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| Kourion | ||
| district | Limassol district | |
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| Residents | unknown | |
no value for residents on Wikidata:  | ||
| height | unknown | |
| no value for height on Wikidata: | ||
| no tourist info on Wikidata: | ||
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KourionGreek: Κούριον is an archaeological site on the island Cyprus. It is located on a hill in front of the southwest coast and belongs to the area of Akrotiriwhich is under British military administration.
background
Archaeological finds show that the area is along the Kouris River Greek: Κούρης has been settled since the Neolithic Age. According to the historian Herodotus the city came into being Kourion due to the immigration of settlers from the area of the city Argos from Peloponnese immigrated. The name of the city goes back to its founder Koureas back, he was the king's son Kinyras.
It can be assumed that Kourion lost its importance when the Cypriot city-states were dissolved in the course of the conquest by Alexander the Great. This was also expressed in the architecture, which began in 325 BC. is assigned to the Hellenistic style. Also called Cyprus around 50 BC. came under the rule of the Romans, the architectural style changed, but primarily because several earthquakes led to devastating destruction.
Around the 4th century AD. Cyprus was Christianized, and Kourion was the seat of a bishop. Due to several earthquakes, in particular by raids by Arabs, Kourion was abandoned around 650 AD and the bishopric was moved to the neighboring town Episkopi relocated.
getting there
In the street
Kourion is close to the main thoroughfare between Limassol (17 km) and Paphos (55 km).
mobility
The archaeological site is well developed for visitors and largely barrier-free. 
Tourist Attractions
- 1 Visitor center. directly at the parking lot. Inside a model of the facility, cafeteria, toilet, information material also in German.
- 2 House of Eustalios. The villa is in the immediate vicinity of the visitor center and has been covered and equipped with catwalks. The peristyle house had over 30 rooms and was built around AD 400. rebuilt after an earthquake and was inhabited until the 7th century. The bathrooms decorated with mosaics are well preserved.
- 3 theatre. A first theater in the Hellenistic style dates from the 2nd century BC. It was expanded to around 3500 places in the 1st century AD. In the 3rd century it was used for gladiator games in the 4th century. probably abandoned because of an earthquake. Today it serves as the venue for ancient dramas.
- 4 Episcopal Basilica. built in the early 5th century, the three-aisled building was decorated with wall and floor mosaics.
- 5 Earthquake house. built in the 1st / 2nd Century, remodeled in the middle of the 4th century and during the 365 AD earthquake. destroyed. Finds from this house are in the Museum of Episkopi.
- 6 Nymphaeum. Erected in the 1st century AD, destroyed by an Arab invasion in the 7th century.
- 7 Early Christian house with triclinium. .
- 8 House of Achilles. Located on the edge of the old city, mosaics from the 4th century AD.
- 9 Stadion. built around 150 AD
- 10 Sanctuary of Apollo Hylates. Somewhat out of the way, one of the most important Cypriot sanctuaries,
activities
The beach below the archaeological site is about 1 km long and suitable for swimming and windsurfing. There are changing rooms and showers, but there is little shade.
shop
kitchen
nightlife
accommodation
health
Practical advice
trips
literature
Web links
- Archaeological Service of Cyprus Page in Greek
