History of Kamiros

Kamiros, together with Lindos and Ialyssos, represented the most powerful ancient cities of Rhodes, which reached their heyday in the 6th to 5th centuries BC and together formed the powerful city-state of Rhodes. Kamiros was the smallest of these cities and the most agriculturally based. Wine and olive oil were produced here, and figs and other agricultural crops were processed here. Subsequently, the three towns agreed to form a new capital of the island and in 408 BC the capital of Rhodes was founded.

The ancient city of Kamiros was founded by the Dorians, but the area had already been inhabited by Achaeans (Mycenaeans), as a Mycenaean cemetery has also been found near the city. Unfortunately, the city of Kamiros also experienced two major earthquakes that caused considerable damage, and while the city was still being rebuilt and gradually repaired after the first earthquake in 226 BC, its inhabitants abandoned it in droves after the second earthquake in 142 BC.

Another cause of the decline of Kamiros was the establishment of the capital city of Rhodes, as the inhabitants of Kamiros gradually began to move there. However, Kamiros remained inhabited until the reign of the Byzantine Emperor Justinian (i.e. until 550 AD).

Archaeological site - the layout of the city of Kamiros

In the 1850s, archaeologists located the ruins of the ancient city of Kamiros and excavations continued until the end of World War II. The impetus for the archaeological work was the accidental discovery of several ancient graves and the name of the area "Kameiros", which at that time was forested.

The discovery of the foundations of large public buildings, an agora, elaborate private dwellings and an acropolis with a sanctuary testify to the importance and wealth of the ancient city of Kamiros. The city of Kamiros was built on three levels:

1. At the top of the hill (acropolis) there was a temple dedicated to the goddess Athena and there was also a large water reservoir. The construction of the Temple of Athena began in the 9th century BC and the sanctuary was later rebuilt, mainly in the Hellenistic style.
2. In the central part of the town were the dwellings of the locals and their daily life. Most of the houses here date back to the Hellenistic and Roman periods, and the town's sewage system has been preserved.
3. A Doric temple dedicated to Apollo then stood in the "lower" part of the city, and there was also an agora where political issues were debated.

Most of the most valuable finds from the Kamiros area are housed in the British Museum in England and the Louvre Museum in France, while only a fraction of the exhibits are found in the Rhodes Archaeological Museum. Rhodenians, however, hope to get the relics back to the island. Kamiros was also home to the great poets Peisander and Anaxandrides.

The archaeological site of Kamiros is located off the northwest coast of the island, about 33 km from the capital of Rhodes and less than 4 km from the neighbouring resort of Kalavarda.

More touristic destinations of Rhodes

Most favourite sights of Rhodes: Acropolis of Lindos, Acropolis of Rhodes, Monolithos Castle, Tsambika Monastery, Kolossos of Rhodes, Palace of the Grand Masters - Rhodes Town

Resorts, beaches, sights or trips - clearly listed on the map of Rhodes.