Rhodes, with an area of 1,400 km², is the largest island in the Greek Dodecanese group located in the south-eastern Aegean. The island was an important protagonist in wider Greek and Mediterranean affairs throughout the Bronze Age, Archaic, and Classical periods and was particularly prosperous in Hellenistic times. The island was also famed in antiquity as a cultural centre and for the Colossus of Rhodes statue, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
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Timeline
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c. 1600 BCERhodes has significant contact with Minoan Crete.
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1510 BCEThe traditional date Danaos builds a temple to Athena Lindia at Lindus on Rhodes.
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c. 1400 BCERhodes has significant contact with the Mycenaean civilization.
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c. 689 BCERhodes and Cretans found Gela in Sicily.
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c. 580 BCEAgrigento in Sicily is founded by colonists from Gela, Crete and Rhodes.
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490 BCERhodes comes under Persian rule.
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c. 412 BCERhodes revolts against Athens and supports Sparta in the Peloponnesian War.
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c. 408 BCEThe various city-states of Rhodes form a single federal state.
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c. 408 BCEThe capital of Rhodes is moved from Lindos to Rhodes town.
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395 BCEDemocracy is established on Rhodes.
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342 BCEFire destroys the 6th century BCE temple to Athena at Lindos, Rhodes and is replaced by a new one.
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305 BCE - 304 BCEDemetrius I unsuccessfully lays siege to Rhodes.
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c. 292 BCE - c. 280 BCEThe Colossus of Rhodes, a representation of Helios, is built in Rhodes town harbour, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
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228 BCE - 226 BCEThe Colossus of Rhodes is toppled by an earthquake.
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206 BCE - 204 BCECrete is at war with Rhodes.
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197 BCESamos comes under the jurisdiction of Rhodes.
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189 BCERome gives control of Lycia to Rhodes.
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164 BCELeonidas of Rhodes wins the first of his 12 Olympic crowns in runnning events in four successive Olymic Games.
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155 BCE - 153 BCECrete is at war with Rhodes for a second time.
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88 BCERhodes is beseiged by Mithradates VI.
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43 BCERhodes is sacked by Cassius Longinus.
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c. 654 CEAccording to Theophanes, a Jewish merchant transports the pieces of the fallen Colossus of Rhodes to Edessa for melting down.
