Despite the sign, I managed to take an "intentional detour" through the farmlands below the site...!!
A few kilometres to the west of Kolossi Castle, lies the Kourion Archeological Site, which dates back to 310 B.C. .
It is said to be one of the most impressive sites of its kind in Cyprus… originally a Greek settlement, it was only during the time of Roman occupation, that the city became an important part of the empire, and many of the structures seen today, were built…
After taking a wrong turn and finding myself toiling down a dirt track between fields of potatoes and carrots, I eventually worked my way back onto a tar road and found the entrance to the site…
It covers a vast area, draped across a series of hills that look down onto the sea shore far below… A tarred road winds up to a very large parking area on top of the mountain, and attests to the fact that this site is extremely popular with tourists… Shortly after I arrived, a fleet of six luxury buses arrived, flooding the area with people…
The House of Eustolios takes pride of place at Kourion...
The ruins of the villa are covered to protect them from the elements...
The intricate mosaic floor of the forecourt...
During the two hours I spent there, I kept a few minutes ahead of the horde, and enjoyed uninterrupted views of the nine separate and distinct structures that were uncovered here…
Closest to the entrance and parking area is the Roman “House of Eustolios”, which has been covered by a large tent like structure, complete with raised wooden walkways to protect the site from both the elements and visitors… It is named after the builder who dedicated the structure to the people of the island…
It consisted of a large forecourt, surrounded by rooms used for storage and service areas… It also had a forecourt, surrounded by columns, and contained a garden, fountains and a pool…
A well preserved mosaic floor is probably the most striking aspect of what remains of this structure, and an inscription in the atrium that reads “ENTER TO THY GOOD FORTUNE AND MAY THY COMING BLESS THIS HOUSE”…
A short distance from the House of Eustolios, I entered the large “Theatre”, where the public could witness gladiatorial battles… This structure is built in a semi-circle, facing out towards the sea, and is still used to day for musical and theatrical productions…
The Roman Arena at Kourion...
It was renovated during the reigns of the Roman emperors Augustus and Nero (the Fiddler…!!) and made smaller after the effects of an earthquake… Part of the original seating was removed to shore up the walls damaged during the quake and provided seating for about 3000 occupants…
From where I sat, I could see across to the covered House of Eustolius...
"Gotta keep moving Dudes...!! The paparazzi have arrived...!!
I sat down near the top of the arena, and was amazed by the acoustics of this ancient place, reminding myself again that this arena had been built over 2000 years ago…!!
Down in the centre, and well below me a young couple, their heads bent close together were chatting about the scene in front of them, and from where I was, I could hear every word they were saying…!! Part of their discussion, which referred to the previous evening they had spent together, cannot be repeated here…!!
A small group of tourists and their guide wandered into the arena and to demonstrate the sound effects, he clapped his hands once… The sound was magnified many times, and carried clearly to every part of the theatre…!!
Each individual site is clearly labeled...
A few hundred metres further up the hill from the arena, is the large Agora, or marketplace, and beyond that the Christian Basilica, built between the 3rd and 7th centuries…
The Christian Basilica once stood here... All that remains are a few pillars and its original foundations...
Next to the Agora, stood the House of Achilles, where the gladiators lived and trained for their fights in the arena… The floors are covered with mosaics, many of them in a sad state of disrepair… Hardly surprising when you consider that they have been exposed to the elements for over 1500 years…!!
The edge of the ruins looks down onto the beach far below... Mosaics cover many of the floors of the Basilica...
Behind the House of Achilles, are the extensive and fairly well preserved Roman Baths, which were sectioned off into areas that held both hot or cold running water… There is also a large hexagonal pool, which was built for the private use of the important personages that visited the city… No bathing with the lower classes here in Kourion…!!
The Public Baths... Each little pedestal is where bathers sat while they washed themselves from the constant water that flowed between them...
The Hexagonal Pool that was reserved for the upper classes...
I stood near the outer walls of the Basilica, watching a rain squall out over the Mediterranean, wondering if it would reach the shore and make my return to Larnaca a damp one… For a change, the wind was a friend, and blew the dark, rain-filled clouds away to the west, allowing me to continue my stroll through hills on which the ancient city was situated…
Behind the ruins and out to sea, dark clouds were releasing their liquid load...
The ruins of Kourion cover a vast area... Each one of the covered structures stands before a different section of ruins...
Kourion was destroyed by a massive earthquake in the year 365 A.D. and the city was abandoned and lapsed into ruin…
It is ironic that many of the artifacts discovered here were stolen in the late 1800’s by an American treasure hunter, and transported back to the States where they were sold to Stanford University… In1906, an earthquake hit California, destroying the buildings housing the artifacts, as well as many of the pieces themselves…!!
With the sun going down over the ruins, it was time for me to leave this special place...
I walked the place flat…!! The sun was sinking fast when I finally turned back towards the parking area, where I found the Big Fella teasing the authorities…!!
Forever the Rebel...!! Sometimes he just can't help himself...!!
It had been another great day out on the bike, enjoying the experience of standing in yet another spot which formed the ancient history of our planet… The only down side to it all, was that I had experienced it on my own… This post is the closest I can come to sharing it with you…
A satisfying day exploring the ruins of Kourion...
©GBWT 2010
I’m sure I speak not only for myself in saying thank you for taking the time to share it with all of us on-board the GBWT! Well done brutha – well done…
Well said Vince, if anyone knows how long it takes GypsyBiker to write this for us, I do. Some of these postings can take Ronnie as long as 5-6 hours. First he needs to go through all the photographs he had taken for that particular day, then decide which ones he is going to use for a posting, he must then sit in front of his laptop and start writing from his heart, and remembering what happened on his ride. Once he has completed the writing, he then needs to add and re-size the photographs. Not an easy task believe me, I have spoken to Ronnie on many occassions well after midnight and he was still busy writing a posting. Thanks once again Ronnie for sharing your dream with us,
Love from Your Sister xx
Ronnie & Charmz ; ” YOU GOTTA’ LOVE THIS !!! “