Egypt and the legendary treasure of Athena from Lindos
Egypt outside its borders...
Lindos is the oldest settlement on the island of Rhodes. A great marine power, together with two other centers on the island (Kamiros and Yalisos) founded the city of Rhodes. It also seems that the Lindiotes are owed several settlements of Magna Graecia, including one that was destroyed by an earthquake and later rebuilt as Nea Polis, today's Naples.
In Lindos born the philosopher Cleobulus (one of the seven sages), Karetes (builder of the Colossus), etc. Lindos was also the exile region of Helen of Troy, who committed suicide here by plunging from the rocks.
On the cliff overhanging the sea, around which the town is developed (considered a national monument in its entirety), stands a splendid Doric temple dedicated to Athena. Originally, however, a deity was worshipped there, more akin to the multifaceted statue in the temple at Ephesus, a kind of Cybele, to whom all the peoples of the eastern Mediterranean sent splendid gifts and offerings, including the Egypt's Pharaohs.
The temple treasure was therefore very rich, and Nero wanted to bring it to Rome. As many as three ships were loaded and left, overflowing with gold and precious objects, from the harbour of Lindos for Rhodes. But unfortunately never reached it, sinking about sixty kilometers between the two harbours.
In Rhodes a mistral wind called "meltemi" blows periodically, which usually lasts for three days and can reach an intensity of 80 to 100 km/h. On the side of the island where Lindos is located it blows from the coast to the open sea. Even today newspapers report sometimes of small boats disappearing into the open sea. Furthermore the sea is very deep and all the way to Cyprus no land can be encountered. Off the coast of Lindos there is a trench that reaches 1,500 m. Quite often, there are also earthquakes.
Nero's ships containing the Lindo's treasure and the offerings of the Pharaohs are therefore still lying on the seabed, perhaps pushed further to the open sea by the "meltemi" and waiting to be found!
