Ro, Greece

Ro or Rho (Greek: Ρω) is a small Greek island in the eastern Mediterranean Sea near Kastellorizo, close to the Turkish coast. It is part of the municipality of Megísti (Kastellorizo), in the South Aegean region.

Ro
Native name:
Ρω
The island of Rho seen from WNW
Geography
Coordinates36°09′19″N 29°29′50″E
ArchipelagoDodecanese
Area1.6 km2 (0.62 sq mi)
Highest elevation20 m (70 ft)
Administration
Greece
RegionSouth Aegean
Regional unitRhodes
Demographics
Population0 (2011)
Additional information
Official websitewww.megisti.gr
The grave of the Lady of Ro

Description

Together with other islets in the surrounding region, Ro was the object of a sovereignty dispute in the 1920s between Turkey and Italy, which at the time was in possession of Kastellorizo and the Dodecanese islands. The dispute was solved in a 1932 treaty, which assigned Ro to the Italian side. It finally came under Greek sovereignty in 1947, together with the other former Italian possessions in the Aegean.

The islet is named Kara Ada ("black island") in Turkish.

History

Anciently, the island was known as Rhoge (Ancient Greek: Ῥώγη).[1][2] An inhabitant of the island was called Rogaeus (Ancient Greek: Ῥωγαῖος).[3] Ancient fortifications show that during the Hellenistic period and later, there was a small garrison post on the island.[4] The three towers of Kastellorizo, Ro and Strongyli comprise the main links in a dense network of watchtowers constructed by the citizens of Rhodes during the Hellenistic period, to control the sea routes and the coast.[5]

Ro has been uninhabited for most of its modern history, except for the one Greek woman, with her husband and her mother, who made it famous, Despina Achladioti. Every day, Achladioti, also known as the Lady of Ro, raised a Greek flag, over the island, until her death in 1982.[6]

A Greek border outpost is based on the island, with the primary duty of continuing the tradition of raising the flag. According to the 2011 census the island has no permanent residents.[7]

On April 10, 2018, Greek soldiers fired warning shots at a Turkish helicopter approaching the island.[8] The helicopter was flying at a very low altitude late at night with its navigation lights switched off.[9]

See also

References
  1. Lund University. Digital Atlas of the Roman Empire.
  2. Richard Talbert, ed. (2000). Barrington Atlas of the Greek and Roman World. Princeton University Press. p. 65, and directory notes accompanying.
  3. Stephanus of Byzantium, Ethnica, §R548.9
  4. Rhoge
  5. Ancient Towers of the Aegean Sea, UNESCO
  6. Chroniko tou Eikostou Aiona (Chronicle of the 20th century), ed. 4E, Athens, 1990, p. 1258.
  7. "Greek Population Census, 2011". Retrieved 25 January 2014.
  8. Greek fighter pilot killed in crash after Turkish intercept mission: officials
  9. Greek soldiers fire warning shots at Turkish helicopter in Aegean Sea amid growing tensions
  • Kalliopi Bairami, "Ro" in: Andreas Vlachopoulos (ed.), Archaiologia: Nisia tou Aigaiou, Melissa 2005, p. 375.
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