Kameiros (Site)
One of the three Dorian cities founded on the island of Rhodes.
- ID:
- aa_3900
- Type:
- Site
- Date:
- Periods:
Archaic
Classical
Hellenistic
- Region:
- Dodecanese
- Type:
- Unfortified city
Description
Kameiros (together with Lindos and Ialysos) was one of the 3 city-states founded on Rhodes by Dorian Greeks, possibly as early as the Mycenaean period. In ca. 407 B.C. the 3 cities, while maintaining local autonomy, joined in the foundation of Rhodes City as the new capital of the island and sent citizens to populate it.
Physical
Kameiros is an unfortified city with well planned streets, civic buildings and public water supply dating to the Hellenistic period. Few of the remains of the earlier Archaic city have been uncovered. The city sits on theater-like slopes facing the sea on the NW coast of Rhodes. In the lower town an agora is partially surrounded by colonnades. From the agora the main street of the city runs uphill and S, through insula of private houses, to the ridge top which serves as the acropolis. Along the ridge top a long stoa faces the sea and behind this is the temple of Athena, originally Archaic, but rebuilt in the Hellenistic period.
Exploration
In 1858-1865 A. Salzmann and A. Biliotti excavated at the acropolis and the cemeteries and Biliotti continued in 1880. During 1912-1913 and 1928-1930 the Italians excavated at the site.
