We took a 45 minute drive to the east to visit the Kourion archeological site. There are ruins here dating from the Hellenistic days from 350 -150 BCE, Roman ruins from 100 BCE to 200 CE and finally early Christian ruins that date from before the 365 CE when a huge earthquake hit the town and beyond when the town was partially reconstructed. This earthquake was big and although it was centered in Crete, it was felt over the entire Mediterranean region. Recent estimates have pegged this event at a 8.6 on the Richter scale, based on the 30 foot ground uplift seen in Crete at the time. The effects of this earthquake were felt all around the Mediterranean sea including a massive tsunami that hit Alexandria Egypt killing many thousands, sinking ships and destroying many buildings. The location of Cyprus has made this island a host to all of the Mediterranean cultures; the Mycenean Greeks, Phoenicians, Assyrians, Egyptians, Persians, Romans, Byzantines, Venetians, Ottomans and British...just to name a few. The British have been here since 1878 and we actually drove through Great Britain to get to the site. Of course it is a Overseas British territory but it is marked the UK on the map.
Tunnel vision
The green green fields of England
One huge new build in the distance
The cover for the ruins reminded us of Malta
A large structure indeed
This area contains mostly Greek ruins from 300 BCE
A large public bath system is seen here. The tiles show where the floor was raised for the hot air to flow under the floor heating the bath
This is a popular motif in the mosaic floor. It shows the creator of the world holding a measuring rod and KTSIS is written on the design
This large area was the cold room with ample space for the public to mingle after the hot paths. To the left of the main mosaic is a board game built into the floor so that the patrons can play the game while in the baths
Foot baths
This is a very large complex
The cover is made of large wooden beams
Bird watching without any live beirs
A pool
What might be in here?
The walkways are populated with informative signs
Another inscription
Great 3-D tilework
As we learned earlier, there is only one place in Cyprus where different colored
Very intact
The birds and the fishes
A partridge if I were to guess
A hooded crow most likely
Goose!
Looking back into the ruins
A set of stairs leading to the furnace that heats the hot baths
The earliest remains were up hill and the site was renovated and built up larger over the centuries. This set of tile work dates from Theodosius II around 450 CE. the inscription says "Enter to thy good fortune and thy coming bless this house"
Heading out to the amphitheater
Why look here, it is the United Kingdom
Entering the amphitheater
Renovated in the 60's this is an impressive theater
It is electrified and had lights, it is probably used for concerts
A human for the sense of scale
Looking down to the entrance gate
More structure off to the side of the theater
A kestrel looking for some lunch
