Once a thriving port city and an important Greek city-state on the eastern shore of Cyprus, Salamis offers a tantalising glimpse into the island’s vast history. According to ancient Greek tradition, Salamis was founded after the Trojan War by the archer Teukros, son of King Telamon. The latter came from the island of Salamis off the coast of Attica. Half-brother to the hero Ajax, Teukros, was unable to return home from the war after failing to prevent his half-brother’s suicide, leading him to flee to Cyprus, where he founded Salamis.

Coordinates: 35° 11′ 0″ N, 33° 54′ 0″ E

Successively controlled by various dominant powers, Salamis served as the island’s main port and capital for a thousand years. The city saw great wealth and dominated the island until its near-destruction in the 4th century AD following a series of earthquakes. Most of the ruins we see today are from the Roman period. Set along the seashore, they cover an area over one kilometre long. Among the many impressive sights to be seen at Salamis are the Gymnasium devoted to the training of athletes, the Roman baths, the theatre and the basilicas.

For over a thousand years, Salamis lay buried beneath a thick layer of sand, which helped preserve the city from looting and destruction.

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The Gymnasium with its columned palaestra, built over the ruins of an earlier Hellenistic gymnasium in the 2nd century AD during Trajan and Hadrian's reign after Salamis had been greatly damaged in 116 AD during Jewish revolt, Salamis, Northern Cyprus — The Gymnasium, with its colonnaded palaestra, was built over the ruins of an earlier Hellenistic gymnasium in the 2nd century AD during Trajan and Hadrian’s reigns after Salamis had significantly been damaged in AD 116 during the Jewish revolt.

The gymnasium's latrines, a semicircular structure with a roof supported on columns and a capacity of 44, Salamis, Northern Cyprus — The Gymnasium’s latrines were a semicircular structure with a roof supported on columns and a capacity of 44 people.

Marble pool at NE corner of the Gymnasium's portico surrounded by headless statues dating back to the 2nd century AD (Trajanic/Hadrianic), Salamis, Northern Cyprus — The marble pool at the NE corner of the Gymnasium’s portico was surrounded by headless statues dating back to the 2nd century AD (Trajanic/Hadrianic).

Marble pool at SE corner of the Gymnasium's portico dating back to the 2nd century AD (Trajanic/Hadrianic), Salamis, Northern Cyprus — The marble pool.

Headless statues surrounding the marble pool at NE corner of the Gymnasium's portico by dating back to the 2nd century AD (Trajanic/Hadrianic), Salamis, Northern Cyprus — Headless statues dating back to the 2nd century AD (Trajanic/Hadrianic) surround the marble pool at the NE corner of the Gymnasium’s portico.

The Roman theatre, built during the reign of Augustus and completed during the years of Trajan and Hadrian, it originally had 50 rows of seats (just 18 remain) and held over 15,000 spectators, Salamis, Northern Cyprus — The Roman theatre was built during the reign of Augustus and completed during the years of Trajan and Hadrian. It originally had 50 rows of seats (just 18 remain) and held over 15,000 spectators.

The bath complex, Salamis, Northern Cyprus — The bath complex.

Niche in one of the room of the bath complex decorated with polychrome wall-mosaics depicting Apolllo (in the centre) and Artemis (left) slaying the Niobids, end of 3rd century AD, Salamis, Northern Cyprus — The niche in one of the bath complex’s rooms was decorated towards the end of the 3rd century AD with polychrome wall mosaics depicting Apollo (in the centre) and Artemis (left) slaying the Niobids.

The cistern and remains of the aqueduct that used to supply the baths and the pools with water, Salamis, Northern Cyprus — The cistern and remains of the aqueduct were used to supply the baths and the pools with water.

The Kambanopetra Basilica, built in the 4th centuy AD, Salamis, Northen Cyprus — The Kambanopetra Basilica was built in the 4th century AD.

Many Roman sculptures from the Gymnasium of Salamis are housed in the Cyprus Museum in central Nicosia.

Sculptures from the Gymnasium of Salamis, 2nd century AD, Cyprus Museum, Nicosia, Cyprus — Sculptures from the Gymnasium of Salamis, 2nd century AD, Cyprus Museum, Nicosia.

See more images of the archaeological site of Salamis on Flickr

See more images of the Roman sculptures from the Gymnasium on Flickr

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May 3, 2016May 19, 2024 by followinghadrian Categories: CyprusTags: Cyprus, Salamis Leave a comment

PORTFOLIO

The Bouleuterion, dated to around the end of the 1st century AD, it was constructed of local porous while the stairs and the floor were of marble, Iassos, Caria, Turkey

The Bouleuterion is dated to around the end of the 1st century AD. The structure measured 29,5 × 21,75 metres, while its capacity was estimated at 960.

The scaenae frons of the Bouleuterion was two-storey high with Corinthian columns. It was decorated with Dionysiac scenes.

The orchestra of the Bouleuterion was decorated with opus sectile.

The Agora was entirely reconstructed during Hadrian’s time. Its initial building must have started in the 4th century BC.

The Agora, reconstructed mainly during Hadrian’s time, its initial building must have started in the 4th century BC, Iassos, Caria, Turkey

The Agora. It had a rectangular shape, and it was surrounded by porticoes and temples.

The Agora.

The Sanctuary of Artemis Astias.

Iassos ruins.

The western harbor with the ruins of a Byzantine Tower.

The western harbour with the ruins of a Byzantine Tower.

A monumental Roman tomb from Iassos Caria, it had the appearance of a small Corinthian temple on a very high podium , Iassos Museum, Caria, Turkey

A monumental Roman tomb from Iassos. It had the appearance of a small Corinthian temple on a very high podium (Iassos Museum).

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