We invite you to the lecture “Limassol Two Thousand Years Ago”, dedicated to two ancient cities of Cyprus that once stood where modern Limassol now lies.

These cities — Amathus and Kourion — were located at opposite ends of today’s coastline and represented two distinct worlds, two contrasting faces of ancient Cyprus.

Amathus was the center of a mysterious pre-Greek civilization, where for over a thousand years people worshiped an enigmatic Cypriot goddess. The city had its own royal dynasty and language — still not fully deciphered — and, according to ancient accounts, practiced fierce and bloody rituals.

Kourion, on the other hand, flourished later, during the height of the Roman Empire. It became famous for its luxurious houses with underfloor heating, its bath complexes with warm and cold pools, and other marvels that astonished the ancient world.

During the lecture, we will talk about the gods and heroes who once lived in these cities, explore the golden treasures taken by early archaeologists in the 19th century, and create a map-walk through ancient Amathus and Kourion that you can use for your own journeys around Limassol.

The lecture will be given by Anton Kostichev, historian and archaeologist, participant in archaeological missions in Cyprus.

November 18, 19:30
Limassol, ART-podval space

All proceeds will go toward the creation of the first online catalog of archaeological sites in Cyprus.