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Exploring Ancient Cyprus
he Eastern Mediterranean a humbling experience...and one
is a hotbed of human that is unforgettable.
history. From Troy and her
famous citizens to the vast Roman The Ancient Greeks and
Empire that conquered the region Romans
with such panache, many thousands
of years of human drama have Fast forward a few thousand years
unfolded in this small corner of and we find ourselves admiring
the world. the legacies of the ancient
Greeks who came to Cyprus. The
The island of Cyprus is no ancient city-kingdoms of Amathus
exception. Great temples, ancient and Kourion, both now sprawling
cities and magnificent residences archaeological sites near the
merge to provide a collage of Limassol coastline, offer us a
life on Cyprus that stretches glimpse into a world dominated by
back more than 10,000 years. lust, war and veneration of the
Gods.
At Choirokoitia, near present-day
Larnaca, a village of stone By the early years of
dwellings stands as evidence of Christianity the Romans arrived
the beginnings of life on Cyprus. on the shores of Cyprus. In
Archaeologists have dated typical Roman style the Empire
activity at Choirokoitia to set about embellishing the older
7500BC. The Neolithic Cypriots Grecian structures, placing their
who inhabited the village would own architectural stamp-mark on
have spent their days farming the Cyprus. Amphitheatres like the
surrounding lands and hunting magnificent example at Kourion
with tools fashioned from stone. and the smaller but still very
impressive Paphos Odeon near
A visit to Choirokoitia really is Paphos, are Roman creations that
are 'must see' attractions on a most impressive villa on the site
tour of ancient Cyprus. describes Theseus and his
mythological battle with the
No trip around the ancient Roman Minotaur in the Labyrinth.
Empire in Cyprus though is
complete without a visit to the Getting around Ancient
Paphos Mosaics. Situated in Kato Cyprus
Paphos, close to the modern-day
harbour in the town, are three The easiest way to tour Ancient
Roman villas sporting some of the Cyprus is to hire a car. Car hire
finest examples of Roman floor can be booked in advance for pick
mosaics in the entire Eastern up at the international airports
Mediterranean. at Larnaca and Paphos.
The mosaics at the House of Most of the ancient
Dionysus show Dionysus - the archaeological sites are
Greek God of Wine - with Ikarios, signposted from the main highways
the King of Athens. The House of in Cyprus, so are easy to find.
Aion, which was the second Roman An entry fee is normally charged
villa to have been uncovered on at each site, but is equivalent
the site, depicts the birth of to no more than 1 or 2 euros /
Dionysus. The third and arguably dollars per adult.
About the Author:
Seb Jay is a freelance writer specializing in the origination of web content for http://www.your-carhire.com
Source: www.isnare.com
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