RHODES (island)
Island in Aegean sea, Greece
- Kind of place
- Island
- Patron
- Helios
- Landmarks
- Sanctuary of Helen of the Tree Pausanias 3.19.10; City Walls Pausanias 4.31.5; One Hundred Colossal Statues Pliny, Nat. Hist. 34.18 ¶2; Five Colossal Statues of the Gods Pliny, Nat. Hist. 34.18 ¶2
- People of myth here
- Helios, Phorbas, Telchis (Telchine), Tlepolemus
- Where
- 36.17° N, 27.92° E
The island is characterized as the bride of the sun god Helios. Pindar, Olympian 7 ¶3 The sun god holds dominion over the island. Pindar, Olympian 7 ¶9 The sun god lay with Rhodos and fathered seven sons. Pindar, Olympian 7 ¶9
Described in the sources
Caria begins on the coast opposite Rhodes and ends at Poseidium. Strabo 14.2.1 +2 Rhodes is a considerable island in the Carpathian sea adjacent to Asia. Pliny, Nat. Hist. 2.112 ¶1 +2 The island is divided among three cities named Lindus, Ialysus, and Cameirus. Iliad 2 ¶51 +2 The Taurus mountain range begins at the mainland area directly opposite the island of Rhodes. Strabo 11.1.3 +2 Rhodes is positioned on the same meridian as Byzantium, and the distance between them is estimated at about 5000 stadia. Strabo 2.4.3 +2 The Telchines were the first inhabitants of Rhodes, living in the Ialysian region, with some writers stating there were nine of them. Diodorus 5.55 +2 Althaemenes landed on the island of Rhodes at the location known as Cameirus. Apollodorus 3.2.1 +1 Eratosthenes calculated the distance from Rhodes to Alexandria as 3750 stadia. Strabo 2.1.33 +1 According to Eratosthenes, Rhodes is located on the same meridian as Alexandria. Strabo 2.1.33 +1 Rhodes lies on the same parallel of latitude as Athens and the Strait of Messina. Strabo 2.1.35 +1
Gods and worship
Sacrifices performed at Rhodes are discussed in an essay by Georgus. Athenaeus 15.52 The people of the island were dearly loved by Jove, lord of gods and men. Iliad 2 ¶51 The wine from this island's vines is described as being welcomed by the gods. Georgics 2.83 Tlepolemos receives divine honors including sheep sacrifices and game awards on the island. Pindar, Olympian 7 ¶9
Stories and history
Tlepolemus arrived on the island after fleeing Argos with a few companions and suffering great hardship during his voyage. Diodorus 5.59 +2 Catreus and his companions landed at a deserted location on the island at night. Apollodorus 3.2.2 +1 The island was violently shaken by an earthquake that also affected Caria and Lycia. Pausanias 2.7.1 +1 Demetrius refused to burn the city to avoid destroying a specific painting on its walls. Pliny, Nat. Hist. 35.36 ¶25 +1 The inhabitants of the island divided themselves into three communities based on their tribes. Iliad 2 ¶51 +1 Althaemenes vanished into a chasm on the island after learning he had killed his father, and the Rhodians later granted him hero honors as an oracle had commanded. Apollodorus 3.2.2 +1 Danaus built a temple to Athena in Lindus. Diodorus 5.58 The entire population of Rhodes was shaved. Athenaeus 13.18 Phorbas destroyed the serpents on the island. Diodorus 5.58 The Rhodians gave Phorbas a share in the land. Diodorus 5.58
Myths set at Rhodes
In the age of the gods
Before the heroes. In Godsunder these are history: everyone in the world knows them.
- The Cult of Zeus. The people of Sicily are described as being beloved by Zeus, who is said to have inherited kingship from Cronus through custom rather than violence in some accounts. The story ends with the description of temples and sacred objects dedicated to Zeus in Sicily and Rhodes. Diodorus 5.42 +4 Zeus
- The Founding of Rhodes. Helios falls in love with the island Rhodos and promises it as his exclusive possession. He dries the wet land, clears the floodwaters, and fills it with life. Diodorus 5.56 +1 Helios
- The Journey to Cyprus. Aphrodite is traveling from Cytherae to Cyprus but is blocked near Rhodes. She sets out to reach Cyprus and ends by inflicting madness on her blockers. Diodorus 5.55 Aphrodite
- The Sons of Poseidon and Halia. Poseidon falls in love with Halia, the sister of the Telchines, and fathers seven children with her. After his sons commit shameful acts and prevent Aphrodite from stopping at Rhodes, Poseidon buries them beneath the earth. Diodorus 5.55 Poseidon
In the age of heroes
- The Flight to Rhodes. hook: Tlepolemus flees the Peloponnese after an accidental killing. goal: He seeks a new home for himself and his followers. outcome: He settles in Rhodes with the help of its inhabitants. Apollodorus 2.8.2 +5 Tlepolemus
- The Settlement and Division of Rhodes. Tlepolemus, a son of Heracles, leads his followers to settle on the island of Rhodes. He organizes the population into three tribal groups and founds three cities, establishing himself as their equitable king. Diodorus 4.58 +4 Tlepolemus
- The Death of Helen in Rhodes. Helen arrives in Rhodes after being driven out by Nicostratus and Megapenthes following Menelaus' death. She is targeted by Polyxo's agents but escapes death by lowering herself into the sea using a ship's anchor. Euripides, Helen 1577-1620 +2
- The Stopover at Lindus. Danaus and his daughters land at Lindus while fleeing the sons of Egyptus. They dedicate a temple to Athena, but three daughters die before the survivors sail to Argos. Apollodorus 2.1.4 +2 Danaus