v53_0091 - CARIA - CARIAN ISLANDS - PERAIA OF RHODES Drachme

CARIA - CARIAN ISLANDS - PERAIA OF RHODES

(2nd century BC)

In addition to the island of Rhodes and the eponymous capital founded in 408-407 BC, the Rhodian thalassocracy possessed a territory on the coasts of Asia over which its power extended (Perea). Rhodes was very early an ally for the Romans and the Attalids against the expansionist aims of the Antigonids and the Seleucids. It provided naval support to Rome during the Second Macedonian War against Philip V. It was the same in the struggle between the Romans and Antiochus III. The Peace of Apamea in 188 BC increased the mainland territories of the Rhodians in Caria and Lycia. But the unfortunate choices of the Rhodians during the Third Macedonian War against Perseus (171-168 BC) caused them to lose most of their acquisitions from the Peace of Apamea. The Romans declared Delos, city and free port in order to compete with Rhodes, which put a stop to the expansion and commercial activities of the Rhodians..