During the Early and High Middle Ages, the island of Rhodes was part of the Byzantine Empire. However, in 1310, it was conquered by the Knights Hospitaller, who had selected Rhodes to be their new home after the fall of the Crusader Kingdom in the Levant. The knights built fortifications, which now make up the Medieval City of Rhodes that was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988.
In 2005, the non-governmental and not-for-profit cultural organization Medieval Rose was founded on Rhodes to organize an annual medieval festival dedicated to promoting local history, customs, traditions, myths, sights, and gastronomy through historical reenactments, outdoor performing arts, and workshops. For the first two years, it was a small-scale event named the Medieval Rose Fair. The first Rhodes Medieval Festival proper took place in 2008. Originally held in May or June, it was moved to autumn after a brief hiatus caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Set against the stunning backdrop of the Medieval City of Rhodes, the Medieval Rose Festival re-enacts the island’s Byzantine and medieval history. During the event, visitors and residents of Rhodes are taken back in time to the era when the island was ruled by the Knights Hospitaller with a delightful addition of fantasy elements such as magicians, fairies, and the terrifying dragon. The festival is open to the public and has no entrance fee.
The vibrant program of the Rhodes Medieval Festival includes reenactments, street theater, live music, dancing, pageantry, and other exciting events and activities. Participating artists come to the festival from all over Greece and beyond. They are dressed in medieval costumes and use props made of era-appropriate materials. And of course there is a medieval market where visitors can buy pottery, handmade soaps, textiles, perfumes, and other wares.
One of the main highlights of the festival is the Chase of the Dragon, inspired by a legend about the 14th-century knight Dieudonné de Gozon (or Theodatos de Gozon, as he is known in Rhodes) slaying the dragon. As the story goes, a dragon living in the local swamp terrorized farmers, killing their cattle. Upon becoming the Grand Master of the Knights of Rhodes, de Gozon slew the beast and hung its head on one of the town’s seven gates.
During the Chase of the Dragon, two dozen teams consisting of three persons (a reference to de Gozon and two servants who accompanied him) go on a quest through the Medieval Town, solving puzzles and riddles. In the final challenge, the members of the winning team have a face-off. The winner is girded a knight, and the other two members receive honorary certificates. The ceremony of the Girding of the Knight marks the opening of the festival.
In 2024, the Medieval Rose Festival acquired the EFFE Label of the European Festivals Association. The EFFE Label (Europe for Festivals, Festivals for Europe) serves as a stamp of quality for European arts festivals noted for their engagement in the field of the arts, community involvement, and international openness. Festivals that have this label have been evaluated by international experts and meet at least 7 out of 10 quality requirements.
Фото: medievalfestival.gr
