Alimia.
Rhodes.
THE ISLANDS
406
610. Rhodes, medieval town, Aghia Triada (Dolapli) (Ρόδος, μεσαιωνική
πόλη, Αγία Τριάδα (Ντολαπλί))
610. Rhodes, Filerimos, part of an Early-Christian sarcophagus (Ρόδος,
Φιλέρημος, τμήμα παλαιοχριστιανικής σαρκοφάγου)
610. Rhodes, basilica of Kalathos, capital (Ρόδος, βασιλική Καλάθου,
κιονόκρανο)
609.
Alimia.
The today uninhabited island of Alimia, near Chalki, was in-
habited in the Early Christian period as attested to by remains
of two Early Chrtistian basilicas (1).
610.
Rhodes.
The history of Rhodes was directly affected by its key geo-
graphical position and temperate climate. In 297 Rhodes
joined the province of the Insulae, of which it became the
capital, and in the 4th c. it was upgraded to a metropolitan see
(of the Islands). After the 7th c. it was administered under the
Cibyrrhaeot theme. A plethora of archaeological remains sur-
vives from the Early Christian period (4th-7th c.), even though
the continuous inhabitation of the town for 2300 years had
contributed to the destruction of discernible archaeological
layers and thus obstructed the dating of finds. Important ex-
amples of remains that have been detected during archaeo-
logical excavations in Rhodes town (1) are six basilicas, four
of which are in the medieval town and the remaining two in the
modern town. The most famous is the large basilica on Chei-
marras Street, a three-aisled church with transept, narthex and
atrium, baptistery, mosaic and marble inlay floors, as well as
traces of frescoes. Its last building phase dates from the reign
of Justinian. Continuous excavations have been bringing to
light Early Christian remnants, from both religious and secular
structures. More than sixty basilicas have been detected in the
countryside: at Ialysos (3), Salakos (11), Kameiros (12), Afan-
tou (9), Lardos (17), Gennadi (22), Lachanias (23), Filerimos
(2), Kalathos (15), Kolympia (10), Arnitha (19), Apollakia (18),
Mesanagros (21) and more.
Concerning the location of villages, archaeological evidence
indicates that there were more at the coast than inland in the
Early Byzantine period – the number of villages in the interior
increased after Arab raids in the 7th c. Rhodes town contract-
ed at the time and a fortress with bulwark and moat was con-
structed to which the inhabitants would flee when enemies at-
tacked. This fortress was built on the site of the ancient citadel
of Rhodes, where the Palace of the Grand Master (Castello)
stands today. Examples of art from the Early Byzantine period
have been detected only on the aniconic layer of Saint George
Chostos in Lindos (8th or 9th c.) (16).
Intense numismatic movement in the late 11th and in the 12th
c. brought great financial prosperity. At the time the follow-
ing churches were built: Panagia in-the-Castle in the medieval
town (1); Aghios Phanourios, the unnamed chapel on Ag-
isandrou Street featuring high-quality frescoes; the Archangel
Michael church at Tharri (14) that followed Constantinopolitan
standards and featured remarkable wall-paintings. In the first
half of the 13th c. Rhodes was independent and was governed
by the “authentes” (absolute ruler) Leon Gabalas, and later by
his brother. Sections of wall-paintings from this period survive
