Οι θαλάσσιες οχυρώσεις και τα λιμάνια της πόλης της Ρόδου
Part of : Δελτίον της Χριστιανικής Αρχαιολογικής Εταιρείας ; Vol.48, 2009, pages 67-80
Issue:
Pages:
67-80
Parallel Title:
The Coastal Fortifications and Harbours of Rhodes Town
Section Title:
Articles
Abstract:
The existence of a secure, bustling and constantly busy portopposite the Asia Minor coast, has been the main structuralfeature of Rhodes town at all periods of its history, from itsfoundation in 408 BC down to the present day (Fig. 1).The crossroads of nautical and commercial routes fromnorth to south and east to west was soon reflected in the coexistence of various social systems and cultural currents atthis privileged Mediterranean site, which was the theatre ofdramatic historical events and confrontations.It is evident that the defence line towards Mandraki, the ancient and medieval harbour, where the large shipsheds of ancient times were built, has not been moved from the 7th century - the period at which the defences of the Early Byzantinefortress were built - down to the present day (Fig. 2).As was noted during recent excavation work, the part of thenorth front of the early Hospitaller defences, from the Heredia tower at the west to the tower of St Paul the apostle, restson an ancient defensive line that is 5.50 m. thick and identical with the line of the 7th-century Early Byzantine fortress(Fig. 3).I. The fortified front of the large commercial harbour of theHospitaller period was the weakest point in the defences ofthe Knights, on account of its position, which is not vulnerable to attack from the sea, while it was protected by threefortified moles and the chain that closed the entrance to themedieval harbour.The early Hospitaller and perhaps also the Byzantine fortification line is virtually identical with the course followed bythe present sea front.In the early period of the Knights, at the time of the GrandMaster Helion de Villeneuve (1219-1346), the fortifiedtown was extended to include the originally unfortifiedneighbourhoods to the east of the Byzantine fortificationwall of Chora, the border of which was the modern Pythagoras Street. The same, at first weak, defensive line was extended further to the east and south under the Grand Master DeGozon (1346-1353), at the same time as the construction ofthe east mole of the large commercial harbour, while partsof this early fortification wall, or rather outwork (barbican)can be traced parallel with the present course of the fortification, incorporated in its present thickness.II. The tower of Naillac or the 'Harbour Tower', the principle tower in the defences of Rhodes harbour and one ofthe most attractive reference points of the town, disappearedin 1863 (Fig. 4).III. The mole of the Windmills (Fig. 8), the east mole of thelarge harbour according to the original design of the Classical city of Rhodes in 408 BC, was unfortified and particularly vulnerable. A splendid find during the recent excavationswas the stout front of a Hellenistic defence work with large,square towers, constructed after the painful experience ofthe siege by Demetrios Poliorketes in 305 BC. It extends fora length of about 100 m. and its scale, structure and typologybear clear similarities to the defences of the landward, southfortification wall of Rhodes town, also of Hellenistic date(Fig. 9).The impressive device for the installation for the chain thatclosed the entrance to the main commercial harbour of thetown of the Knights, which is frequently mentioned in thearchives of the Order, was discovered in the autumn of 2006(Fig. 10).The thick ancient column stands on a floor also paved withmarble slabs with metallic clamps, on the surface of whichcan be seen traces of metal abrasion (Fig. 11).The gradual organisation of a fort at the north end of themole of the Windmills, between the Grand Masters Naillacand Lastic, is directly connected with the evolution of the urban tissue of the area of the fortified town. Note should betaken of the uncertainty, also attested by the archivesources, of the occupation of the neighbourhood of AnoOvriaki.
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