Dodecanese
Dodecanese
Δωδεκάνησα | |
|---|---|
Formerprefecture | |
 Location of Dodecanese in Greece | |
 Location of municipalities within Dodecanese Prefecture | |
| Coordinates:36°27′N27°18′E/ 36.45°N 27.30°E | |
| Country | Greece |
| Periphery | South Aegean |
| Capital | Rhodes |
| Subdivisions | List |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2,714 km2(1,048 sq mi) |
| • Rank | 18th |
| Population (2005) | |
| • Total | 200,452 |
| • Rank | 12th |
| • Density | 74/km2(190/sq mi) |
| • Rank | 14th |
| Postal codes | 85x xx |
| Area codes | 2241-2247 |
| ISO 3166 code | GR-81 |
| Vehicle registration | ΚΧ, ΡΚ, PO, ΡΥ |
TheDodecanese(UK:/ˌdoʊdɪkəˈniːz/,US:/doʊˌdɛkəˈniːz/;Greek:Δωδεκάνησα,Dodekánisa[ðoðeˈkanisa],lit. 'twelve islands';Turkish:On iki Ada) are a group of 15 larger and 150 smallerGreekislandsin the southeasternAegean SeaandEastern Mediterranean,off the coast ofTurkey'sAnatolia,of which 26 are inhabited. This island group generally defines the eastern limit of theSea of Crete.[1]They belong to the widerSouthern Sporadesisland group.
Rhodeshas been the area's dominant island since antiquity. Of the others,KosandPatmosare historically the most important; the remaining 12 areAgathonisi,Astypalaia,Halki,Kalymnos,Karpathos,Kasos,Leipsoi,Leros,Nisyros,Symi,Tilos,andKastellorizo.Other islands in the chain includeAlimia,Arkoi,Farmakonisi,Gyali,Kinaros,Levitha,Marathos,Nimos,Pserimos,Saria,StrongyliandSyrna.
Name
[edit]The name "Dodecanese" (older form ἡ Δωδεκάνησος,hē Dōdekanēsos;modern τα Δωδεκάνησα,ta Dōdekanēsa), meaning "The Twelve Islands", orOniki Adalarin Turkish, denotes today an island group in the southeasternAegean Sea,comprising 15 major islands (Agathonisi,Astypalaia,Chalki,Kalymnos,Karpathos,Kasos,Kastellorizo,Kos,Lipsi,Leros,Nisyros,Patmos,Rhodes,Symi,andTilos) and 93 smaller islets.[2]Since Antiquity, these islands formed part of the group known as the "Southern Sporades"(Νότιες Σποράδες).[3]
The nameDōdekanēsosfirst appears inByzantinesources in the 8th century, as a naval command under adroungarios,encompassing the southern Aegean Sea, which eventually evolved into theTheme of Samos.[4]It was not applied to the current island group, but to the 12Cycladesislands clustered aroundDelos.The name may indeed be of a far earlier date, and modern historians suggest that the 12 islandsStrabomentions (GeographicaΧ.485)[5]were the origin of the term. The term remained in use throughout the medieval period and was still used for the Cyclades in both colloquial usage and scholarly Greek-language literature until the 18th century.[6]
The transfer of the name to the present-day Dodecanese has its roots in theOttomanperiod. Upon theOttoman conquestin 1522, the two larger islands, Rhodes and Kos, came underdirect Ottoman rule,while the others, of which the 12 main islands were usually named, enjoyed extensive privileges pertaining to taxation and self-government. Concerted attempts to abolish these privileges were made after 1869, as the Ottoman Empire attempted to modernize and centralize its administrative structure, and the last vestiges of the old privileges were finally abolished after theYoung Turkstook powerin 1908.[7]It was at that time that the press in the independentKingdom of Greecebegan referring to the 12 privileged islands (Astypalaia, Chalki,Ikaria,Kalymnos, Karpathos, Kasos, Kastellorizo, Leros, Nisyros, Patmos, Symi and Tilos), in the context of their attempts to preserve their privileges, collectively as the "Dodecanese". Shortly afterward, in 1912, most of the Southern Sporades were captured by the Italians in theItalo-Turkish War,except for Ikaria, which joined Greece in 1912 during theFirst Balkan War,and Kastellorizo, which came under Italian rule only in 1921. The place of the latter two was taken by Kos and Rhodes, bringing the number of the major islands under Italian rule back to 12. Thus, when the Greek press began agitating for the cession of the islands to Greece in 1913, the term used was still the "Dodecanese". The Italian occupation authorities helped establish the term when they named the islands under their control "Rhodes and the Dodecanese"(Rodi e Dodecaneso), addingLeipsoito the list of the major islands to make up for considering Rhodes separately.[8]
By 1920, the name had become firmly established for the entire island group, as acknowledged by the Italian government when it appointed the islands' first civilian governor, CountCarlo Senni,as "Viceroy of the Dodecanese". As the name was associated with Greek irredentism, from 1924Mussolini'sFascist regimetried to abolish its use by calling them the "Italian Islands of the Aegean",but this name never acquired any currency outside Italian administrative usage.[9]The islandsjoined Greecein 1947 following as the "Governorate-General of the Dodecanese" (Γενική Διοίκησις Δωδεκανήσου), since 1955 the "Dodecanese Prefecture" (Νομός Δωδεκανήσου).[10]
Geography
[edit]The Dodecanese are in the South East Aegean sea and are bordered by Turkey in the East, Crete in the southwest and the Cyclades in the west.
Climate
[edit]Most of the Dodecanese have a hot-summerMediterranean climate(Csain theKöppen climate classification) whileKarpathos,KasosandNisyroshave ahot semi-arid climate(Köppen climate classification:BSh) with mild winters and hot summers.[11]Rhodes Port,Kasos,KarpathosandKastellorizorecord among the mildest winters in Greece.[11]South EastRhodesexperiences a significantly warmer climate withLindosregistering a mean annual temperature of around 22.0 °C (71.6 °F),[12]making it the warmest area in Greece.[13][14]Moreover, according to theHellenic National Meteorological Service,South East Rhodes records the highest mean annual sunshine in Greece with over 3,100 hours.[15]
| Climate data for Karpathos Airport (Hellenic National Meteorological Service) 1994–2024 | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 16.0 (60.8) |
16.1 (61.0) |
17.2 (63.0) |
19.6 (67.3) |
23.6 (74.5) |
27.3 (81.1) |
29.1 (84.4) |
29.4 (84.9) |
27.7 (81.9) |
24.4 (75.9) |
20.7 (69.3) |
17.6 (63.7) |
22.4 (72.3) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 13.6 (56.5) |
13.7 (56.7) |
14.8 (58.6) |
16.9 (62.4) |
20.6 (69.1) |
24.3 (75.7) |
26.3 (79.3) |
26.8 (80.2) |
25.0 (77.0) |
21.7 (71.1) |
18.3 (64.9) |
15.2 (59.4) |
19.8 (67.6) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 11.2 (52.2) |
11.3 (52.3) |
12.3 (54.1) |
14.2 (57.6) |
17.7 (63.9) |
21.3 (70.3) |
23.5 (74.3) |
24.1 (75.4) |
22.4 (72.3) |
19.1 (66.4) |
15.8 (60.4) |
12.9 (55.2) |
17.2 (62.9) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 67.4 (2.65) |
42.0 (1.65) |
32.5 (1.28) |
15.7 (0.62) |
11.7 (0.46) |
2.2 (0.09) |
0.01 (0.00) |
0.0 (0.0) |
4.9 (0.19) |
21.4 (0.84) |
35.0 (1.38) |
74.4 (2.93) |
307.21 (12.09) |
| Source 1:[16](Sep 1994 – Dec 2021) | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: HNMS climate bulletins[17]( Jan 2022 – Aug 2024) | |||||||||||||
| Climate data for Rhodes Port 4 m a.s.l. | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 20.8 (69.4) |
20.9 (69.6) |
24.6 (76.3) |
27.6 (81.7) |
36.4 (97.5) |
37.9 (100.2) |
37.4 (99.3) |
37.6 (99.7) |
34.4 (93.9) |
32.6 (90.7) |
26.8 (80.2) |
22.2 (72.0) |
37.9 (100.2) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 16.1 (61.0) |
16.4 (61.5) |
17.3 (63.1) |
20.2 (68.4) |
23.9 (75.0) |
27.2 (81.0) |
30.7 (87.3) |
30.5 (86.9) |
28.6 (83.5) |
25.5 (77.9) |
22.0 (71.6) |
18.4 (65.1) |
23.1 (73.5) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 14.0 (57.2) |
14.3 (57.7) |
15.1 (59.2) |
18.0 (64.4) |
21.4 (70.5) |
24.8 (76.6) |
28.0 (82.4) |
28.3 (82.9) |
26.5 (79.7) |
23.4 (74.1) |
19.9 (67.8) |
16.3 (61.3) |
20.8 (69.5) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 11.9 (53.4) |
12.2 (54.0) |
12.9 (55.2) |
15.7 (60.3) |
18.9 (66.0) |
22.4 (72.3) |
25.3 (77.5) |
26.0 (78.8) |
24.4 (75.9) |
21.2 (70.2) |
17.7 (63.9) |
14.2 (57.6) |
18.6 (65.4) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 2.9 (37.2) |
4.7 (40.5) |
3.8 (38.8) |
9.4 (48.9) |
14.2 (57.6) |
16.2 (61.2) |
22.4 (72.3) |
23.1 (73.6) |
18.7 (65.7) |
17.1 (62.8) |
13.3 (55.9) |
9.0 (48.2) |
2.9 (37.2) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 113.6 (4.47) |
58.5 (2.30) |
44.5 (1.75) |
19.2 (0.76) |
7.3 (0.29) |
7.5 (0.30) |
0.1 (0.00) |
0.3 (0.01) |
3.0 (0.12) |
26.7 (1.05) |
87.2 (3.43) |
144.1 (5.67) |
512 (20.15) |
| Mean monthlysunshine hours | 151.8 | 184.8 | 238.8 | 266 | 326.8 | 375.2 | 394.4 | 363.8 | 311.8 | 260.2 | 190.8 | 157.8 | 3,222.2 |
| Source 1: Municipal Port Fund of South Dodecanese (Jan 2019-Apr 2024)[18][19] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: Sunshine Rhodes AP[20] | |||||||||||||
| Climate data for Fri 4 m a.s.l. | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 22.5 (72.5) |
25.2 (77.4) |
25.8 (78.4) |
30.5 (86.9) |
36.7 (98.1) |
37.2 (99.0) |
35.7 (96.3) |
36.9 (98.4) |
35.7 (96.3) |
32.8 (91.0) |
27.4 (81.3) |
24.4 (75.9) |
37.2 (99.0) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 16.0 (60.8) |
16.4 (61.5) |
17.4 (63.3) |
20.0 (68.0) |
23.3 (73.9) |
26.0 (78.8) |
28.0 (82.4) |
28.2 (82.8) |
26.8 (80.2) |
23.8 (74.8) |
20.9 (69.6) |
17.8 (64.0) |
22.1 (71.7) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 13.9 (57.0) |
14.3 (57.7) |
15.1 (59.2) |
17.3 (63.1) |
20.6 (69.1) |
23.9 (75.0) |
26.1 (79.0) |
26.6 (79.9) |
25.0 (77.0) |
21.8 (71.2) |
18.8 (65.8) |
15.8 (60.4) |
19.9 (67.9) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 11.7 (53.1) |
12.1 (53.8) |
12.8 (55.0) |
14.7 (58.5) |
17.9 (64.2) |
21.7 (71.1) |
24.1 (75.4) |
24.9 (76.8) |
23.2 (73.8) |
19.9 (67.8) |
16.8 (62.2) |
13.7 (56.7) |
17.8 (64.0) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 2.7 (36.9) |
4.3 (39.7) |
5.2 (41.4) |
7.2 (45.0) |
13.6 (56.5) |
16.2 (61.2) |
20.4 (68.7) |
21.1 (70.0) |
17.6 (63.7) |
14.4 (57.9) |
11.1 (52.0) |
6.3 (43.3) |
2.7 (36.9) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 56.5 (2.22) |
31.7 (1.25) |
38.3 (1.51) |
11.6 (0.46) |
8.9 (0.35) |
1.9 (0.07) |
1.0 (0.04) |
0.4 (0.02) |
3.4 (0.13) |
23.0 (0.91) |
29.2 (1.15) |
48.8 (1.92) |
254.7 (10.03) |
| Source 1: Karpathiakanea.gr[21] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2:National Observatory of AthensMonthly Bulletins (Jul 2010-Apr 2024)[11][22]andWorld Meteorological Organization[23] | |||||||||||||
| Climate data for Kastellorizo 5 m a.s.l. | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 20.6 (69.1) |
22.3 (72.1) |
26.1 (79.0) |
29.6 (85.3) |
34.8 (94.6) |
40.8 (105.4) |
40.8 (105.4) |
40.1 (104.2) |
36.6 (97.9) |
37.4 (99.3) |
27.7 (81.9) |
23.2 (73.8) |
40.8 (105.4) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 16.6 (61.9) |
17.1 (62.8) |
18.4 (65.1) |
21.9 (71.4) |
26.2 (79.2) |
29.2 (84.6) |
34.1 (93.4) |
33.7 (92.7) |
31.2 (88.2) |
27.3 (81.1) |
23.0 (73.4) |
18.8 (65.8) |
24.8 (76.6) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 14.4 (57.9) |
14.7 (58.5) |
15.6 (60.1) |
18.7 (65.7) |
22.6 (72.7) |
25.6 (78.1) |
29.9 (85.8) |
30.2 (86.4) |
28.2 (82.8) |
24.5 (76.1) |
20.5 (68.9) |
16.6 (61.9) |
21.8 (71.2) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 12.1 (53.8) |
12.3 (54.1) |
12.8 (55.0) |
15.6 (60.1) |
18.9 (66.0) |
22.0 (71.6) |
25.8 (78.4) |
26.7 (80.1) |
25.2 (77.4) |
21.6 (70.9) |
18.0 (64.4) |
14.4 (57.9) |
18.8 (65.8) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 4.5 (40.1) |
5.5 (41.9) |
5.2 (41.4) |
10.7 (51.3) |
15.2 (59.4) |
17.8 (64.0) |
22.9 (73.2) |
24.7 (76.5) |
21.6 (70.9) |
15.8 (60.4) |
12.9 (55.2) |
9.1 (48.4) |
4.5 (40.1) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 140.6 (5.54) |
50.2 (1.98) |
45.2 (1.78) |
15.7 (0.62) |
4.5 (0.18) |
8.9 (0.35) |
0.1 (0.00) |
0.0 (0.0) |
1.2 (0.05) |
26.3 (1.04) |
92.9 (3.66) |
150.9 (5.94) |
536.5 (21.14) |
| Source 1:National Observatory of AthensMonthly Bulletins (Sep 2018-Apr 2024)[24] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: Kastellorizo N.O.A station[25]andWorld Meteorological Organization[26] | |||||||||||||
| Climate data for Lindos 65 m a.s.l. | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 21.9 (71.4) |
24.8 (76.6) |
25.9 (78.6) |
32.4 (90.3) |
36.2 (97.2) |
43.6 (110.5) |
42.7 (108.9) |
43.1 (109.6) |
39.8 (103.6) |
37.9 (100.2) |
27.2 (81.0) |
22.5 (72.5) |
43.6 (110.5) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 16.2 (61.2) |
17.1 (62.8) |
18.6 (65.5) |
22.5 (72.5) |
26.9 (80.4) |
31.8 (89.2) |
35.4 (95.7) |
35.0 (95.0) |
31.6 (88.9) |
26.7 (80.1) |
22.0 (71.6) |
18.3 (64.9) |
25.2 (77.3) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 13.6 (56.5) |
14.4 (57.9) |
15.7 (60.3) |
19.1 (66.4) |
23.2 (73.8) |
27.9 (82.2) |
31.4 (88.5) |
31.3 (88.3) |
28.2 (82.8) |
23.7 (74.7) |
19.4 (66.9) |
15.8 (60.4) |
22.0 (71.6) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 11.1 (52.0) |
11.8 (53.2) |
12.8 (55.0) |
15.7 (60.3) |
19.5 (67.1) |
24.1 (75.4) |
27.4 (81.3) |
27.7 (81.9) |
24.8 (76.6) |
20.7 (69.3) |
16.8 (62.2) |
13.2 (55.8) |
18.8 (65.8) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 1.1 (34.0) |
3.3 (37.9) |
3.1 (37.6) |
9.4 (48.9) |
13.8 (56.8) |
16.8 (62.2) |
21.1 (70.0) |
24.0 (75.2) |
16.3 (61.3) |
13.1 (55.6) |
10.5 (50.9) |
4.3 (39.7) |
1.1 (34.0) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 107.8 (4.24) |
70.9 (2.79) |
45.1 (1.78) |
10.8 (0.43) |
11.0 (0.43) |
2.5 (0.10) |
1.5 (0.06) |
0.04 (0.00) |
5.4 (0.21) |
24.7 (0.97) |
84.0 (3.31) |
117.4 (4.62) |
481.14 (18.94) |
| Averagerelative humidity(%) | 67.6 | 66.4 | 64.6 | 60.9 | 57.9 | 52.7 | 46.4 | 50.0 | 51.4 | 58.4 | 66.1 | 68.5 | 59.2 |
| Source 1:National Observatory of Athens(May 2014-Jun 2024)[27][28] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2:World Meteorological Organization[29] | |||||||||||||
| Climate data for Rhodes Airport | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 22.0 (71.6) |
22.6 (72.7) |
27.6 (81.7) |
30.6 (87.1) |
34.8 (94.6) |
36.2 (97.2) |
39.0 (102.2) |
41.2 (106.2) |
35.4 (95.7) |
33.2 (91.8) |
28.4 (83.1) |
23.4 (74.1) |
41.2 (106.2) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 15.1 (59.2) |
15.2 (59.4) |
17 (63) |
20.0 (68.0) |
24.1 (75.4) |
28.3 (82.9) |
30.4 (86.7) |
30.7 (87.3) |
28.1 (82.6) |
24.5 (76.1) |
20.2 (68.4) |
16.7 (62.1) |
22.5 (72.6) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 12.0 (53.6) |
12.0 (53.6) |
13.5 (56.3) |
16.3 (61.3) |
20.0 (68.0) |
24.2 (75.6) |
26.4 (79.5) |
26.7 (80.1) |
24.4 (75.9) |
20.7 (69.3) |
16.7 (62.1) |
13.5 (56.3) |
18.9 (66.0) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 9.2 (48.6) |
9.1 (48.4) |
10.5 (50.9) |
13 (55) |
16.3 (61.3) |
20.4 (68.7) |
22.7 (72.9) |
23.2 (73.8) |
21 (70) |
17.4 (63.3) |
13.7 (56.7) |
10.8 (51.4) |
15.6 (60.1) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −4.0 (24.8) |
−1.6 (29.1) |
0.2 (32.4) |
5.2 (41.4) |
8.6 (47.5) |
12.6 (54.7) |
16.8 (62.2) |
17.0 (62.6) |
10.6 (51.1) |
7.2 (45.0) |
2.4 (36.3) |
1.2 (34.2) |
−4.0 (24.8) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 151.8 (5.98) |
101.7 (4.00) |
68.9 (2.71) |
29.4 (1.16) |
16.4 (0.65) |
1.8 (0.07) |
0.3 (0.01) |
0.2 (0.01) |
6.3 (0.25) |
56.9 (2.24) |
89.6 (3.53) |
152.8 (6.02) |
676.1 (26.63) |
| Average rainy days | 15.5 | 12.7 | 10.5 | 7.6 | 4.6 | 1.2 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 1.5 | 6.7 | 9.5 | 15.4 | 85.5 |
| Averagerelative humidity(%) | 70.1 | 69.1 | 68.7 | 66.5 | 64.4 | 58.5 | 57.6 | 59.9 | 61.4 | 67.5 | 71.4 | 72.4 | 65.6 |
| Mean dailysunshine hours | 5.0 | 6.0 | 7.0 | 9.0 | 11.0 | 13.0 | 14.0 | 13.0 | 11.0 | 8.0 | 6.0 | 5.0 | 9.0 |
| Source 1: Hellenic National Meteorological Service (1955–2010 averages)[30] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: NOAA (1961–1977 temperatures taken fromMaritsa Airportand 1977–1990 fromRhodes International Airport[31]),[32]Weather Atlas (sunshine data)[33] | |||||||||||||
History
[edit]
Pre-history and the Archaic period
[edit]The Dodecanese have been inhabited since prehistoric times. In theNeopalatial periodon Crete, the islands were heavilyMinoanized(contact beginning in the second millennium BC). Following the downfall of the Minoans, the islands were ruled by theMycenaean Greeksfrom circa 1400 BC, until the arrival of theDorianscirca 1100 BC. It is in the Dorian period that they began to prosper as an independent entity, developing a thriving economy and culture through the following centuries. By the earlyArchaic periodRhodes and Kos emerged as the major islands in the group, and in the 6th century BC the Dorians founded three major cities on Rhodes (Lindos,KameirosandIalyssos). Together with the island of Kos and the cities ofKnidosandHalicarnassoson the mainland ofAsia Minor,these made up theDorian Hexapolis.
Classical period
[edit]
This development was interrupted around 499 BC by thePersian Wars,during which the islands were captured by the Persians for a brief period. After theAtheniansdefeated the Persians in 478 BC, the cities joined the Athenian-dominatedDelian League.When thePeloponnesian Warbroke out in 431 BC, they remained largely neutral, though they were still members of the League.
By the time the Peloponnesian War ended in 404 BC, the Dodecanese were mostly removed from the larger Aegean conflicts, and had begun a period of relative quiet and prosperity. In 408 BC, the three cities of Rhodes had united to form one state, which built a new capital on the northern end of the island, also namedRhodes;this united Rhodes dominated the region for the coming millennia. Other islands in the Dodecanese also developed into significant economic and cultural centers; most notably, Kos served as the site of the school ofmedicinefounded byHippocrates.
The Peloponnesian War had so weakened the entire Greek civilization's military strength that it lay open to invasion. In 357 BC, the islands were conquered by KingMausolusofCaria,then in 340 BC by the Persians. But this second period of Persian rule proved nearly as short as the first, and the islands became part of the rapidly growingMacedonian EmpireasAlexander the Greatswept through and defeated the Persians in 332 BC, to the great relief of the islands' inhabitants.
After Alexander's death, the islands, and even Rhodes itself, were split up among themany generalswhocontended to succeed him.The islands formed strong commercial ties with thePtolemiesinEgypt,and together they formed the Rhodo-Egyptian alliance, which controlled trade throughout the Aegean in the 3rd century BC. Led by Rhodes, the islands developed into maritime, commercial and cultural centers: coins of Rhodes circulated almost everywhere in the Mediterranean, and the islands' schools of philosophy, literature and rhetoric were famous. TheColossus of Rhodes,built in 304 BC, perhaps best symbolized their wealth and power.
In 164 BC, Rhodes signed a treaty withRome,and the islands became aligned to greater or lesser extent with theRoman Republicwhile mostly maintaining their autonomy. Rhodes quickly became a major schooling center for Roman noble families, and, as the islands (and particularly Rhodes) were important allies of Rome, they enjoyed numerous privileges and generally friendly relations. These were eventually lost in 42 BC, in theturmoilfollowing the assassination ofJulius Caesarin 44 BC, after whichCassiusinvaded and sacked the islands. Thereafter, they became part of the Roman Empire proper.Titusmade Rhodes capital of theProvincia Insularum,and eventually the islands were joined withCreteas part of the 18th Province of the Roman Empire.
In the 1st century,Saint Paulvisited the islands twice, andSaint Johnvisited numerous times; they succeeded in converting the islands to Christianity, placing them among the first dominantly Christian regions. Saint John eventually came to reside among them, being exiled to Patmos, where he wrote his famousRevelation.
Middle Ages
[edit]
As the Roman Empire split in AD 395 into Eastern and Western halves, the islands became part of the Eastern part, which later evolved into theByzantine Empire.They would remain there for nearly a thousand years, though these were punctuated by numerous invasions. It was during this period that they began to reemerge as an independent entity, and the termDodecaneseitself dates to around the 8th century. Copious evidence of the Eastern Roman period remains on the islands today, most notably in hundreds of churches from the period in various states of preservation.
In the 10th and 11th centuries, on behalf the Roman Empire of Constantinople, the area was controlled and secured with trade duty rights by powerful maritime city-state fleets of Genoa (with the clan of Vignolo de'Vignoli) andVenice(with the clan ofCornaros); When the Genoese snatched a treaty from the Paleologos Emperors of Constantinople, they began invading portions of the Dodecanese and other eastern isles from Chios to Rhodes that had remained under the nominal power of theEmpire of Nicea;Genoesefamily clans (Moresco, Vignoli, Giustiniani, Spinola and others) each held some islands and were granted rights to rule, trade and to exploit raw materials (masticha,etc.), in exchange for maritime protection, while Orthodox monks ruled on Patmos and Leros. The Byzantine era came to an end when the islands were rented and sold by Genoeses for the venue of theKnights Hospitaller(Knights of St John):Rhodes was reinforcedin 1309, and in the rest of the islands the Knights gradually built castles and fortress over the next few decades, while the Genoese fleet remained in charge of the sea routes and kept its bases and trading stores (Empori). The Knights made Rhodes their stronghold, transforming its capital into a grandiose medieval city dominated by an impressive fortress, with scattered other fortresses and citadels throughout the rest of the islands.
These massive fortifications proved sufficient to repel invasions by the Sultan of Egypt in 1444 andMehmed IIin1480.Finally, the citadel at Rhodes fell to the army ofSuleiman the Magnificentin1522,and the other islands were overrun within the year. The few remaining Knights fled toMalta.
Ottoman rule
[edit]
Thus began a period of several hundred years in theOttoman Empire.The Dodecanese formed aseparate provincewithin theEyalet of the Archipelago.The population was allowed to retain a number of privileges provided it submitted to Ottoman rule. By Suleiman's edict, they paid a special tax in return for a special autonomous status that prohibited Ottoman generals from interfering in their civil affairs or mistreating the population. These guarantees, combined with a strategic location at the crossroads of Mediterranean shipping, allowed the islands to prosper. The overwhelmingly Greek population (only Rhodes and Kos had Turkish communities) leaned heavily toward Greece following its declaration of independence in 1822, and many of the islanders joined theGreek War of Independence,with the result that the northern portion of the Dodecanese (includingSamos) became briefly the Greek provinces of theEastern SporadesandSouthern Sporades.Kasosin particular played a prominent role due to its skilled mariners, until itsdestructionby the Egyptians in 1824. Most of the islands were slated to become part of the new Greek state in theLondon Protocol of 1828,but when Greek independence was recognized in theLondon Protocol of 1830,the islands were left outside the newKingdom of Greece.The 19th century turned out to be one of the islands' most prosperous, and a number of mansions date from this era.
Turks of the Dodecanese
[edit]ATurkishMuslim minority lives inRhodesandKos.Sources have variously estimated the Turkish population of Kos and Rhodes to be 5,000,[34]6,000,[35]or 7,000.[36]
Italian rule
[edit]
After the outbreak of theItalian-Turkish waroverLibyain early 1912,Italy,in order to apply pressure on the Ottoman government closer to its metropolitan territories, occupied all the present-day Dodecanese except forKastellorizo.[37]
After the end of the war according to theTreaty of Ouchy,Italy maintained the occupation of the islands as guarantee for the execution of the treaty. The occupation continued after Italy declared war on the Ottoman Empire (21 August 1915) duringWorld War I.
During the war, the islands became an importantnaval basefor Britain and France; Italy was allied with both nations. The Dodecanese were used as astaging areafor numerous campaigns, most famously the one atGallipoli.The French and British occupied some of the smaller islands, but Rhodes remained under Italian occupation. In 1915, the French also occupied Kastellorizo.
After the war, theTittoni–Venizelosagreement, signed on 29 July 1919, called for the smaller islands to join with Greece while Italy maintained control of Rhodes. The treaty further outlined an exchange where Italy would receiveAntalyafor southwestAnatolia.The Greek defeat in theGreco-Turkish Warand the foundation of modern Turkey prevented the exchange. Italy formally annexed the Dodecanese as thePossedimenti Italiani dell'Egeounder the terms of theTreaty of Lausanne.Mussolini embarked on a program ofItalianization,hoping to make Rhodes a modern transportation hub that would serve as a focal point for the spread of Italian culture in the Levant. The islands were overwhelminglyGreek-speaking,with aTurkish-speakingminority and a smallerLadino-speakingJewishminority. ImmigrantItalian speakerswere a marginal language community.
Although the Italian state placed the islands under the direction of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, their governance was strongly tied to the project for an Italian empire in the Mediterranean and to the Italian colonies in Libya, Somalia, Eritrea, and after 1936, in Ethiopia.
As part of securing sovereignty in the islands, Italy created and applied a form of imperial citizenship for the local population unique to its overseas empire. Called Italian Aegean citizenship (cittadinanza egea italiana), this form of citizenship was inclusive of local political rights and exclusive of military service. After 1934, Dodecanese citizens could complete military service and apply to become full Italian citizens, an option many locals chose while supporting Italian Fascism and seeing the Italian empire as promoting their financial well-being. Italian Aegean citizenship also ensured the islands were exempted from the exchange of Greek and Turkish minority populations in the Aegean, a provision of the Second Lausanne Treaty that ended the Greco-Turkish War. After 1934, it was also possible to acquire Italian Aegean citizenship from abroad and to transmit Italian Aegean citizenship on the principle of patrilineal descent. This reform mirrored the principle of jus sanguinis which provides the basis of Italian citizenship and was especially intended for the large Greek-speaking Dodecanese-origin emigrant community in Egypt.[38]
The Fascist administration sought to modernize the islands, eradicatingmalaria,constructing hospitals, aqueducts, a power plant to provide Rhodes' capital with electric lighting, and establishing the Dodecanesecadastre.The main castle of the Knights of St. John was also rebuilt. The concrete-dominated Fascist architectural style detracted significantly from the islands' picturesque scenery (and also reminded the inhabitants of Italian rule), and has consequently been largely demolished or remodeled, apart from the famous example of theLerostown ofLakki,which remains a prime example of the architecture.
From 1936 to 1940Cesare Maria De Vecchiacted as governor of theItalian Islands of the Aegeanpromoting the official use of the Italian language and favoring a process ofItalianization,interrupted by the beginning ofWorld War II.[39]In the 1936 Italian census of the Dodecanese islands, the total population was 129,135, of whom 7,015 were Italians.
World War II
[edit]
During World War II, Italy joined theAxis Powers,which used the Dodecanese as a naval staging area for theirinvasion of Cretein 1941. AfterItaly surrenderedin September 1943, the islands briefly became a battleground between theGermansandAlliedforces, including the Italians. The Germans prevailed in theDodecanese Campaign,and although they were driven out of mainland Greece in 1944, the Dodecanese remained occupied until the end of the war in 1945, during which time nearly the entire Jewish population of 6,000 wasdeported and killed.Only 1,200 of theseLadino-speaking Jews survived by escaping to the nearby coast ofTurkey.[citation needed]On 8 May 1945 the German garrison commanderOtto Wagenersurrendered the islands to the British on Rhodes, handing over 5,000 German and 600 Italian military personnel.[40]
Post-World War II
[edit]After the war, the islands became a British military protectorate and were almost immediately allowed to run their own civil affairs, whereupon they became informally united with Greece, though under separate sovereignty and military control. Despite objections from Turkey, which desired the islands as well, they were formally united with Greece by the1947 Peace Treaty with Italy.
As a legacy of its former status as a jurisdiction separate from Greece, it is still considered a separate "entity" foramateur radiopurposes, essentially maintaining its status as an independent country "on the air." Amateur radio call signs in the Dodecanese begin with theprefixSV5 instead of SV for Greece.[41]
The 70th anniversary of the Dodecaneseenosiswas marked in 2017,[42][43]with the Greek Parliament holding a special celebratory session for the event.[44]
Today, Rhodes[45]and the Dodecanese are popular travel destinations.
Administration
[edit]
TheDodecanese Prefecturewas one of theprefectures of Greece.As a part of the 2011Kallikratis reform,the prefecture was abolished, and its territory was divided into fourregional units,within theSouth Aegeanadministrative region:[46]
Municipalities and communities
[edit]The prefecture was subdivided into the following municipalities and communities. These have been reorganised at the 2011 Kallikratis reform as well.
| Municipality | YPES code | Seat (if different) | Postal code | Area code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Afantou | 1205 | 851 03 | 22410-50 through 53, 56, 57 | |
| Archangelos | 1202 | 851 02 | 22440-2 | |
| Astypalaia | 1203 | 859 00 | 22430-4 | |
| Attavyros | 1204 | Empona | 851 09 | 22460-5 |
| Chalki | 1227 | 851 10 | 22460-45 | |
| Dikaio | 1206 | Zipari | 853 00 | |
| Ialysos | 1208 | 851 01 | 22410-90 through 98 | |
| Irakleides | 1207 | Antimacheia | 853 02 | 22420-6 |
| Kallithea | 1209 | Kalythies | 851 05 | 22410–6, 84 through 87 |
| Kalymnos | 1210 | 852 00 | 22430–2, 50, 59 | |
| Kameiros | 1211 | Soroni | 851 06 | 22410-40 through 42 |
| Karpathos | 1212 | 857 00 | 22450–2, 3 | |
| Kasos | 1213 | 858 00 | 22450-4 | |
| Kos | 1214 | 853 00 | 22420-2 | |
| Lipsi | 1215 | 850 01 | 22470-4 | |
| Leros | 1216 | 854 00 | 22470-2 | |
| Lindos | 1217 | 851 07 | 22440–2,3 | |
| Megisti/Kastellorizo | 1218 | 851 11 | 22460-49 | |
| Nisyros | 1219 | 853 03 | 22420-3 | |
| Patmos | 1222 | 855 00 | 22470-3 | |
| Petaloudes | 1223 | Kremasti | 851 04 | 22410-90 through 98 |
| Rhodes | 1224 | 851 00 | 22410–2,3,4,6,7,8 | |
| South Rhodes | 1220 | Gennadi | 851 09 | 22440-4 |
| Symi | 1225 | 856 00 | 22460-70 through 72 | |
| Tilos | 1226 | 850 02 | 22460-44 | |
| Community | YPES code | Seat (if different) | Postal code | Area code |
| Agathonisi | 1201 | Agathonissi | 850 01 | 22470 |
| Olympos | 1221 | 857 00 | 22450 |
Provinces
[edit]Until 1997, the Prefecture of the Dodecanese was subdivided into provinces:
- Province ofPatmos– Patmos
- Province ofKalymnos– Kalymnos
- Province ofKos– Kos
- Province ofRhodes– Rhodes City
- Province ofKarpathos&Kasos– Karpathos
Cuisine
[edit]
Local specialities of the Dodecanese include:
- Avranies
- Koulouria(Κουλουρία)
- Pitaroudia
- Pouggia(Πουγγιά)
- Tsirigia
- Fanouropita(dessert)
- Katimeria(dessert)
- Melekouni(dessert)
- Pouggakia(dessert)
- TakakiaorMantinades(dessert)
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^Peter Saundry, C.Michael Hogan & Steve Baum. 2011.Sea of Crete.Encyclopedia of Earth. Eds.M.Pidwirny & C.J.Cleveland. National Council for Science and Environment. Washington DC.Archived24 June 2013 at theWayback Machine
- ^Giannopoulos 2006,pp. 275–276.
- ^Giannopoulos 2006,p. 275.
- ^Ahrweiler 1966,pp. 79–81.
- ^Strabo,Geographica,.html X, 485:"Now at first the Cyclades are said to have been only twelve in number, but later several others were added".
- ^Giannopoulos 2006,pp. 276–278.
- ^Giannopoulos 2006,pp. 278–280.
- ^Giannopoulos 2006,pp. 280–284.
- ^Giannopoulos 2006,pp. 284–294.
- ^Giannopoulos 2006,p. 294.
- ^abc"Monthly Bulletins".meteo.gr.
- ^"Climate normals".National Observatory of Athens.Retrieved30 April2022.
- ^"The warmest area of the country is".National Observatory of Athens.Archivedfrom the original on 11 July 2021.Retrieved19 July2021.
- ^"Lindos, Rhodes".Iefimerida. 22 August 2019.Archivedfrom the original on 18 July 2021.Retrieved19 July2021.
- ^Climate AtlasArchived4 February 2022 at theWayback Machine,climatlas.hnms.gr/]. Accessed 31 August 2002.
- ^"ΔΗΜΟΣ ΚΑΡΠΑΘΟΥ"(PDF).Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 4 June 2023.
- ^"ΚΛΙΜΑΤΟΛΟΓΙΑ, ΕΜΥ, Εθνική Μετεωρολογική Υπηρεσία".
- ^"Rhodes, Tourist Port - Municipal Port Fund of South Dodecanese Current Weather Conditions".
- ^"Αρχική - Δημοτικό Λιμενικό Ταμείο Νότιας Δωδεκανήσου".litando.gr.Retrieved19 April2023.
- ^"HNMS".Retrieved5 May2024.
- ^"The areas with the mildest winters in Greece"(in Greek). Karpathiakanea.gr. 12 April 2022.Retrieved16 April2022.
- ^"Weather station of Kasos".penteli.meteo.gr.May 2023.
- ^"World Meteorological Organization".Retrieved14 July2023.
- ^"Meteo.gr - Προγνώσεις καιρού για όλη την Ελλάδα".
- ^"Latest Conditions in Kastellorizo".
- ^"World Meteorological Organization".Retrieved14 July2023.
- ^"Climate"(in Greek). National Observatory of Athens. Archived fromthe originalon 27 September 2022.
- ^"N.O.A Monthly Bulletins".
- ^"World Meteorological Organization".Archived fromthe originalon 12 July 2023.Retrieved12 July2023.
- ^"Climatology – Rodos".Hellenic National Meteorological Service. Archived fromthe originalon 25 March 2017.Retrieved24 March2017.
- ^DocumentsArchived16 June 2022 at theWayback Machine,itia.ntua.gr. Accessed 31 August 2022.
- ^ "Rhodes Climate Normals 1961–1990".National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.Retrieved1 March2015.
- ^"Rhodes, Greece – Climate data".Weather Atlas.Archivedfrom the original on 25 March 2017.Retrieved24 March2017.
- ^AKPM, Rodos ve İstanköy Türkleri için adım attı - Dünya HaberleriArchived6 September 2014 at theWayback Machine.SABAH, 13 March 2012
- ^"Yunanistan'daki Türk Varlığı".Archived fromthe originalon 3 September 2014.Retrieved6 September2014.
- ^The Rough Guide to the Greek Islands,p. 638, atGoogle Books
- ^"Η ιταλοκρατία στα Δωδεκάνησα".NewsIT.13 July 2019.Archivedfrom the original on 4 November 2020.Retrieved31 October2020.
- ^Valerie McGuire,Italy's Sea: Empire and Nation in the MediterraneanArchived22 September 2023 at theWayback Machine,1895-1945. Liverpool: Liverpool University Press, 2020, 142-170.
- ^Dubin, Marc (2002).The Dodecanese and the East Aegean...Rough Guides. p. 436.ISBN978-1-85828-883-3.Retrieved19 July2009.
- ^Hearfield, John."German surrender of the Dodecanese islands".Archivedfrom the original on 28 November 2015.Retrieved23 April2014.
- ^"European DXCC Entities".ng3k.Archivedfrom the original on 14 February 2017.Retrieved18 December2016.
- ^"His beatitude, the Patriarch of Jerusalem, at the ceremony of the 70th incorporation anniversary of the dodecanese within Greece".Official News Gate (Press release). Jerusalem Patriarchate. 3 June 2017.Retrieved8 March2017.[permanent dead link]
- ^"Η μακρά περιπέτεια των Δωδεκανήσων μέχρι να έρθουν στην Ελλάδα".NewsIT.19 October 2019.Archivedfrom the original on 22 October 2019.Retrieved31 October2020.
- ^Special session celebrating Dodecanese incorporation to Greek state.Protothema News(video). Greece. 1 March 2017.Archivedfrom the original on 11 March 2017.Retrieved8 March2017.
- ^"Ρόδος! Ταξίδι σε μια άλλη παραμυθένια εποχή…".NewsIT.23 April 2012.Archivedfrom the original on 4 November 2020.Retrieved31 October2020.
- ^"ΦΕΚ A 87/2010, Kallikratis reform law text"(in Greek).Government Gazette.
- Ahrweiler, Hélène(1966).Byzance et la mer. La marine de guerre, la politique et les institutions maritimes de Byzance aux VIIe- XVe siècless(in French). Paris: Presses universitaires de France.
- Carabott, P. J. (1993). "The Temporary Italian Occupation of the Dodecanese: A Prelude to Permanency".Diplomacy and Statecraft.4(2): 285–312.doi:10.1080/09592299308405886.
- Doumanis, Nicholas (2005). "Italians as Good Colonizers: Speaking Subalterns and the Politics of Memory in the Dodecanese". In Ben-Ghiat, Ruth; Fuller, Mia (eds.).Italian Colonialism.New York: Palgrave Macmillan.ISBN0-312-23649-2.
- Giannopoulos, Giannis (2006)."Δωδεκάνησος, η γένεση ενός ονόματος και η αντιμετώπισή του από τους Ιταλούς"[Dodecanese, the genesis of a name and the Italian approach].Ἑῶα καὶ Ἑσπέρια(in Greek).6:275–296.doi:10.12681/eoaesperia.78.ISSN2241-7540.
- McGuire, Valerie (2020).Italy's Sea: Empire and Nation in the Mediterranean, 1895-1945. Liverpool: Liverpool University Press.
External links
[edit]
- DodecaneseOfficial website of the Greek National Tourism Organisation
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