| Lindos is located on the eastern side of the island | | | | Castle. One can reach the acropolis along the southern |
| approximately 55 klms from the city of Rhodes. An | | | | slope of the hill. As soon as one passes through the |
| imposing cliff whose height is 166m rises from the level | | | | main gate one finds a stairway which leads to a small |
| of the sea. To the left and right of this enormous crag | | | | square. To the right, carved in the rock of the cliff by |
| were two harbours, one larger than the other. On the | | | | Pythourito of Timoharou in 180 BC, one can see an |
| triangular surface of this giant rock the ancient Lindians | | | | impressive monumental structure made up of a circular |
| worshipped their patron goddess the Lindian Athena. | | | | exedra in front of which stands a large plinth. This plinth |
| The temple dedicated to the goddess was impressive | | | | was either the base of an altar or the base of a |
| as it was surrounded by a number of praiseworthy | | | | statue. The stern of a triere can be seen along the |
| buildings which bore witness not only to the inhabitants | | | | side of the exedra. The length of the relief is 4.46m |
| piety but also to the ancient city's great wealth. | | | | and its height is 5.50m. Many details can be discerned |
| The wild beauty of the cliff and the surrounding | | | | which aid in reconstructing the technical details of |
| medieval castle which jelously guards the splendour of | | | | ancient shipbuilding. In the same area there are the |
| the ancient monuments behind its towers and thick | | | | remains of Byzantine water cisterns and the remains |
| walls leaves the beholder in awe. Today the acropolis | | | | of an archaic stairway. A newer stairway with |
| of Lindos is no longer surrounded by the sacred grove | | | | approximately 80 steps leads up to a domed entrance |
| which the ancient Lindians tended with such care and | | | | and the medieval administrative building which was also |
| piety. Indeed Aglohartos, Athena's priest, at the height | | | | the home of the Knights' Keeper of the Castle. |
| of her worship in the 3rd and 4th centuries proudly | | | | Passing through the medieval entrance one can see |
| recorded the care and trouble taken to preserve the | | | | the remains of the Byzantine church dedicated to St. |
| ancient grove on several inscriptions. The worship of a | | | | John and the Doric stoa which has been restored and |
| female diety on this rocky site dates back to the dim | | | | whose columns have been erected in situ. The stoa is |
| realms of early prehistory. First the Acheans and later | | | | in the shape of a Greek P and measures 90m in |
| the Dorians identified this pre Greek diety with the | | | | length, 8.9m in width and 6.20m in height. There were |
| goddess Athena. Pindar narrates how this ancient | | | | 42 Doric columns along the facade and 8 Doric |
| temple was founded by the Heliades, the direct | | | | columns along its sides. The columns were polygonal |
| descendants of the sun god, and explains the reason | | | | one third of their height up while the other two thirds of |
| for the absence of an altar. To Lindian Athena they did | | | | the columns were fluted. In the centre of this |
| not offer sacrifices on burning flames. Their offerings | | | | magnificent Hellenistic structure there was a staircase |
| were grain, fruit, sweets, liquids and other items which | | | | with 36 steps, built on top of the older staircase of |
| were the product of the earth and which did not | | | | Kleoboulos, which led to the Propylaea. The Propylaea |
| require burning. These offerings are referred to by | | | | was built in the 5th century BC and is a copy of the |
| Pindar as "fireless offerings" and traces their origins | | | | Propylaea found on the Acropolis of Athens. |
| back to the HeHades. According to legend the | | | | On the highest point of the triangular plateau the |
| Heliades, in their haste to be the first to offer sacrifices | | | | Lindians built a temple dedicated to their patron |
| to Athena, quickly ascended the cliff forgetting to bring | | | | goddess. The length of this temple is 22.40m and the |
| fire with them. This oversight by the Heliades was the | | | | width is 7.20m. A dip style temple in the Doric order, |
| source of the fireless offerings. The myth of the | | | | only sections of its walls have survived intact and |
| Heliades is not the only myth which refers to the | | | | several columns have been restored to their original |
| founding of this temple. The myth of Danaos, who | | | | position. |
| was the father of the Greek race, is also associated | | | | The archaeological area is not limited only to the area |
| with the temple. According to this myth when Danaos | | | | of the acropolis, but extends to include the entire |
| and his daughters fled from Eygpt on their way to the | | | | surrounding area. Carved out of the western slope of |
| Peloponessus, Danaos stopped at Lindos. During the | | | | the hill lies the ancient theatre. The orchestra, the |
| course of his stay on the island he founded the temple | | | | platform of the altar and 27 seats survive. Near the |
| and set up the first statue of the goddess. This statue | | | | theatre stands the church of St. Stephen. The large |
| was a simple peice of unprocessed wood, the symbol | | | | rocks which surround the church are the remains of |
| associated with a form of worship which is called | | | | the wall which enclosed the ancient city's gymnasium. |
| "xoano" (that is the worship of a wooden image). The | | | | The excavations which were carried out by Danish |
| first temple dedicated to the goddess was built in the | | | | archaeologists in 1904 revealed not only a great |
| 8th century BC and it was during this century that the | | | | number of inscriptions and artifacts, but also marble |
| deity was first depicted anthropomorphically. This | | | | slabs which recorded in inscription the history of the |
| statue was small in size and made of wood. This | | | | temple of Lindian Athena, and found under the ancient |
| archaic temple survived until the time of Kleoboulos. In | | | | floor flagstones of a Byzantine church. This is the now |
| the 6th century Kleoboulos built a new temple and | | | | famous Chronicle of Lindos which is today housed in |
| decorated it and the statue of the goddess with | | | | the museum of Copenhagen. |
| trophies from his numerous victories. The ruins which | | | | The foundation remains of another temple dedicated |
| survive today do not date from the 6th century | | | | to the goddess Athena lie in the position of Vegli, on |
| temple. This was destroyed in 342 BC by a large fire. | | | | the northern slope of the hill and facing the large |
| On the site of the destroyed temple the Lindians built a | | | | harbour. This temple is the so called "Boukopion" |
| new temple and the old wooden statue of the deity | | | | temple whose name is derived from the Boukopia |
| was replaced by another. This new statue had a | | | | sacrifices which were held in Athena's honour. The |
| wooden body which was gilded and marble head, | | | | Dorians built this small temple in the 9th or 10th century |
| hands and feet. The history of the temple and a | | | | BC so that they could offer to the goddess the |
| description of the votive offerings are set out in great | | | | slaughtered sacrifices which was the decreed custom. |
| detail by Timahidas in the chronicles of Lindos. One is | | | | During the Hellenistic Period a large circular structure |
| impressed not only by the number of votive offerings | | | | constructed of large roughly hewn stones was built on |
| which are outlined but also by the number of statues | | | | the small peninsula which enclosed the bay of |
| which -adorned the temple, the plinths of which only | | | | Palaistras, the harbour of ancient Lindos. The external |
| survive today. | | | | perimeter of the monument is 28.42m while its height is |
| A little below the temple, at the entrance of the | | | | 2.80m. The local inhabitants call it the Tomb of |
| acropolis a large stoa in the Doric order was built in the | | | | Kleoboulos. The main entrance to the interior is gained |
| year 200 BC, while the temple dedicated to Psithirou, | | | | on the southwestern side. A narrow corridor leads to |
| the god of prophesy, was built in 200 AD. During the | | | | a small sepulcher chamber. On the southwestern side |
| Middle Ages the Byzantines fortified the ancient | | | | of the chamber, dug into the rocky ground, lies the |
| acropolis by building an impregnable castle and the | | | | tomb of the man in whose honour this monument was |
| church of St. John. The successors of the Byzantines, | | | | built. This structure was also used in later times as a |
| the Knights built another castle which enclosed the | | | | church dedicated to St. Emiliano. |
| surrounding area and the palace of the Keeper of the | | | | |