The island of Rhodes welcomes millions of tourists every year. The reason is simple: it has the longest summer of all the other Greek islands. Located in south-eastern Greece, Rhodes is the most popular of the Dodecanese Islands, mainly because its multifaceted identity, almost like a small country in its own right. While visiting Rhodes -like any other tourist destination- it is a good idea to hire a car. AutoRhodes is the best solution for you. Our AutoRhodes car hire aim is to provide our clients with the best possible car hire services at the most competitive rates. You can visit us at our car hire Lindos station or find our Pefkos car hire point for more information. Our staff is friendly and reliable and will also be able to offer you some useful tips and information about the island.
The most frequent question we are asked is why our island is so beautiful and sunny. The answer is simple.
Our isle is blessed by the God of Sun, Helios. The origins of Rhodes are connected to a myth about Zeus, the leader and father of the other ancient Greek gods, and Helios, the god of the Sun. According to this divine myth, after Zeus's victory against the frightful Giants, he decided -fair minded as always- to divide the land among the Olympian gods.
The only god who received nothing was Helios, because he was absent and therefore excluded of the share. No one remembered to include him in the draw. When he came back, highly disappointed, he complained and demanded his share, but Zeus told him that he was not able to make the cast again, because the rest of the gods would not agree.
Nevertheless Zeus, so rightful, promised him to gain the land which would emerge from the sea right in the next morning. Time passed and just when the first rays of light were beginning to show, a piece of land sprang suddenly out of the Aegean Sea.
Cheerfully, Helios jumped into the island's blue and clear waters, bathed it with his own radiance, filling it with his own light and making it the brightest island of the Mediterranean! Helios then chose the nymph Rhodes, a daughter of Poseidon, as his wife. He married her and they gave birth to seven sons. Fully enamored, Helios gave to this picturesque island the name of Rhodes.
"And there grew up from the watery wave this island [Rhodes], and great Helios who begets the fierce rays of the sun, holds her in his dominion, that ruler of the horses breathing fire. There long ago he [Helios] lay with Rhodes and begot seven sons, endowed beyond all men of old with genius of thoughtful mind. And of these one begot he eldest Ialysos, and Kamiros and Lindos; and in three parts they divided their father's land, and of three citadels the brothers held each his separate share, and by their three names are the cities called." Pindar continued (Olympian Ode 7.69)
The Sun God has always been very popular in Rhodes. Around 300 BC the Rhodians built a cult statue in order to praise Helios, which they named the Colossus of Rhodes. It was said to be a gigantic bronze statue of around 30 meters high, that stood at the entrance of the island's main harbor. The statue was constructed to celebrate Rhodes' victory over the ruler of Cyprus, Antigonus I Monophthalmus, whose son unsuccessfully besieged Rhodes in 305 BC. The Colossus of Rhodes was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and one of the tallest statues of the ancient world.
