GREECE — Flyer “Rhodos — Grèce”

Tourist brochure on the island of Rhodes. “Its position determined its history. It changed hands many times, beginning with the Persians in the 5th century B. C. But in spite of all its reversals of fortune, the vigour of its inhabitants in life and in creativity was always outstanding. Rhodos is full of monuments and statues from the classical and Hellenistic periods. Everyone has heard of the famous Colossus of Rhodes, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, of which, however, only the fame survives today. In the Byzantine period, the commercial and naval power of Rhodos reached its zenith. Times of glory came again in the Crusades, since the island lay on the way to the Holy Land, from which in the 14th Century the Knights of the Order of St. John started out. They gave to Rhodos a second great period of prosperity which lasted for more than 200 years. The Turks succeeded them in 1522, the Italians in 1912. In 1947 it was finally joined to Greece.”