Ancient Amathus – Limassol

Amathus – Amathunta – Amathousia (Ancient city of Limassol)

The ancient city of Amathous is located on the south coast of Cyprus, approximately 7 kilometers east of the current city of Limassol. In the wider area of ​​Amathous, traces of human presence have been identified since the Neolithic period. For the city of Amathus itself we do not know when it was founded.

The first discoveries in Amathus were made in the days of the Frankish rule and concern the large stone vessels on the acropolis. The first excavations were made in 1893-1894 by British archaeologists, while in 1930 the Swedish Mission excavated several ancient tombs. After 1960 and the independence of Cyprus, several rescue and systematic excavations were carried out by the Department of Antiquities, while since 1975 the French Archaeological School of Athens undertook systematic excavations at the Acropolis and other parts of Amathus.

The Acropolis, built on a hill, served as a natural fortress and at the same time as an observatory. There are some vague written references to antiquity and some, today disputed, archaeological evidence that the inhabitants of Amathus were indigenous. During the archaic period the city enjoyed great prosperity and prosperous trade relations with neighboring countries. It seems that there were a number of Phoenician merchants settled in Amathus. During the Cypriot uprising against the Persians, which followed the Ionian Revolution of 499 BC, Amathus maintained a pro-Persian attitude, leading to its siege by the rebels under One silo guidance. The abolition of the kingdom of Amathus, as in the other cities of the kingdoms of Cyprus, occurred during the Hellenistic period, in 312/311 BC, with the annexation of Cyprus to the Ptolemaic state.

The Acropolis is abandoned and life is now concentrated in the lower town. The city will experience a transient recovery in the time of the Antonines and Severus, but the transition to Christianity in the 4th century. A.D. finds Amathus in decline. Although the city survived the first Arab invasions of the mid-7th century, it seems to have been abandoned permanently at the end of the same century.

The most important sites and monuments of Amathus are:

Amathus: Acropolis

The Sanctuary of Aphrodite on the Acropolis: at the entrance of the Sanctuary dominated by two large monolithic jars dating back to the 7th century. e.g. One is preserved today in fragments on the ground, and the other has been moved to the Louvre Museum since 1865. During this period, Aphrodite worshiped in the Sanctuary acquires many points in common with the Egyptian goddess Athor, as evidenced by her depictions of vessels and stone columns found on the Acropolis of Amathus.

The temple of Aphrodite that we see today is dated to the Roman period (1st century AD) and its ruins occupy a significant part of the citadel. It was built on the ruins of an earlier Hellenistic temple and follows the style of the Greek stately temple.

It seems that in the 5th c. AD, the area around the southern part of the temple was used as a place of worship by the early Christians. In the 6th-7th c. the temple was destroyed and a large three-aisled basilica was built in its place.

The Roman Agora and the Baths: the Roman market occupies the area of ​​the lower town to the east of the Acropolis hill. The space to the south of the market is occupied by a public bath, consisting of an enclosed circular space and façades. The bath, along with a portion of the west porch of the market, dates back to Hellenistic times and is one of the oldest buildings in the area.

The Roman market was organized around a large cobblestone square. On the south side is the main street of the lower town. The other three sides were occupied by arcades. In the center of the market there was a monumental fountain. In its northwest corner the most important building is a large fountain-tank or Nymphaeum. To the east are the Roman baths and to the southeast a Hellenistic bath.

To the west of the market, excavations continue on a complex of buildings containing administrative buildings or guesthouses dating from the Roman to Early Christian periods. The market was abandoned during the 7th century because of the Arab invasions.

The Palace: in the south of the acropolis are preserved the ruins of an important complex that appears to have belonged to the royal palace of Amathus. It was built in the 8th century. e.g. and was destroyed around 300 BC. The part of the building that has been excavated so far is identified with the palace’s storage.

Amathus: The ancient port

The Port: In front of the market, to the south, there was the outer port of the city, the ruins of which are now visible beneath the sea. It was built in the late 4th century. e.g. from Dimitri the siege-fighter for the defense of the city, during a period of conflict with the Ptolemies over the assertion of power in Cyprus. The life of the harbor was short as it was quickly joined by sand. According to the survey, between the entrance of the archaeological site to the market and the present road, there was an inland port where ships were towed to guard against strong winds.

The Walls: already in the archaic era, the city was walled on all sides. The walls were strengthened during the Hellenistic period, when the port was built. Today the southwest corner of the seabed wall with the west tower, and much of the northern wall with towers, is preserved by the sea. The latter connected the foothills of the acropolis with the highest point of the lower city. On the north wall there is also the central gate from which those coming from the inland entered the city. After the wreck of time and the collapse of the seaside wall caused by the earthquake of 365 AD, a new wall was built on the upper part of the citadel on Justinian, and in the 7th century the walls were strengthened in some places in the face of Arab raids.

The Necropolises: To the east and west of the city of Amathus there are two extensive and important necropolises with carved tombs dating from the geometric to the Early Christian period. Part of the material found in these necropolises is on display at the Limassol District Museum.

The Basilicas: There are 5 basilicas in Amathus.

The oldest is the cemetery of Agios Tychonas, built outside the walls, to the east of the city. The first phase of the monument is dated to the end of the 4th century and is contemporary with the Saint himself. It is a small one-roomed temple, the oldest Christian place of worship in Cyprus. The second phase is dated to the second half of the 5th century. The last phase of the building, visible today, is a Frankish temple in the late 14th century.

A second basilica is located at the top of the citadel at the site of the Sanctuary of Aphrodite. It is a triple aisle, with a narthex and exarthex and it has a patio with two galleries and priests. Many architectural members from the Sanctuary of Venus were used for its construction. It dates to the late 6th or early 7th century. It seems to have ceased to function in the last quarter of the 7th century due to the Arab invasions.

In the 5th c. A.D. a small three-aisled basilica was built at the foot of the acropolis, west of the market. Part of its northern walls have been carved into the rock.

To the east of the Roman market a large three-aisled basilica was excavated, with a narthex and atrium. Today it is partially destroyed by the sea. It is dated to the second half of the 5th century. It was destroyed by the Arab invasions in the middle of the 7th century and repaired shortly after, in the same century.

At the eastern end of the eastern necropolis was built a cave-chapel of St. Barbara, as well as a small five-aisled basilica that appears to have been part of a monastery.