Camirus

{{Short description|Ancient Rhodian city}} {{About|the ancient city on Rhodes|the town of ancient Crete, Greece|Camirus (Crete)|the genus of shield-backed bugs in the family Scutelleridae|Camirus (bug)}} {{Redirect|Kameiros|the modern municipality|Kameiros (municipality)}}

'''Camirus''' or '''Kamiros''' ({{langx|grc|Κάμιρος}}; {{IPAc-en|k|ə|ˈ|m|aɪər|ə|s}}) or '''Cameirus''' or '''Kameiros''' (Κάμειρος) was a city of ancient Rhodes, in the Dodecanese, Greece. Its site is on the northwest coast of the island, {{convert|3|km}} west of the modern village of Kalavarda.

==History== ===Late Bronze=== During the prehistoric period the area was inhabited by Mycenaean Greeks.

===Iron Age=== thumb|Warrior-headed vase, Camirus, Rhodes, 590-575 BC The city itself was founded by the Dorians. 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. The temple foundations were begun at least as early as the eighth century BC. 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.

===Classical Age=== The earthquake of 226 BC destroyed the city and the temple. The earthquake of 142 AD destroyed the city for the second time.<ref>P.H.Davies, ''Rhodes'' (Globetrotter Travel Guide, 2006), pages 57-58.</ref>

==Excavations== The Acropolis was excavated by Alfred Biliotti and Auguste Salzmann between 1859 and 1864. Many of the finds from their digs are now kept in the British Museum in London.<ref>[https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/search?place=Kamiros British Museum Collection]</ref> In 1928 the Italian Archaeological School began a systematic excavation of the area together with restoration work which continued until the end of the Second World War.

==Gallery== <gallery> File:Rhodes Kameiros tango7174.jpg|Panoramic view File:Kameiros - Fountain square 03.jpg|Fountain Square File:Kameiros - Staircase.jpg|Staircase File:Hierothyteion 01.jpg|The Hierothyteion File:Kameiros - Main street 02.jpg|Main street File:Camiros Kameiros ruins detail.jpg|Houses of the Hellenistic period File:Ancient Kamiros, Baths.jpg|Baths of the city </gallery>

== Notable people == *Peisander (7th century BC), epic poet

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== {{Commons category}} *[http://lespierresquiparlent.free.fr/camiros-premiere.html Présentation de Camiros] by Claire Tuan (French text and photographs) *[https://discover-rhodes.com/explore/places-to-visit/ancient-kamiros/ Ancient Kamiros] on Discover Rhodes

{{Landmarks of Rhodes}} {{Authority control}} {{coord|36|20|9|N|27|55|17|E|type:landmark_region:GR_dim:540|display=title}} Category:Doric Hexapolis Category:Destroyed populated places Category:Ancient Greek archaeological sites in Greece Category:Populated places in the ancient Aegean islands Category:Archaeological sites on Rhodes Category:Former populated places in Greece Category:Members of the Delian League Category:Greek city-states