Description of the attraction
On the southeast coast of the island of Rhodes, there is a small resort town of Lindos. It was founded by the Dorians in the 10th century BC. In ancient times, it was one of the most powerful cities on the island.
The main attraction of the city is undoubtedly the ancient Acropolis, which majestically rises above the city on a steep cliff 116 m above sea level. Lindos has repeatedly changed its owners, which naturally affected the Acropolis, which was consistently fortified by the Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Knights of St. John and the Turks. It is believed that this area was dug to the ground by archaeologists and all possible foundations of buildings that have ever existed here have been discovered.
Today, on the territory of the ancient Acropolis, a large number of architectural monuments of various eras have been preserved. Here you can see the ruins of the Doric temple of Athena, which was one of the most revered goddesses of Ancient Greece. This sanctuary was built in the 4th century BC. on the foundation of an older structure (9th century BC). The sacred Propylaea and the monumental staircase have also survived. At the foot of the stairs, on the rock, there is a unique relief of an ancient Greek warship (trireme) by the famous sculptor Pythokritius (about 180 BC). On the territory of the Acropolis there are also the ruins of a Roman temple (300 AD), which, most likely, was dedicated to the emperor Diocletian.
During the reign of the knights of St. John, the castle of the Grand Master was built here on the foundations of an older Byzantine structure, and a massive battlement that made the fortress even more impregnable. Near the medieval castle, you can see the ruins of an ancient theater. The Hellenistic covered colonnade (200 BC), 87 m long, consisting of 42 columns, and the Greek Orthodox Church of St. John (13th century AD), built on the foundations of an older building, have also survived to our time.
The Acropolis of Lindos is the second largest and most historically significant acropolis in Greece (after the Athenian Acropolis). Every year thousands of tourists from all over the world visit this beautiful monument of ancient architecture. From the top of the majestic building, a beautiful panoramic view of the coast opens up.
