If you want to visit many attractions and go for sightseeing during this vacations then on Rhodes Island you have many options. The wide variety of attractions that is offered by Rhodes Island is not matched by any other tourist destination in the world. An attraction in the old town that you must see during your Rhodes Holidays is the Rhodian Deer statues.
Rhodian Deer Statues:
Mandraki harbour is watched over by the two deer statues. These are the sculptures of the unique Rhodian deer which has now become a symbol of Rhodes Island. When you enter the harbour of Mandraki, you will find two statues of deer on long, slim and elegant columns of which one is a doe and the other is a stag. The statues look very appealing and never go unnoticed when you come to the pictorial harbour of Mandraki during Rhodes Holidays. If you know the history and significance of the Dama Dama deer you will find the Rhodian deer statues in old town more interesting and attractive for your Rhodes Holidays.
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. Because of the abundance of deer found on the Rhodes Island in ancient times it was also known as “Elafioussa’(with a lot of deers)’ 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. The statues of the deer which have now become a symbol of Rhodes are located on the entrance of Mandraki Harbour.
Significance of the Dama Dama Deer:
The Dama Dama Deer of Rhodes is significant for many reasons. The deer was important as it was very helpful to reduce the population of poisonous snakes that threatened human lives on the island greatly.
There are many stories, myths and beliefs that how the Dama Dama deer caused the number of the snakes to diminish greatly. Nonetheless, all viewpoints propose in one way or the other that they were effectual in decreasing the 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. Today only a small population of the unique Rhodian deer is present on the island and they are treated as endangered animals. The Dama Dama deer is not just important for maintaining balance in ecosystem but also as it is a symbol of Rhode’s glory. This beautiful specie of deer is found only in Rhodes and is one of the attractions for your 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.
Reserving stay in one of the top Rhodes Town Hotels makes your Rhodes Holidays even more comfortable. Finding a Aparthotel Rhodes or one of the top Rhodes Town Hotels in any part of the Rhodes Island is very easy.