This chapter situates the key source for the study of localism on the Greek island of Rhodes, the Lindos Chronicle, within the wider context of the often-turbulent history of the island. By drawing on comparative material, including a decree from Kameiros (one of the other two older cities that were incorporated in the new Rhodian polis) Zachhuber highlights just how extraordinary the efforts of the Lindians to reassert their local identity was. The chapter reminds us that all identities, local and otherwise, operate in two dimensions: by establishing internal coherence and emphasising outside difference. Zachhuber elaborates in particular on the latter dimension: in the tension between Lindian and Rhodian identities, the category of the local emerges once again as contested and in flux. The defensive localism mentioned in the title thus refers to the efforts of the Lindians to safeguard their distinctive cults after the foundation of the new federal city.

This chapter situates the key source for the study of localism on the Greek island of Rhodes, the Lindos Chronicle, within the wider context of the often-turbulent history of the island. By drawing on comparative material, including a decree from Kameiros (one of the other two older cities that were incorporated in the new Rhodian polis) Zachhuber highlights just how extraordinary the efforts of the Lindians to reassert their local identity was. The chapter reminds us that all identities, local and otherwise, operate in two dimensions: by establishing internal coherence and emphasising outside difference. Zachhuber elaborates in particular on the latter dimension: in the tension between Lindian and Rhodian identities, the category of the local emerges once again as contested and in flux. The defensive localism mentioned in the title thus refers to the efforts of the Lindians to safeguard their distinctive cults after the foundation of the new federal city.

The Conclusion and Epilogue gesture toward the listed dynamics of counting and materialization in later texts through the brief examples of the Parian Marble and Lindian Chronicle. These monumental inscribed text-objects can be understood as literal transformations of cultural value into list form, extreme inventories untethered from their contents.