| Kameiros Κάμειρος |
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| Location | |
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Kameiros
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| Coordinates | |
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Location within the Dodecanese
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| Government | |
| Country: | Greece |
| Region: | South Aegean |
| Regional unit: | Rhodes |
| Municipality: | Rhodes |
| Population statistics (as of 2001) | |
| Municipal unit | |
| - Population: | 5,145 |
| - Area: | 211.8 km2 (82 sq mi) |
| - Density: | 24 /km2 (63 /sq mi) |
| Other | |
| Time zone: | EET/EEST (UTC+2/3) |
Kameiros (Greek: Κάμειρος) is an ancient city and a former municipality on the island of Rhodes, in the Dodecanese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Rhodes, of which it is a municipal unit.[1] It lies on the northwest coast of the island. It was the heart of an agricultural region, and constituted one of three city states on Rhodes. Kameiros nowadays is a municipal unit stretching inland into the north-central part of Rhodes. The seat of the municipality was in Soroni (pop. 1,236). Other large towns are Apóllona (997), Fanes (895), Salakos (597), and Kalavárda (512). The municipal population was 5,145 at the 2001 census, and the land area is 211.825 km².
The ancient city was built on three levels. At the top of the hill was the Acropolis, with the temple complex of Athena Kameiras and the Stoa. A covered reservoir having a capacity of 600 cubic meters of water—enough for up to 400 families—was constructed about the sixth century BC. Later, the Stoa was built over the reservoir. The Stoa consisted of two rows of Doric columns with rooms for shops or lodgings in the rear.
The main settlement was on the middle terrace, consisting of a grid of parallel streets and residential blocks. On the lower terrace are found a Doric Temple, probably to Apollo; the Fountain House, with the Agora in front of it; and Peribolos of the Altars, which contained dedications to various deities.
During the prehistoric period the area was inhabited by Mycenaean Greeks. The city itself was founded by the Dorians. The temple foundations were begun at least as early as the eighth century BC. The earthquake of 226 BC destroyed the city and the temple. The earthquake of 142 BC destroyed the city for the second time.
The Acropolis was excavated by Alfred Biliotti and Auguste Salzmann between 1852 and 1864. In 1928 the Italian Archaeological School began a systematic excavation of the area together with restoration work which continued until the end of the 2nd World War.
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