Where Mythology Meets Fairy-Tale
23.11.2014
What makes Cyprus a destination of choice by many? It’s not just the expansive rugged coastline whose beauty could be considered unparalleled.
You see, Cyprus comes with it a rich history steeped in legendary tales of all things kings and knights, Ottomans and Phoenician, Romans and Egyptians and of course the Cypriot people too. A mythology that reads like a fairy-tale that continues to keep many entranced through the ancient relics that abound here.
KOURION
Kourion is an ancient city kingdom located in Limassol that resonates of a history from an almost mythical era gone by. Whilst the earliest evidence of settlement in the broader area of Kourion dates to the Neolithic period (4500 to 3900 BC), the ruins in the area of the ancient city itself are connected with settlements and tombs of the Middle and Late Bronze Age. Visiting this archaeological site sees one getting lost in a treasure trove of century’s old relics that comprise the spectacular Greco-Roman Theatre, the Roman Agora, an early Christian Basilica and stately villas including the Houses of Achilles and Gladiators whose floors are still covered by the most striking mosaics.
Kourion is an ancient city kingdom located in Limassol that resonates of a history from an almost mythical era gone by. Whilst the earliest evidence of settlement in the broader area of Kourion dates to the Neolithic period (4500 to 3900 BC), the ruins in the area of the ancient city itself are connected with settlements and tombs of the Middle and Late Bronze Age. Visiting this archaeological site sees one getting lost in a treasure trove of century’s old relics that comprise the spectacular Greco-Roman Theatre, the Roman Agora, an early Christian Basilica and stately villas including the Houses of Achilles and Gladiators whose floors are still covered by the most striking mosaics.
LIMASSOL MEDIEVAL CASTLE
Steeped in tales of knights and Romans, the Limassol Medieval Castle is probably most legendary for being the site where in 1191, Richard the Lionheart married Berengaria of Navarre and crowned her Queen of England.
Steeped in tales of knights and Romans, the Limassol Medieval Castle is probably most legendary for being the site where in 1191, Richard the Lionheart married Berengaria of Navarre and crowned her Queen of England.
Archaeological findings show that the Castle was built over an Early Christian basilica (4th to 7th Century AD) and a Middle Byzantine monument (10th to 11th Century AD). From the time it was built, attacks on the city by the Ottomans and the Venetians as well as earthquakes have seen the Castle undergo many reconstructions.
Until 1950 the underground chamber and first floor were used as prison cells. Since 1987 the Castle has housed the Medieval Collection of the Cyprus Museum.
KOLOSSI CASTLE
A relic of the Knights Templar and the Knights of St John, the history of Kolossi Castle is one to fill the pages of a storybook. Originally belonging to the Knights of Saint John of Jerusalem where it was the seat of the most important of their Commanderies, the Castle was later in the 14th Century controlled by the now more famous Knights Templar. The area surrounding Kolossi Castle produced and exported the traditional sweet wine of Cyprus that became known as the “Vin de Commanderie” or Commandaria. It is said that during his marriage to Berengaria, Richard the Lionheart pronounced Commandaria as the “wine of the kings and the king of the wines”.
A relic of the Knights Templar and the Knights of St John, the history of Kolossi Castle is one to fill the pages of a storybook. Originally belonging to the Knights of Saint John of Jerusalem where it was the seat of the most important of their Commanderies, the Castle was later in the 14th Century controlled by the now more famous Knights Templar. The area surrounding Kolossi Castle produced and exported the traditional sweet wine of Cyprus that became known as the “Vin de Commanderie” or Commandaria. It is said that during his marriage to Berengaria, Richard the Lionheart pronounced Commandaria as the “wine of the kings and the king of the wines”.
AMATHUS ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE
Dating back to what is thought to be 1100 BC, Amathus is one of the most significant ancient royal cities of Cyprus where the infamous cult of Aphrodite was said to have flourished.
Dating back to what is thought to be 1100 BC, Amathus is one of the most significant ancient royal cities of Cyprus where the infamous cult of Aphrodite was said to have flourished.
Mythological tales would have us believe that Amathus was founded by King Kinyras and is where Theseus left the pregnant Ariadne who died during childbirth and was buried in a sacred tomb there. Others myths advocate that Amathus is where one of the sons of Heracles settled which is why he was worshiped there.
A number of ancient relics have been discovered at this UNESCO World Heritage site evidencing influences from the Phoenician, Roman, Byzantine periods and the Crusaders.
