Kourion Theatre.

Kourion (Greek: Κούριον), also Curias (Pliny v. Greek (el ελληνική γλώσσα or simply el ελληνικά — "Hellenic" is an Indo-European language, spoken today by 15-22 million people mainly Gaius or Caius Plinius Secundus, ( AD 23 – August 25, AD 79 better known as Pliny the Elder, was an ancient Author 13) or Latin: Curium, was a city in Cyprus, which endured from antiquity until the early Middle Ages. Latin ( lingua Latīna, laˈtiːna is an Italic language, historically spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. Cyprus (Κύπρος transliterated: Kýpros,; Kıbrıs officially the Republic of Cyprus (Κυπριακή Δημοκρατία Kypriakī́ Dīmokratía The Medieval history of Cyprus starts with the division of the Roman Empire into an Eastern and Western half Kourion is situated on the south shores of the island to the west of the river Lycus (now called Kouris), 16 M. P. from Amathus. Amathus (Modern Greek Αμαθούς) was one of the most ancient royal cities of Cyprus, on the southern coast in front of Agios Tychonas, about 24 miles (Peut. Tab.), and was recorded by numerous ancient authors including Ptolemy (v. The Tabula Peutingeriana ( Peutinger table) is an Itinerarium showing the Cursus publicus, the road network in the Roman Empire. Claudius Ptolemaeus ( Greek: Klaúdios Ptolemaîos; after 83 &ndash ca 14. § 2), Stephanus of Byzantium, Hierocles, and Pliny the Elder. Stephanus of Byzantium, also known as Stephanus Byzantinus ( Greek:; fl Hierocles or Hierokles (in Greek Ιεροκλής) was a Byzantine geographer of the sixth century and the attributed author of the

History

Roman mosaic representing the punishment of Marsyas at Kourion

Kourion was said to have been founded by the Argives. Argos ( Greek: Ἄργος, Árgos ˈaɾɣos is a city in Greece in the Peloponnese near Nafplio, which was its historic harbor ^[1][2] Stesenor, its sovereign, betrayed the cause of his country during the war against the Persians. The Persian Empire was a series of Iranian empires that ruled over the Iranian plateau, the original Persian homeland and beyond in Western Asia (Herod. l. c. ) Near the town was a cape (Φρούριον, Ptol. v. 14. § 2), from which sacrilegious offenders who had dared to touch the altar of Apollo were thrown into the sea. (Strab. l. c. ). The city has passed through different phases from a Hellenistic, Roman, and Christian periods. For this reason the city has a very large Agora (market place) and you can find an early Christian Basilica as well within the city walls. Furthermore, large public baths which were equipped with cold, warm and hot spas, as well in the city and a nymphium is found with large octagonal swimming pool. In the large amphitheatre which sits 2000 spectators mostly gladiator games were held, therefore in the city there is Palestra or a training place for gladiators. The whole city has beautiful floor mosaics and they are mostly found in the house of Achileas and the private bath of the founder of the city.

Three kilometers from the city is the sanctuary of Apollo which has stunning Cypro-Corinthian columns. On the same location there exists place of worship for a woodland god dating back to 6000 BC. During the 6th millennium BC, Agriculture spreads from the Balkans to Italy and Eastern Europe and from Mesopotamia to Egypt. In between Kourion and the sanctuary of Apollo a stadium that is around 400 m long is found; this stadium could sit up to 7,000 spectators who would watch ancient Greek sports. This magnificent city is believed to have been destroyed in the 4th century when a series of 5 strong earthquakes hit the city in a period of 80 years, and this inevitably brought an end to the city as it was known. ^[3]

Ruins

Kourion's Greco-Roman theatre.

The ruins of Kourion, near the modern town of Episkopi, is located on one of the most fertile spots in the island, ^[4], with extensive ruins and including well-preserved mosaics. Art History Mosaics of the 4th century BC are found in the Macedonian palace-city of Aegae, and they enriched the floors of Hellenistic Also of interest are the public baths, the Nymphaeum, the necropolis, the Fountain House, House of Gladiators and House of Achilles. The most spectacular site at Kourion is the Greco-Roman amphitheatre, or forum (pictured), that has been completely restored (with the Mediterranean as a backdrop) and is used today for open air musical and theatrical performances.

Many artifacts were removed from Kourion by the notorious treasure hunter Luigi Palma di Cesnola in the late 19th century who served as Consul to Cyprus for the United States. Luigi Palma di Cesnola ( July 29, 1832 – November 21, 1904) an Italian American soldier and amateur archaeologist, was These were transported to the U. S. where they formed the bulk of the first exhibition of the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art. The Metropolitan Museum of Art is an art museum located on the eastern edge of Central Park, along what is known as Museum Mile in New York City, ^[5] Some are still on exhibition today. ^[6][7] Thousands of other pieces however were sold to Stanford University and were destroyed by an earthquake that hit California in 1906. Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly known as Stanford University or simply Stanford, is a private Research university located in ^[8] A third portion of this collection ended up at the Semitic Museum at Harvard University. ^[9]

Excavations were also conducted by several other expeditions. The British Museum enriched its Cypriot artefact collection through excavations conducted during the British occupation of the island between 1893 and 1899. The British Museum is a Museum of human history and culture in London. ^[10] The excavations on the theatre was were carried out by the University Museum of Philadelphia. ^[11] Works began in 1934 and were completed in 1949. ^[12]

References

• This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography by William Smith (1856). The public domain is a range of abstract materials &ndash commonly referred to as Intellectual property &ndash which are not owned or controlled by anyone The Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography, first published in 1854, was the last of a series of classical dictionaries edited by the English scholar Sir William Smith (1813 &ndash 1893 English Lexicographer, was born at Enfield in 1813 of Nonconformist parents

External links

• Kourion Museum Info
• Kourion by Limassol Municipality
• The Cesnola Collection from Ancient Cyprus