Archaeological Museum of Rhodes, Archaeological museum in Rhodes Medieval City, Greece
The Archaeological Museum of Rhodes is housed in a building that once served as a hospital for the Knights of Saint John and displays finds spanning different eras of the ancient Mediterranean region. The collections include sculptures, inscriptions, and objects excavated from the island and neighboring areas.
The building was constructed between 1440 and 1503 under Grand Master d'Aubusson as a hospital for the Knights Hospitaller and represents late medieval architecture. After the knights were expelled, it served various purposes over centuries before becoming a museum.
The collections display artworks spanning different eras of island life, including the Crouching Aphrodite from the 1st century BC and a Hellenistic pebble mosaic with Bellerophon riding Pegasus. These pieces reveal the artistic skills of ancient inhabitants and their relationship to Greek mythology.
The museum is easy to locate as it sits in Rhodes Medieval City in a distinctive historic building. Visitors should arrive early in the morning, especially during the busy summer months, to avoid long queues and explore the collections at leisure.
The Head of Helios from this collection became the cover artwork for an electronic music album in 2011 and gained unexpected fame in popular culture. This ancient sculpture depicting the sun god was transformed into a symbol for a completely different art form in the 21st century.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
