Salamis (Ancient Greek: Σαλαμίς) is an ancient Greek city-state on the east coast of Cyprus, at the mouth of the river Pedieos, 6 km north of modern Famagusta. According to tradition, the founder of Salamis was Teucer, son of Telamon, who could not return home after the Trojan war because he had failed to avenge his brother Ajax.
Archaeological excavations at the site began in the late nineteenth century under the auspices of the Cyprus Exploration Fund. Many of these finds are now in the British Museum in London. Excavations at Salamis started again in 1952 and were in progress until 1974. Before the Turkish invasion there was much archaeological activity there; one French Mission was excavating at Enkomi, another at Salamis and the Department of Antiquities was busy almost throughout the year with repairs and restorations of monuments and was engaged in excavations at Salamis.
After the Turkish invasion the international embargo has prevented the continuation of the excavations. The site and the museums are maintained by the antiquities service. Important archaeological collections are kept in the St. Barnabas monastery. In the District Archaeological Museum there are marble statues from the gymnasium and the theatre of Salamis, Mycenaean pottery and jewellery from Enkomi and other objects representative of the rich archaeological heritage of the whole district.
The public buildings uncovered at the city site of Salamis date to the post-Classical period. The Temple of Zeus Salaminios, whose cult was established, according to tradition, by Teucer himself, must have existed since the foundation of the city; the extant remains date to the late Hellenistic period. Early excavators discovered in the esplanade of the Temple of Zeus an enormous marble capital carved on each side with a caryatid figure standing between the foreparts of winged bulls. Now in the British Museum’s collection, the function of the capital remains unclear, although it does indicate influence from Achaemenid art and is consequently dated to between 300 and 250 BC.
What to Expect
Start your excursion with a coffee break at Choirokoitia. Continue to Strovilia check point (passports necessary) to cross the United Nations Green Line. Your first stop will be the monastery of Saint Barnabas, built originally in the 5th century and now converted into a museum housing icons and archaeological artifacts. You will also see the tomb of Saint Barnabas.
Next, you’ll continue to the ancient Kingdom of Salamis built in the 12 Century BC by the Greeks, where you will visit the ancient theater and the gymnasium. Your next stop is the city of Famagusta with its Gothic churches, which is surrounded by the Venetian walls. There will be free time in the city to visit the Cathedral of Saint Nikolaos built in the year 1312 and converted in 1570 into a mosque, as well as time for shopping and lunch (lunch not included in the price). Before you depart for Paphos you’ll drive past the “Ghost Town – Varosi” to see the ghost city, the abandoned houses and hotels, closed behind wire since 1974, and admire the best sandy beaches of the island.
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