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SALAMIS
Excavations have shown that the history of Salamis goes back to
the 1 1[h century BC. Archaeologists tend to believe that the first
inhabitants of the town came here from Enkomi after the earthquake of 1075
BC. Traces of a necropolis and a harbour of this early period have been
located. When the 'Dark Ages' of the Mediterranean world came to an end in
about the 8th century BC, Salamis appeared on the historical scene as an
important trading centre. The necropolis which yielded the Royal Tombs
belongs to this period and gives an idea about the richness of the city
during the era. The first coins were minted in the 6th century BC. Also,
in the inscriptions dating from this period the name of Salamis is
encountered for the first time. In this century, together with Syria and
Anatolia, the island went under the rule of the Achamenid Persian Empire
which lasted until the march of Alexander the Great into Asia Minor.
Following the unexpected death of
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Alexander the Great near Babylon in 323 BC, his generals
divided the lands of the Hellenistic Empire and Cyprus fell to the share
of Ptolemy who established his kingdom in Egypt. During the Hellenistic
and the Roman era Salamis, together with Alexandria, Antioch-on-the-Orontes,
Ephesus, Pergamum and Athens, received its share of the wealth of the
period and once again became an important trading centre between the
worlds surrounding the Meditterranean. This prosperous period continued
into the Roman era. Most of the ruins unearthed in excavations date from
this recent history of the city. The development of Salamis was often
interrupted by earthquakes, especially in the 1st and 4th centuries AD.
Following the earthquakes, the Byzantine emperor Constantius II (337-361
AD)rebuilt the city and renamed it Constantia. However, by this time the
harbour was already silted up and more natural catastrophes and the raids
of the Arab pirates brought its end. In 648 after another raid the last
inhabitants moved to Arsinoe which was later to become Famagusta.
GYMNASIUM
AND BATHS
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This
large complex began with a court (1) surrounded with columned arcades on
its four sides. It served as an exercising ground. During the reign of
Augustus (31 BC - 14 AD) a stone basin with the statue of the emperor
occupied its centre. Some of its columns, capitals and bases originally
belonged to the theatre and were brought here after the earthquakes of the
4th century. In one corner there were latrines (3) for 44 people. Another
set of latrines (11) existed on the north side of the baths. Two swimming
pools (5) occupied the two ends of the eastern colonnade (4). These were
decorated with marble statues. The first part of the baths consisted of
two octagonal cold rooms (6), between which was the central sweating room
(7). On the south wall of the latter a fresco piece surviving from the 3rd
century AD shows Hylas - the boy friend of Heracles who gets lost in Mysia
on the way to Colchis to bring the Golden Fleece - as he refuses the water
nymphs. The hot water baths (8) were flanked by two more sweat rooms (9).
In the southern one there are mosaic fragments; one originally represented
Leto's children Apollo and Artemis killing Niobe's children with arrows.
The latter who has fourteen children belittles Leto for having only two.
The second mosaic shows Leda, the future mother of Helen, and Zeus,
disguised as a swan with the river god Eurotas. Two more mosaic fragments
which do not feature figures have survived in the north wall of the hot
room and in the northern sweat room. The stoking room (10) was situated to
the north of the complex.
THEATRE
The
present day ruins of the theatre date from the time of Augustus. Its
auditorium originally consisted of 50 rows of seats and held over 15,000
spectators. Its orchestra bore an altar dedicated to Dionysus and two
bases dedicated to Marcus Aurelius Commodus, and Caesar Constantius and
Caesar Maximianus. The performances took place on the raised stage whose
background was decorated with statues. After it was destroyed by
earthquakes in the 4th century the theatre was never rebuilt and served as
a source of building material for other constructions.
ROMAN
VILLA
This
two-storey villa was made of an apsidal reception hall and a central inner
courtyard with a columned portico. The living quarters were grouped in the
inner courtyard. After the city was abandoned this building was used as an
oil mill. The large stone which was used to cruch olives (in the reception
hall), mill stones and the straining device have survived.
KAMPANOPETRA
BASILICA
This
basilica was built in the 4th century and consisted of a courtyard
surrounded with columns which contained a well for ablution, and a nave
with aisles. It ended with a triple apse. The throne of the bishop and the
seats of the clergy were situated in the central apse. At the back of the
apse there was another group of buildings with a courtyard. These
seem to
have included Bathing facilities, and a sweating room. One of the rooms
has revealed a beautiful opus sectile mosaic floor.
AYIOS
EPIPHANIOS BASILICA
This
was the largest basilica in Cyprus and was built as the metropolitan
church of Salamis during the office of Bishop Epiphanios (386-403 AD)
whose tomb still lies encased in marble in front of the southern apse. The
edifice consisted of a nave separated from its aisles by two rows of 14
columns with Corinthian capitals. It ended with a triple-arched
semi-circular apse where there were seats for the bishop and clergy. The
rooms on each side of the apse were used for dressing and storing
liturgical apparatus. Hypocaust remains in the baptistry show that the
initiates received their baptism in winter months with warm water. The
church was destroyed in the 7th century during the Arab raids. The ruins
at the back of the southern apse belong to a smaller church built after
the original one was destroyed.
AGORA(STONE
FORUM)
This
was the meeting place and market of Salamis. Its origins go back to the
Hellenistic period. On two sides it was lined with columned arcades which
protected the shoppers from heat in summer and rain in winter. Only one of
the columns has survived to the present day. Its courtyard contained
temples dedicated to gods related to commerce and was decorated with
statues and fountains.
TEMPLE
OF ZEUS
The
present day ruins belong to the Roman period temple which was built on an
earlier Hellenistic one. The shrine had the right to grant asylum and this
fact was confirmed by Augustus in 22 BC. During excavations inscriptions
in honour of Livia, Augustus' consort, and the Olympian Zeus were
discovered.
WATER
RESERVOR "VOUTA"
A
system of earthen pipes and conduits on a 50 kilometre aqueduct brought
water to the city from Kyhrea. This Roman period water system continued to
function till the 7th century. The walls and the remains of 36 square
pillars of the largest of the cisterns where this water was collected have
survived. In addition to the pillars its ceiling was supported by massive
corbels projecting from its longer walls. Excavations at floor level have
brought to light an exit conduit.
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