Situated on the south coast of Cyprus, the ancient town of Amathous lies about 7 kilometers east from the modern city of Lemesos. In the wider region of Amathous traces of human habitation have been found that date back in the Neolithic era.
As fot the town of Amathous itself the exact date of its foundation is not known.
The first discoveries in Amathous happened as early as the Frankish Period and the nfinds were huge stone vessels – pithoi -that were found on the acropolis.
The first excavations were conducted in 1883 – 1884 by British archaeologists while in 1930 the Swedish Mission, in its turn, excavated a number of ancient tombs. AS from 1960,the date marking the independence of Cyprus, many salvaging and systematic excavations were conducted by the antiquities Department while, since 1947, the French Archaeological school of Athens undertook systematic excavations on the Acropolis and other parts of the town of Amathous.
The acropolis, dominating a hill, functioned as a natural fortress and a watch tower. There is vague mention in antiquity and disputed archaeological evidence, today, that that the inhabitants of Amathous were an indigenous race. During the archaic period, the town flourished and prospered and had extensive commercial contacts with neighboring countries.
A number of Phoenician merchants seem to have settled in Amathous. During the rebellion of the Cypriots against the Persians, following the Ionian Revolution in 499 BC, Amathus observed a pro-Persian stance a fact that led to its` siege by the rebels under the leadership of Onisilos.
The abolition of the kingdom of Amathus, as well as of all the other city-kingdoms in Cyprus took place during the Hellinistic period, in 312 – 311 BC, when Cyprus was annexed to the kingdom of the Ptolemies.
The acropolis was deserted and all town activity conducted in the lower town. The town had a short recovery during the time of the Antonines and the Severes, but, at the time of conversion to Christianity in the 4th century AD, Amathous was already on a state of decadence. Although the town survived the first Arab raids, in mid 7th century AD, it appears to have been totally abandoned by the end of the same century.
The most important sites and monuments in Amathus are:
The Sanctuary of Aphrodite on the acropolis at the entrance of the sanctuary there stood two enormous monolithic pithoi dating from the 7th century BC. One of them still stands,in situ, in a fragmentary state, the other was transported in 1865 to the Louvre Museum.
In this period Aphrodite worshiped in the sanctuary acquired many elements from the Egyptian goddess Athor as indicated by evidence and the representations of her image on vessels and stelae found on the acropolis of Amathous.
The ruins of the temple of Aphrodite we see today date from the Roman period (1st century AD ) and cover a substantial area of the acropolis. It was built it was built over the ruins of a previous Hellenistic temple in the style of a Greek prostyle temple.
Apparently, in the 5th century AD, the area around the south part of the temple was used for worshiping purposes by the first Christians. The temple was destroyed in the 6th – 7th century AD and a new three-aisled basilica built in its place.
The Roman Forum and the Baths. The Roman forum lies on the part of the lower town to the east of the hill of the acropolis. On the north part of the forum there is a public bath consisting of a covered circular building and anti chambers. The bath, together with a section of the western portico of the forum, date from the hellinistic times and is the oldest building in the area.
The Roman forum was built around a large stone paved square. Its north is flanked by the main road of the lower town. The other three sides have colonnades. In the very centre of the forum there stood a monumental fountain. On the north-west part of the forum, the most significant building is a large fountain-cistern – the Nymphaion. To the east there are the Roman baths and to the south-east a Hellenistic bath.
The Palace: On the south part of the acropolis we can see the ruins of a very important complex which appears to have belonged to the royal palace of Amathous. It was erected during the 8th century BC and destroyed at about 300 BC. The excavated part of the complex has revealed what seems to have been the storage area of the Palace.
The Port: In front of the forum ,to the south there was the outer port of the town. Today its ruins are visible underwater.
It was built at the end of the 4th century BC by Demetrios Poliorketes to defend the town during a period of contention with the Ptolemies due to claims on ruling Cyprus.
The port had a short life span as it was soon silted over.
Research reveals that there was an inner port between the entrance to the archaeological site towards the forum on the modern road ships were towed there over a wooden passage to protect them from strong winds.
The Walls: As early as the archaic period the town was walled on all sides. The walls were reinforced during then Hellenistic period when the port was built. Today, there still stands on the sea the southwestern corner of the sea wall with its western tower and a sizeable part of the northern wall with towers. The latter connected the foot of the acropolis to the most elevated point of the lower town. The main gate still stands on the north wall. This was the gate used by all those who reached the town from inland. Following the ravages of time and the collapse of the sea wall caused by the earthquake in 365 AD, a new wall was built on the upper part of the acropolis by Justinian, whereas in the 7th century AD the walls were reinforced in several select points in anticipation of the Arab raids.
The Burial Sites To the east and to the west to the town of Amathous there are two extensive and significant burial sites with rock hewn tombs dating from the Geometric Age up to the Early Christian Period. Part of the finds from these burial sites is exhibited in the District Museum of Lemesos.
The Basilicas: There are 5 basilicas in Amathous.
The most ancient Basilica is the one in the cemetery, the basilica of Ayios Tyhonas, built outside the walls on the east of the town. The initial phase of the building dates from the end of the 4th century and it is contemporary with the saint it is dedicated to.
It is a small single-aisled basilica the oldest Christian worship site in Cyprus. Its second phase dates from the 2nd half of the 5th century AD. The last phase of the building, visible today, is a Frankish temple of the end of the 14th century AD.
A second basilica stands on the highest point of the acropolis on the site of the ancient temple of Aphrodite. It is a three-aisled basilica with a narthex and an outer narthex and has an atrium with two arcades and later additions. Much of the masonry of the temple of Aphrodite was used as building material for this basilica. It dates from the end of 6th, beginning of 7th century AD It appears that it stopped functioning as a church following the Arab raids in the last quarter of the 7th century.
In the 5th century a small three – ailed basilica was built at the foot of the acropolis to the west of the forum. Part of its north wall is carved on the rock.
To the east of the Roman forum a large three-aisled basilica with a nave and an atrium were unearthed. Today it stands partly destroyed by sea erosion. It dates from the 2nd half of the 5th century It was destroyed during the Arab raids in the mid -7th century and later repaired in the same century.
At the most eastern point of the east necropolis, a grotto-chapel was dedicated to St Barnabas. There is also a five aisled basilica which seems to have formed part of a monastery.
Sources: Antiquities Department Republic of Cyprus
Address: Amathous –Lemesos
Administration: Antiquities Department Republic of Cyprus.
Working hours:
Winter Hours September 16th – April 15th: Monday – Sunday 8:15 to 17:15 The site is closed January 1, Easter Day and December 25th.
Summer Hours 16 April – 15 September: Monday – Sunday 8:15 to 19:45
During the following holidays the site is open as follows: January 6, 8:30 to 17:00, March 25, 8:30 to 17:00, Clean Monday 8:30 to 17:00, April 1 8:30 – 17: 00, Good Friday 8:30 to 19:30, Saturday 8:30 to 19:30, Easter Monday 8:30 to 19:30, May 1, 8:30 to 19:30, the Holy Spirit 8:30 – 19 : 30, 15 August 8:30 to 19:30, 1st Oktoviou 8:30 to 17:00, October 28 8:30 to 17:00, December 24 8:30 to 17:00, December 26 8:30 – 17 : 00.
Open all year round.
Facilities: The archaeological site is partially accessible to wheelchairs. At the entrance a guide book on Amathous is sold (7.50 euros). Parking is available. There are toilets. Transactions in cash only. Groups over 11 have a 20% discount on entrance fee (2,50 euros) if accompanied by a licensed tourist guide. There are weekly tickets (25 euros), 3 day special entry card (17 euros) and daily tickets (8,50 euros) obtainable at the entrance office of any museum or archaeological site under the competence of the Antiquities Department.
Telephone /Fax: 00357-25635226 /
Website /email: www.mcw.gov.cy/mcw/da/da.nsf / antiquitiesdept@da.mcw.gov.cy
Entrance fee: 2,50 Euros (free entrance for elementary and secondary students, students – should have student cards, soldiers in uniform, holders of icom card and unemployed. 50% ticket price reduction for recipients of public assistance, retired persons and members of large families).
Tickets: At the entrance office of any museum or archaeological site under the competence of the Department of Antiquities.
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