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Chalki

Chalki is the official name of a small island (29 square miles) in the Dodecanese chain, which is situated in the Carpathian sea South West of Rhodes. It was called Chalkia by the ancient Greeks, and Charkia by the sailors. The name Chalki most probably originated from copper work shops existing there or from the Phoenician work "Harki", meaning “shells” being found abundantly along the shores of the island.

The South East tip of Chalki is only five miles distant from Rhode's cape Monolithos. Its shape is practically rectangular, its main axis directed from West to East. In length it is ten kilometers and three kilometers in width. The earth is stony and rough. However in many places it can be cultivated.

The islet Trogosa or Tragousa emerges from different under water shelf Bays. Emporios, Botamos and other small islets around Chalki have been inhabited continuously from Neolithic times.

Fragments of opsidium and remnants of ceramic have been found on the site of the castle, which is above the village Chorio situated on the narrow part of the Peninsula Trachia's. Prehistoric settlements and excavations have been confirmed around the medieval fort of Alimnia, where extensive ruins can be observed. Fragments of stone implements, and pots have also been found, which indicates that life continued in subsequent years.

In the fifth century BC the Chalkians appear in the Athenian tax records. Inscriptions from Knidos in the mid fourth century show that up to this period Chalki maintained its autonomy.

An excerpt from Theophrastos (372-287 BC) where Chalki is described as a "Rhodian island" consists of one of the most ancient proofs of its take over by the Rhodian government.

Chalki belonged to one of the municipalities of ancient Kamiros. In the Hellenistic time, due to its importance, Chalki was fortified, built from large stone blocks, rectangular in shape, according to the sodium system.

The top of the castle is situated south and above Chorio. Remnants of the above are still intact today. Above this a medieval fort was built in the fifteenth century, which is relatively well conserved today. Remnants of a Hellenistic fort are likewise visible below the medieval fort of Alimnia.

In the middle ages there appeared settlements in Vouno - St. John, Antranassos, Chorio, Phoniki. The settlements in Emporio flourished in Hellenistic times and in the early Christian period, however it appears that in the seventh century AD because of the invasion of pirates they were abandoned. The site was only rebuilt at the end of the nineteenth century, the result of which was a large change of population from Chorio to Emporio.

 

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