Kourion

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Kourion Theatre

Kourion (Greek: Κούριον), also Curias (Pliny v. 13) or Latin: Curium, was a city in Cyprus from antiquity until the early middle ages. Kourion is situated to the west of the river Lycus, 16 M. P. from Amathus. (Peut. Tab.), and was recorded by numerous ancient authors including Ptolemy (v. 14. § 2), Stephanus of Byzantium, Hierocles, and Pliny the Elder.

1 History
2 Ruins
3 References
4 External links

[edit] History

Roman mosaic representing the punishment of Marsyas at Kourion

Kourion was said to have been founded by the Argives.^[1]^[2] Stesenor, its sovereign, betrayed the cause of his country during the war against the Persians. (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 form the city is the sanctuary of Apollo which has stunning cypro corinthian columns. As well on the same location a place of worship of woodland God can be found from 6,000 B.C. 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 7th 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]

[edit] Ruins

Kourion's Greco-Roman forum

The ruins of Kourion, near the modern city of Episkopi, is located on one of the most fertile spots in the island, ^[4], with extensive ruins and including well-preserved mosaics. 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 artefacts 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. These were transported to the U.S. where they formed the bulk of the first exhibition of the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art.^[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.^[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.^[10] The theatre was excavated by the University museum of Philadelphia in 1934. ^[11]