Description of the attraction
The island of Rhodes is rightfully considered the "pearl" of the Mediterranean. Its magnificent natural landscapes, climate, abundance of historical and cultural attractions attract a huge number of tourists from all over the world every year.
One of the main attractions of the island is the Rhodes Archaeological Museum. It is located in the historical part of the city of Rhodes (the capital of the island). The museum is located in the medieval hospital building of the Knights of the Order of St. John, which is recognized as an important architectural and historical monument of Rhodes. The construction of the hospital began in 1440 by the Grand Master Jean de Lastic with funds bequeathed by his predecessor. The construction work was completed only in 1489 by the Grand Master Pierre d'Aubusson. At the beginning of the 20th century, when the Italians still dominated the island, a large-scale restoration of this magnificent medieval structure was carried out. The building has been used as a museum since 1940.
The exposition of the museum offers visitors a variety of artifacts found during archaeological excavations in Rhodes and the neighboring islands. The collection features a variety of ceramics (including magnificent antique vases and amphorae), sculptures, figurines, household utensils, jewelry, funerary artifacts, coins, beautiful mosaics and much more. One of the most valuable exhibits of the museum is the marble head of the god Helios (2nd century BC). Also of particular interest are two magnificent sculptures of Aphrodite (4th and 1st centuries BC), a statue of Zeus, tombstones of the knightly era with beautiful bas-reliefs and the famous masterpiece of classical antiquity - the tombstone of Crete and Timarista (ca.420-410 th year BC). The huge courtyard of the museum is surrounded by two-tiered arched galleries. At the western colonnade there is a Hellenistic burial stele in the shape of a lion with a bull's head between the forepaws, at the foot of which is a fragment of a magnificent mosaic from a Christian basilica from the island of Karpathos.
The Archaeological Museum of Rhodes and its unique collection of important historical relics will impress even the most sophisticated antiquities lovers.
