Ialysos (Filerimos)

To the south east of Filerimos are the ruins of ancient Ialysos, the second of the large cities of ancient Rhodes. When the Dorians arrived around 1100BC, Ialysos became a member of the Doiran Hexapolis. The acropolis of the city is on the western side of the hill of Filerimos.

Excavations have brought to light much Mycenean pottery, a “Doric fountain” and a Hellenistic Temple of Athena Polias, proof of the prosperity of the city down to the time when Rhodes city was founded in 408 BC.

In the Middle Ages, the Knights of St. John used the site of Ialysos. Later is passed to the Turks, and finally to the Italians. Remnants of these periods and of the successive conquerors can still be seen: there are the foundations of an Early Christian church, a Byzantine Chapel of St. George and a monastery of Our Lady, an impressive 15th century group of buildings. The monastery was destroyed under the Turks and rebuilt by the Italians, who installed Capuchin monks in it. Today only the main church is used.

Kamiros

This is the third of the large cities of antiquity, built on a semi-circular site 38 km from Rhodes town. According to the myths, it was founded by Tlepolemus and it is the only city on the island without fortification, an acropolis or walls. It, too, belonged to the Dorian Hexapolis and helped found Rhodes town Rhodes in 408 BC. Kamiros continued to exist down to the time of Justinian, as we can see from its Byzantine buildings. Excavations have brought to light a number of interesting pieces of pottery, terracotta and sculpture. The temple of Athena Kamiras, a long colonnade and a water tank have also been discovered.