Photos of Salamis, an ancient Greek city-state, Cyprus

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Salamis, an ancient Greek city-state

Salamis (or Salamína, Σαλαμίνα, in modern Greek) was an ancient Greek city-state on the east coast of Cyprus, at the mouth of the Pedieos (Kanlı Dere) river, 6 kilometres north of the modern city of Famagusta. The site has been occupied as far back as the eleventh century BCE.

Triple Stone Archway, Salamis
 
Swimming pool, Salamis
 
Cupola, bath complex, Salamis
 
Gymnasium court, Salamis
 
Latrines, Salamis
 
Cupola, bath complex, Salamis
 
Fresco, bath complex, Salamis
 
Bath house, Salamis
 
Path and view, Salamis
 
View from the theatre, Salamis
 
Theatre, Salamis
 
Colonnaded Street, Salamis
 
Climbing snails, Salamis
 
Kambanopetra Basilica, Salamis
 
Mosaic floor, Salamis
 
St. Epiphanios Basilica, Salamis
 
Roman-era water reservoir, Salamis
 
Temple of Zeus, Salamis
 
St Barnabas' Monastery and Icon Museum
 
St Barnabas' Monastery Museum
 
St. John the Baptist icons
 
The Virgin (Eleousa) and child icons
 
The Virgin Mary icon
 
Painting, St Barnabas' Monastery
 

The ruins visible today date to the Roman period, around the 1st century CE. It is the cultural centre of the old city, with a gymnasium, a theatre, an amphitheatre, and public baths. Some mosaic fragments are still visible in cupolas that were roofing those baths. The hypocaust (underfloor heating system) can still be seen. The Theatre of Salamis is from the time of Emperor Augustus (31 BCE to 14 CE); it once could hold 15,000 spectators. Earthquakes destroyed much of it, but it has been partially restored.

There are the remains of two large 4th-century basilicas, the Kambanopetra and the St. Epiphanios Basilica, once the largest basilica in Cyprus. Like many Byzantine basilicas, it was destroyed during Arab raids in the 7th century. There are also still traces of a Roman temple, but not much of it remains.

Nearby, at the western edge of the Salamis necropolis, is the St. Barnabas’ Monastery, devoted to St. Barnabas, the patron saint of Cyprus who was born in Salamis. He is one of the founders of the independent Greek Orthodox church; the monastery and church date from the 1750s. Once the centre of the Cyprus Orthodox Church, it is now an icon museum, holding precious icons and paintings.