Lindos Acropolis

The Acropolis of Lindos rises about 116 metres above the sea on a rocky headland above the village of Lindos, on the east coast of Rhodes, Greece. Lindos was one of the three ancient Dorian cities of Rhodes, and its sanctuary of Athena Lindia was a religious centre from at least the Archaic period. The dominant remains date from the 4th century BC, when the Doric temple of Athena Lindia was rebuilt after a fire, and from the Hellenistic period, when the monumental stoa and the grand stairway were added. A famous ship-prow relief carved into the rock near the entrance, once bearing a statue by Pythokritos, dates from about 180 BC. Later occupants left their own marks. The Knights Hospitaller fortified the summit in the 14th century, and their walls, a Byzantine church of St John and the castle enclose the ancient sanctuary. Visitors climb from the village by a stepped path, passing the Knights' gateway and the carved galley relief before reaching the Hellenistic stoa, a 87-metre colonnade of Doric columns, and the propylaea with its monumental staircase. The temple itself stands at the highest point, with views over St Paul's Bay and the Aegean. Architecturally the site is a mix of Doric stone terraces, medieval walls and later repairs. Excavations began under the Danish expedition of 1902-1914 and continued under Italian rule, and the Italians also reconstructed some columns and walls. Anchoring and restoration work by the Greek authorities has continued for decades, and scaffolding is sometimes present on parts of the site. There are information signs in Greek and English. The visit is outdoors and exposed to sun, and takes about 1.5 to 2 hours including the climb from the village, which can be done on foot or by donkey, though the donkey ride is controversial because of animal welfare concerns. The complex is managed by the Hellenic Ministry of Culture.