Temple of Pythian Apollo, Rhodes

The Temple of Pythian Apollo is located in the western part of the ancient Acropolis of Rhodes. Though smaller than the temple dedicated to Athena Polias and Zeus Polieus, it shares a similar east–west orientation and stands near a large rectangular terrace. Constructed in the 2nd century BC in the Doric style, it was part of an enclosed precinct and served as a crucial navigational landmark for ships sailing to Rhodes. Even today, its re-erected columns remain visible from the harbor, continuing to define the island's historic landscape.

The sanctuary was dedicated to Apollo Pythios, an aspect of the god associated with the famous oracle of Delphi. While the renowned priestess Pythia herself operated exclusively at Delphi on mainland Greece, this dedication underscored the ancient Rhodians' strong cultural alignment with pan-Hellenic religious traditions. The temple served as an important religious center where local priests were consulted before major civic decisions, guiding the city-state on matters ranging from commerce to regional political alliances.

The site saw extensive archaeological activity during the Italian occupation of the island from 1912 to 1945, with the temple itself being reconstructed in the late 1930s. Unfortunately, it sustained severe damage from bombings during the Second World War. From 1946 onward, the Greek Archaeological Service took on the challenging task of preserving what remained.