SV5/DJ5MN Rhodes Island. From DXNews.com

DJ5MN will be active as SV5/DJ5MN and SV5/DJ5MN/P from Rhodes Island, IOTA EU – 001, 30 August – 6 September 2025.
He will be active on 160 – 6 m, CW, SSB, FT8.
Recent DX Spots SV5/DJ5MN
QSL via home call.

The island of Rhodes: history at every turn

The Greek island of Rhodes seems to have been created for all kinds of people. Spacious beaches and the sea, impressive landscapes, a mild climate, ancient architecture, picturesque ruins, monasteries, and nightlife. It is not surprising that Rhodes welcomes about a million tourists every year — ten times more than the number of people who live here permanently. Guests arrive by sea and by plane. By the way, do you know what is unusual about the local airport?

У врат рая

Главный город острова также называется Родос. Фасад его аэропорта украшает золотая надпись: «Аэропорт Диагора». Суетливые туристы не обращают на нее особого внимания. А зря! На острове находится единственный в мире аэропорт, названный в честь олимпийского чемпиона. Правда, он жил довольно давно, две с половиной тысячи лет назад.
Диагор родился на острове Родос и стал спортсменом — боксером. В 18 лет, как чемпион Олимпийских игр, он был увенчан венком из ветвей священного оливкового дерева. Победы в те времена давались нелегко — не было боксерских перчаток, смягчающих удары, поэтому ладони обвязывали кожаными ремнями, оставляя пальцы свободными.
Диагор путешествовал по всем крупным соревнованиям в Элладе и везде побеждал, умножая славу своего родного острова. Боец стал тренером своих трех сыновей, которые повторили его успех. Когда ветеран исполнилось шестьдесят лет, он присутствовал в Олимпии, где два его внука также выиграли чемпионские бои! Мальчики подняли своего все еще сильного деда на плечи и пронесли его перед ликующими трибунами.
Не сдержав эмоций, дочь Диагораса выбежала на арену. От внезапного рывка с нее спал хитон, и зрители ахнули: «Гинека (женщина)!» По законам Эллады женщинам строго запрещалось входить на стадион во время соревнований, а спортсмены состязались обнаженными. Но судьи, увлеченные всеобщим ликованием, не наказали мать двух новых чемпионов.
Спортивная династия Диагораса имеет на своем счету восемь олимпийских побед. Ничего подобного никогда не происходило ни до, ни после в истории Олимпийских игр. Диагорас стал знаменитостью на века, увековеченной бронзовыми памятниками на набережной Родоса и в спортивной академии в Олимпии.

A colossal wonder

Rhodes has long been a crossroads of sea routes between Europe, Asia, and Africa. This made it a tempting target for its warlike neighbors. The Persians, Athenians, Alexander the Great, pirates, knights, Egyptians, Turks… The fortress walls and army of brave defenders greeted uninvited guests on Rhodes. Today, you can still see the longest fortress in Europe (four kilometers!) and walk through its 11 gates, one after another.
Three hundred years before the beginning of our era, the city of Rhodes withstood a year-long siege by yet another conqueror. He sailed away with his army in search of easier prey, leaving behind his military equipment—huge battering rams, siege towers, and so on. The practical Rhodians sold the abandoned military equipment and decided to use the proceeds to erect a worthy monument to the patron of the island, Helios, the god of the Sun.
The architect had to solve a task of unprecedented complexity: to erect a structure almost forty meters high. And he had to do it without any of the technological wonders that came later (such as reinforced concrete, rolled steel, and electric welding). Stone pillars with cross beams and rims were dug into the ground. This frame was covered with thick, pre-made bronze sheets with embossing. The statue’s legs were designed to give it stability: they were filled with stones and covered with clay.

After completing one tier of construction, tons of earth were piled around it, and standing on this hill, they continued to build the figure of Helios. Construction continued from the bottom up for ten years. But then the mountain of earth was torn down and… The statue, as tall as a 12-story (!) building, amazed everyone.
The Greeks used the word “kolossos” (pillar) to refer to any full-length sculpture of a human being, even small ones. Naturally, the statue of Helios was christened the Colossus of Rhodes. It was after its construction that something huge and gigantic began to be called “colossal.” Perhaps the tourist boom in Rhodes began at that very moment: people came here specifically to see the bronze giant. Rhodes became the only island to host one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
Alas, it did not stand for long—only fifty years. During the first serious earthquake, the statue’s knees buckled and it collapsed. But even its ruins remained a tourist attraction for almost a thousand years. Visitors’ favorite pastime was trying to wrap their arms around Helios’s big toe, which few managed to do. The island’s inhabitants even discussed rebuilding the structure, but an authoritative soothsayer advised against it, saying that it would bring new misfortune to Rhodes. Later, what was once a wonder of the world disappeared in Arab smelters. Only the winged expression “a colossus with feet of clay” remained over the centuries.
… The island of Rhodes enjoys over three hundred days of sunshine a year. The islanders are friendly and cheerful. Local wine sparkles in their glasses. So, although there is no trace of the majestic statue on the island, it seems that the sun god has not abandoned this land.

SV5/DJ5MN. Where is Rhodes Island located. Map.