A BRIEF HISTORY OF LINDOS

One of the three historic City-States that flourished on the island of Rhodes in Ancient Times, Lindos was founded by the Danaids. Although the less important in terms of size from all three such settlements at the time, Lindos nevertheless managed to acquire a sizeable fleet and thus dominate the Aegean. That dominance culminated with the establishment of Lindian colonies on the Asia Minor coast and Southern Italy. Lindos is the birthplace of Cleobulus, one of the Seven Sages of Ancient Times (early 6th Century BC).Fathered by the Lindian Evagoras, Cleobulus ruled Lindos for four decades bestowing upon the city and its people his wisdom and judiciousness that became a legend.

The point of reference for all activities in Lindos was the Citadel (Acropolis). Lindos swiftly rose to become one of the most thriving centers of Hellenic Culture and an undisputable power at sea. The temple (the ruins of which dominate the inner-circle of the Citadel) dates from the year 342 BC it has been dedicated to Goddess Athena and erected on the remains of a former sanctuary, destroyed in a devastating fire. In more recent history and more particularly after the 10th Century of our time, Lindos flourished a new and indeed acquired much wealth through the seafaring activities of its people, many of who distinguished themselves in seamanship. Interestingly, the cast-iron bars at the windows of the most opulent of such captains, apart from protecting the dwellers against larceny, were also meant to demonstrate –through artistic differentiations- the degree of the seaman who owned the residence: the more ornamented the railings, the higher the degree of the landlord. Despite the havoc wrought by a terrible earthquake, Lindos nevertheless managed to pull itself together: the town, slowly rebuild from the ashes, maintained its perennial air, with the same traditional narrow streets and the same point of reference: the eternal Citadel on the rocky hill above, omnipresent, fatherly and reassuring, seen from anywhere, wherever one may venture in the township.

Quite typical of Lindian lore is the donkey-ride uphill to Citadel rock, all the more since it goes through the streets of Lindos, allowing riders to take in all the magic of the place. Apart from the Acropolis, also worth-visiting are the Church of the Dormotion (Koimisis tis Theotokou), dating from 1779 and featuring some very precious relics of religious Christian orthodox art and miniscule church of Saint Paul overlooking the port under the same name; tradition has it that St.Paul himself arrived here in AD 58 to preach the Word of the Lord.