Kourion
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Looking out over the Mediterranean from its cliff top, Kourion is the most spectacularly located ancient site in Cyprus. First settled by the fierce Mycenaeans, the city reached its apogee in Roman times, as evidenced by remnants of the empire such as its great stadium, theatre and lavish public baths. As in many of Cyprus’s greatest ancient cities, the cults of Aphrodite and Apollo thrived here, and both of these Hellenistic deities have shrines here. Wandering through Kourion’s ruins, it is not hard to imagine the city as it must once have been: one of the jewels of Rome’s eastern possessions, until its destruction by an earthquake in 365 AD.
For more ancient sites in Cyprus (see Top 10 Prehistoric and Ancient Sites)
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1. Roman Theatre
1. Roman TheatreCompletely restored, the theatre, with its columns and tiers of seats, is a summer venue for a range of performances, from jazz and classical music to theatrical drama.
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2. Roman Baths
2. Roman BathsSplendid mosaics dating from the Christian era depicting fish, birds and flowers decorate the floors of the Roman baths and the adjoining villa of Eustolios. Also visible is the highly sophisticated hypocaust – underfloor heating – system.
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3. Roman Agora & Nymphaeum
Graceful 2nd century AD pillars of the Roman agora (marketplace) and the nymphaeum, (originally a public bathing place) can still be seen.
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4. House of the Gladiators
4. House of the GladiatorsThis Roman villa is named after its mosaics of gladiators in armed combat who fought in the arena.
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5. House of Achilles
Next to the House of the Gladiators, this villa had a striking floor mosaic of Odysseus and Achilles, the Greek heroes of Homer’s saga of the Trojan War, and of the rape of the youth Ganymede by the god Zeus.
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6. Roman Stadium
This hillside stadium, discovered by archaeologists in 1939, could seat up to 6,000 spectators. It fell into disuse after Kourion was abandoned in the 5th century AD.
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8. Temple of Apollo
8. Temple of ApolloThis small temple, with its simple Doric columns, was one of the most sacred shrines of ancient Cyprus. The penalty for touching its altar was to be hurled from the nearby cliffs into the sea.
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9. Treasury of Apollo
Close to the Temple of Apollo is the sacred Treasury where priests made votive offerings to the god Apollo. Next to it are the remnants of a shrine dating from the 8th century BC.
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10. Circular Monument
10. Circular MonumentRitual processions and sacred dances were held around the holy trees planted in seven rock pits surrounded by this circular mosaic pavement . The monument is unique in Cyprus but similar ones have been found in other parts of the world.
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