Ancient Lindos, Greece: A Guide to the Archaeological Site

Inhabited since Neolithic Times, the first city of Lindos was officially settled in the 11th century BCE by the Dorian Greeks, who, according to myth, were led by the legendary King Teiopolemus of Rhodes.

One of six Dorian cities making up the Dorian Hexapolis, Lindo’s eastern location made the city an efficient meeting place between the Greeks and the Phoenicians, and the city quickly grew into an important commercial center by the 8th century BCE.

Many of the modern site’s most important landmarks date to these early centuries, including the acropolis and the Temple of Athena Lindia. Lindos continued to thrive as the center of Rhodes for the following three centuries, with several fortifications being constructed to defend against the rising power of Persia to the island’s northeast.

However, following the establishment of the city of Rhodes in the 5th century, Lindos’ importance in the region began to diminish. While no longer the center of politics and commerce on the island, the Acropolis of Lindos continued to serve as a religious center, with several additions being made within the precinct for the following centuries.

The Temple of Athena Lindia underwent its final renovations around 300 BCE, while later monuments and constructions were added throughout the Classical, Hellenistic, and Roman times.

The acropolis slowly fell into disuse over the course of the Middle Ages but received new life when much of the ruins were overlaid by the construction of a large fortress established by the Knights of St John.

While the site ultimately fell to the Ottoman, the Acropolis of Lindos was liberated in 1912, with extensive excavations commencing a year later. The site was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988 and remains a popular tourist attraction today.