City history
A journey through the layers of Rhodes, from its ancient Doric roots and the legendary Colossus to its medieval fortifications and modern Greek identity.
Chapter one
Earliest documented name
"Likely named after the nymph Rhodes"
The earliest documented name for the settlement, which is traditionally associated with the nymph Rhodes, the daughter of the sun god Helios.
Nymph name
Associated with the Doric settlement.
English adaptation
Standard international name.
Italianized name
Used during the Italian occupation period.
Chapter two
The island's timekeeping was formally aligned with the standard time protocols established by the Greek state during this period of modernization.
Greece implemented more consistent daylight saving time transitions to optimize energy usage and align with modern European seasonal timekeeping practices.
Chapter three
The arrival of the Knights Hospitaller marked the beginning of a significant medieval period, during which the city was transformed into a fortified stronghold.
Following a prolonged siege, the Ottoman Empire took control of the island, initiating centuries of Ottoman rule and cultural integration into the empire.
The Italian occupation brought new administrative structures and architectural styles, significantly altering the urban landscape of the island and its capital.
Rhodes and the surrounding Dodecanese islands were officially incorporated into Greece, establishing the modern political and cultural framework of the island.