Rhodes Island Top Attraction: Guards of the Ancient Town Rhodes
When coming for vacation to Rhodes Island you have plenty of choices when it comes to visiting the attraction and sightseeing. The wide variety of attractions that is offered by Rhodes Island is not matched by any other tourist destination in the world. When you come for Rhodes holidays to the old town, one of the main attractions you will find is the Rhodian Deer Statues.
Rhodian Deer Statues:
On the entrance of Mandraki harbour you will find the two deer statues guarding it. These are the sculptures of the unique Rhodian deer which has now become a symbol of Rhodes Island. The statues of deer on two slim columns are found on the entrance of harbour of Mandraki – one is a stag while the other is a doe. The statues look very appealing and never go unnoticed when you come to the pictorial harbour of Mandraki during Rhodes Holidays. In order to really know the attraction that these Rhodian Deer Statues offer for your Rhodes Holidays and why these statues are so important, you must know about the special Dama-Dama deer of Rhodes.
Dama-Dama- The Rhodian Deer:
The Dama-Dama deer also known as the Rhodian Deer is unique deer species found only on Rhodes Island in Greece. According to legends, the deer was brought to the Island during the Crusades, many centuries ago, in medieval times. However, many sources and findings have revealed that they existed on the island since ancient times. Indeed, the island of Rhodes was known as “Elafioussa’ that means “with many deers” in the olden times. The Dama Dama deer is unique to Rhodes and existed in a large number on the island. This is the reason you find the statues of deer at the entrance of Mandraki harbour as they are considered the symbol of Rhodes Island.
Significance of the Dama Dama Deer:
The Dama Dama Deer of Rhodes is significant for many reasons. You can know about the significance of the deer from the fact that it was in many ways very effective against the poisonous snakes that previously overrun the island and were dangerous for human beings living there.
There are many stories, myths and beliefs that how the Dama Dama deer caused the number of the snakes to diminish greatly. All beliefs about the deer propose that the deer were in one way or the other very effective in minimizing the poisonous snake population.
Cause of Extinction:
During the times of Knights of St John the deer were reintroduced on the island. In medieval times this helped the deer to prosper and thrive greatly. During the Ottoman era they were hunted to extinction but were reintroduced later in 1930s by the Italians. You can find the few left Rhodian deer in the natural protected habitats and parks on the island. The Dama Dama deer is not just important for maintaining balance in ecosystem but also as it is a symbol of Rhode’s glory. The beautiful creature is found just in Rhodes and offer great attraction for Rhodes Holidays. Therefore, in order to appreciate the importance of the Dama Dama deer and its role in Rhodes, you must see the Rhodian Deer Statues.
As you enter the Island of Rhodes from Mandraki harbour for your Rhodes Holidays, the Rhodian deer will welcome you. Finding a Aparthotel Rhodes or one of the top Rhodes Town Hotels in any part of the Rhodes Island is very easy.
