CITY OF SALAMIS
Zeus-Temple
Only a small section of this structure which may
have been the main temple of the city of Salamis has
survived. It was situated on the South end of Agora
and could be accessed by a staircase. A tablet found
during the excavations reveals that the temple has
been dedicated to Zeus Olympios in Augustus’s wife
Livia’s honour.
The Royal Tombs The Salamis
Necropolis covers an area of roughly 4 square miles
and stretches from Enkomi to the West end of the
Salamis forest and to the St. Barnabas Monastery.
Because of the structural styles and the rich
findings of some of the tombs that have been
uncovered they have been named as the Royal Tombs.
Their main architectural feature is the long, wide,
sloping ground in front of the burial chamber.
This is where the horses pulling the hearse were
sacrificed in honour of the deceased, and
earthenware jars of oil, wine and honey were lined.
Studies indicate that the tombs were made in the 8th
century B.C. and were used until the 4th century
A.D.. Tombs numbered 47, 50 and 79 in particular
contained rich findings. The tomb numbered 50 was
also used as a small church dedicated to St.
Catherine.
It is also known with the name ‘St.
Catherine prison’ as St. Catherine is believed to
have been kept here after converting to Christianity
by his uncle who was the Salamis administrator. A
lot of earthenware pots and pans, things made of
bronze and ivory and the skeletons of the sacrificed
horses have been uncovered during excavations. The Cellarga Mass-graves These mass-graves are the mass
necropolis of the poor people of the period.
They constitute part of the Salamis Necropolis,
and lie 500 metres to the South-east of the Royal
Tombs. The area in which around 120 graves have been
found is known to have been used between 8th century
B.C. and 4th century B.C.. The entrances to the
tombs are closed with stone slabs; and there steps
carved into the rock.
New graves with chimney shaped
zones were dug up on the area where the former
mass-graves which were filled up in time used to be.
They were not used after the 4th century B.C.. The
remains of animals, statues, pots and pans found
among the ashes of the fires burnt in front of the
graves suggest that ceremonies of sacrifice and
feasts were held here.
Salamis
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