Archangelos, Rhodes

Archangelos (Greek: Αρχάγγελος) is a town and municipality of the island of Rhodes (Rhodhos) in the Dodecanese Islands in south-eastern Greece. It is located about 30 kilometers south of the town of Rhodes on the island's east coast at an elevation of 160 meters. Its population according to the 2001 census was 5,500 making it the third largest town of the Island (after the capital Rhodes, and the town of Trianta (Ialysos)). The town's name derives from Archangel Michael who is also considered its patron. The Municipality of Archangelos has a land area of 115.375 km², and includes several other towns, the largest of which are Malónas (pop. 977) and Másari (931). Its total population was 7,779 at the 2001 census.

History

Numerous small settlements existed in the broader area of Archangelos during the Hellenistic era, others on the coast and others inland. After the 7th century AD the settlements near the coast were abandoned due to the frequent invasions of Pirates and their inhabitants settled on existing inland settlements or founded new ones in more secure areas. Over time the various settlements of the area were merged in one forming the town of Archangelos.

After the fall of Constantinople in 1453, the Knights Hospitallers who were occupying the island of Rhodes since 1309, built a fortress (some sort of an Acropolis) on top of one of the town's nearby hills to protect from a possible Ottoman invasion on the island. Ruins of this fortress remain today.

Economy

Major economic resources include tourism, agriculture (main agricultural products are olive oil and citrus fruits), stockbreeding and pottery. Pottery was always one of the major occupations of the people of Archangelos. It is said that the dome of Hagia Sofia was built using light bricks from Archangelos.