The Sanctuary and Temple of Apollo Hylates at Kourion
Situated about 2,5 kilometres west of the ancient city of Kourion, the Sanctuary of Apollo Hylates was one of the principal religious centres of Cyprus where Apollo was worshipped as Hylates, god of the woodlands.
This well – defined architectural complex in Cyprus offers insight into the development of a Cypriot rural sanctuary from the Bronze Age through to the end of paganism on the island. There were three fairly distinct building periods. The Archaic Sanctuary developed essentially in the 7th century B.C. while the Ptolemaic Sanctuary belongs to the 3rd century BC. Finally, the Roman Sanctuary dates to the 1st century A.D.
It appears the Archaic Sanctuary originally comprised an enclosure in the centre of the later, much larger sanctuary. The present remains date to the mid -1st century A.D. The complex of the sanctuary included a palaestra, stoa, the treasury, the baths, the archaic temenos, the circular monument, the central courtyard and the temple of Apollo. Destroyed by an earthquake in A.D. 365 it was later occupied by squatters. Several of the collapsed buildings have been restored.
The Roman Temple of Apollo Hylates was a magnificent structure occupying the most commanding position at the end of the sacred street of the sanctuary. It had two main architectural phases. The first, dating back to the very end of the Classical or Early Hellenistic period, was a single construction, rectangular in shape. The foundation of the temple and the lower row of blocks decorated with a simple cyma belong to this early phase. The temple was rebuilt in the second half of the 1st century A.D. The approach to the new Roman temple was along an impressive staircase. Its interior followed the architectural features of the earlier temple, but the entire building was constructed on a higher level and had a podium corresponding to the lower row of blocks of the earlier temple. The high podium is a manifestly Roman feature. The temple was destroyed by the severe earthquake of A.D. 364/365.
District: Limassol
Address:
Accreditation: Department of Antiquities 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 25 December.
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, October 1 8:30 to 17:00, October 28 8:30 to 17:00, December 24 8:30 to 17:00
Season: All year
Facilities: The site is accessible for people in wheelchairs. The western part of the area served by a separate entrance, specifically labeled that opens after consultation with archaiofylakes). only cash transactions. More than 11 people 20% discount on the price (EUR 4.50). There are weekly tickets (EUR 25), 3 day (€ 17) and day (8.50 euros) which one can obtain it from any museum or archaeological site under the Department of Antiquities. Experts marked parking spaces. Specific labeled toilets.
Telephones / Fax: 00357-25934250 / –
Website / Email: www.mcw.gov.cy/mcw/da/da.nsf / antiquitiesdept@da.mcw.gov.cy
Entrance Fee: 4,50 Euro for children up to 14 years free. (Free entrance for students, for students – student card mandatory – to soldiers in uniform, in icom card holders and unemployed. 50% discount on public assistance recipients, to large families, pensioners).
Fee Ticket: At the entrance from any museum or archaeological site under the Department of Antiquities.
Map Google Earth: