The ancient city of Amathous is located on the Southern coast of Cyprus, about 7 km East of the city of Limassol. Traces of the first human presence, dating back to the Neolithic period, were found during archaeological excavations on the hills surrounding Amathous. During the archaic period the city acquired special wealth as one of the kingdoms of Cyprus and had considerable commercial relations with both the Aegean and the Syropalestin coast. On the top of the acropolis hill the Cypriot goddess, called Aphrodite, was worshiped at lEast from the 4th century BC During the Persian occupation of the island, Amathous maintained a pro-Persian position, a fact that led to his siege by Onesilos of Salamis. The abolition of the Kingdom of Amathous, as well as of the other Kingdoms of Cyprus, in the late fourth century. C. (Hellenistic period), was due to the annexation of the island by the Ptolemies. Amathous enjoyed prosperity during the Antonine and Severan periods. Although the city survived the Arab incursions of the mid-7th century AD, it appears to have been definitively abandoned towards the end of the same century.

The first major excavations in Amathous began in 1893-1894, which led to the discovery of many tombs. In 1969 many rescue excavations, accidental discoveries and systematic excavations continued. Since 1975, the French school in Athens has undertaken systematic excavations on the acropolis and other places in the ancient city.

The most important sites and monuments of Amathous are:

Acropolis

A tomb on the North edge of the hill, known as Ariadne's tomb, is the oldest indication of human presence on the site. Although it probably dates back to the 11th century BC, it was reused during the archaic and classical periods, at the time of the development of the sanctuary. At the same time, the two large monolithic vases that dominated the site on the Eastern edge of the hill were used. One of these is partially preserved in situ today while the other was transported to Paris in the 19th century, where it is exhibited today in the Louvre. During this period, the Cypriot Aphrodite took on the characteristics of the Egyptian goddess Hathor, as evidenced by its numerous representations on ships and the "Hathoric steles" that were on the acropolis. A small natural cave, which contained a large quantity of ceramics, a complex linked to the ritual of sacrifices with many curved holes, a pit and a structure made of perforated stones, completes our knowledge of the first stages of worship on the acropolis.

The ruins of the Roman temple of Aphrodite occupy much of the acropolis. It was built on the ruins of a Hellenistic temple for which we don't have much information. The Roman temple was one of the major centres of worship in Cyprus during antiquity and one of the most important pilgrimage sites. It was built at the end of the 1st century AD, following the Greek type of a temple of prostylos with "Nabatean" capitals. It seems that in the fifth century AD the area surrounding the southern part of the temple was used as a place of worship by early Christians. In the 7th century the temple was destroyed and a large three-aisled basilica was erected in its place. The entire complex was surrounded by a wall, which included an atrium with a cistern in the centre. At the northEast corner of the wall, the two archaic stone vases were found.

The Agora and the bathrooms

The agora is located in the lower town East of the acropolis hill. The area South of the agora is occupied by a public bath (balaneion), which includes a closed circular area. The bathroom and part of the West ern portico of the agora date back to the Hellenistic period and are the first indications of human activity in the area.

During the Roman period the agora was organized around a large stone-paved courtyard. An important road, which connected the agora to the lower city, runs along the South side of the agora. Three porches occupy the other three sides. The West ern portico opened to the courtyard through thirteen Doric columns and ended at its Northern limit by a fountain or nymphaeum and in a subsequent cistern. Behind the North porch, which is very damaged, buildings have been erected that seem to have constituted the most important administrative or religious buildings on the site. Behind the East porch there is the complex of rooms belonging to a Roman bath. In the centre of the Northern part of the courtyard there is a fountain sheltered by a roof, probably in the shape of a pyramid.

The palace

Behind the part of a Byzantine wall is the Amathous palace. It was built in the eighth century BC. and was destroyed after the reign of the last king of the city, Androkles, around 300 BC. The preserved ruins, where numerous remarkable objects such as the pithoi and the atoric stele were found during the excavations, are part of the palace's warehouses.

The port

The outer port of the city was located in front of the agora and its ruins are now preserved under the sea. The port was built in the late 4th century BC. as part of the defence of the city during the period of the war with the Ptolemies for the dominion of Cyprus. The life span of the port was short as it was covered in sand. In front of the agora there was an internal harbour basin where the sailors had the opportunity to bring the ships to dry to better protect them from the wind.

The walls

From the archaic period the city was walled up on all sides. The walls were reinforced during the Hellenistic period when the port was built. Today we can see the South-West part of the walls with the West tower near the sea and a large part of the North wall with three towers, which connected the steps of the acropolis with the highest point of the lower city. There is a gate in the North wall, which allowed entry to those who entered the city from the hinterland. After the destruction of the wall in the 4th century AD, a second wall (probably Justinian to face a potential military threat from Persia) was built in the 6th century in the middle of the acropolis hill, opposite the abandoned palace.

The necropolis

To the East and West of Amathous there are two important necropolises with carved tombs that date from the geometric period to the Roman period. During the excavation of the tombs a rich archaeological material came to light, part of which is now exhibited in the Museum of the District of Limassol.

Basilicas

In addition to the basilica in the upper part of the acropolis, four other basilicas have been found. The oldest is the cemetery basilica of Agios Tychonas, located outside the Eastern side of the archaic walls and built by San Tychonas, the first bishop of the city, at the end of the 4th century AD. In the 5th century, a three-nave basilica was present on the slopes of the Acropolis hill. To the West of the agora was built a large basilica with three naves and one East of the agora (now partially destroyed by the sea). In the same period, on the Eastern edge of the Eastern necropolis, a cave-chapel dedicated to Santa Barbara and a small five-nave basilica was built, which was probably part of a monastery.