Amathus Archaeological Site

Amathus Archaeological Site

The Amathus Archaeological Site (Amathous Archaeological Site) is located 11 kilometers east of Limassol and is one of the ancient city-kingdom ruins of Cyprus. According to Greek mythology, Theseus once fought the Minotaur here to protect his pregnant Ariadne. Worship of the goddess Aphrodite-Astarte was particularly widespread in this area at the time, which may be why numerous churches, acropolises, and other structures were built in her honor.

During the Roman period, it served as a regional capital before being conquered by the Arabs, after which the town mysteriously disappeared. The Amathus Archaeological Site remained undiscovered until the late 19th century, when a series of ruins and artifacts were gradually unearthed. The site reveals that the ancient city was divided into upper and lower sections, with the upper part featuring the renowned ancient Greek Acropolis and the lower part including a marketplace. Among the surviving ruins are five ancient churches built during the Classical, Roman, and Christian periods.