Kamiros was one of the three large Doric cities of the island, which united with Ialysos and Lindos in the 5th century B.C. to create the powerful city - state of Rhodes.
Although it was established by the Dorians, it seems like the first inhabitants of the area must have been Achaeans, as the ruins of an ancient Mycenaean necropolis close to the village of Kalovarda reveal. Kameiros was basically an agricultural society which produced oil, wine and figs. During the city's golden era of the 6th century, it was the first Rhodian city to cut its own coins.
Kameiros has been often compared to Pompeii, something which is not correct since Kamiros did not fall into decline because of a natural disaster. Its decline, like the decline of Ialysos, was the result of the gradual abandonment by its residents, who decided to move to the city of Rhodes, which as mentioned above, was established in 408 B.C.
In 1929 archaeologists localized the ruins of the ancient city, and the excavations which brought it back to life continued till the end of World War II.
The motive to start the excavations was the accidental discovery of some ancient graves, as well as the name of the area, which was Kampeiros, and which had been reforested by the time. The findings which had been revealed by the excavations, which are very rich and important, have been taken to the British Museum and the Louvre. We hope that some day these archaeological treasures will be given back in order to be exposed to the public by the archaeological museum of Rhodes.
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Ancient Kamiros
On the north-western shore of Rhodes, close To the promontory of Agios Minas (the Ancient Mylantio) lies the third of The island's ancient cities - Kamiros.
I was a licensed guide from 1963 until 2000 and my favourite site was Kamiros which was never promoted for excursions only when included in the tour of the Butterfly Valley.
Have learned a lot in private from archeaologists but just wish to mention that only when Schliemann discovered Mycenea were they able to date the vases found in the necropolis of Kamiros found + or - 20 years earlier.
And in Kamiros there are no souvenir shops and cafeterias.
I would like to see more information about Kamiros. Kamiros is the first city state on the island of Rhodes dated from the late bronze age until 407 BC. It is one of the most important and oldest Greek cities of the Greek world and its history needs to be discovered and learned. Kamiros best findings are in British, France and Italian museums. Kamiros greatly contributed to Greek and European ancient history and civilization and unfortunately this great archaeological site is not well promoted and little is known today.
A conference is planned next year, on July 26 and 27.
For more information please contact: paideia[at]snet.net. For those who would like to present papers for the history of Kamiros please contact me.
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