- Kameiros
Kameiros (Κάμειρος) was a city on the island of
Rhodes ,Greece , lying on apeninsula on the northwest coast of the island. It was the heart of an agricultural region, and constituted one of three city states on Rhodes. Kameiros nowadays is the name of a municipality stretching inland into the north-central part of Rhodes, with its seat inSoroni (pop. 1,236). Other large towns are Apóllona (997), Fánai (895), Sálakos (597), and Kalavárda (512). The municipal population was 5,145 at the 2001 census, and the land area is 211.825 km², the third largest municipality in area on Rhodes (afterSouth Rhodes andAtavyros ).The ancient city was built on three levels. At the top of the hill was the
Acropolis , with the temple complex ofAthena Kameiras and theStoa . A covered reservoir having a capacity of 600 cubic meters of water -- enough for up to 400 families -- was constructed about thesixth century BC . Later, the Stoa was built over the reservoir. The Stoa consisted of two rows of Doric columns with rooms for shops or lodgings in the rear.The main settlement was on the middle terrace, consisting of a grid of parallel streets and residential blocks. On the lower terrace are found a Doric Temple, probably to
Apollo ; theFountain House , with theAgora in front of it; andPeribolos of the Altars , which contained dedications to various deities.During the prehistoric period the area was inhabited by the
Achaeans . The city itself was founded by theDorians . The temple foundations were begun at least as early as theeighth century BC . The earthquake of226 BC destroyed the city and the temple. The earthquake of142 BC destroyed the city for the second time.The Acropolis was excavated by
Biliotti andSalzmann between1852 and 1864. In 1928 theItalian Archaeological School began a systematic excavation of the area together with restoration work which continued until the end of the 2nd World War.External links
* [http://www.dimoskamirou.gr/ Official website] en el icon
* [http://odysseus.culture.gr/h/3/eh351.jsp?obj_id=2394/ Archaeological Site of Kamiros] on the Hellenic Ministry of Culture Website
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