Touristic Information]
* [https://artsandculture.google.com/story/pgXhA8PLJ0Xh9A Medieval City of Rhodes] UNESCO Collection on Google Arts and Culture

{{Dodecanese Islands}}
{{Kallikratis-South Aegean}}
{{Rhodes div}}
{{Aegean Sea}}
{{Landmarks of Rhodes}}
{{Ancient Greece topics}}{{Phoenician cities and colonies|state=Greece}}{{Third Journey of Paul of Tarsus}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Rhodes| ]]
[[Category:Dodecanese]]
[[Category:Dorian colonies]]
[[Category:Greek city-states]]
[[Category:Hellenic Navy bases]]
[[Category:Islands of the South Aegean]]
[[Category:Landforms of Rhodes (regional unit)]]
[[Category:Mediterranean islands]]
[[Category:Mediterranean port cities and towns in Greece]]
[[Category:Municipalities of the South Aegean]]
[[Category:Phoenician colonies in Greece]]
[[Category:Populated places in Rhodes]]