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Tamassos (Greek: Ταμασσός) is an ancient
city-stateA city-state is an independent republican country whose territory consists of a city which is not administered as part of another local government....
of great archaeological significance in the central vicinity of
CyprusCyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country situated in the eastern Mediterranean, south of Turkey and west of Syria and Lebanon....
, located approximately 21 kilometeres south-west of the capital
cityA city is a relatively large and permanent settlement, particularly a large urban settlement. Although there is no agreement on technical definitions distinguishing a city from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status...
of
NicosiaNicosia, known locally as Lefkosia , is the capital and largest city of Cyprus. Located on the River Pedieos and situated almost in the centre of the island, it is the seat of government as well as the main business centre...
.
Ancient Tamassos
The
city-stateA city-state is an independent republican country whose territory consists of a city which is not administered as part of another local government....
prospered mainly because of its
minesMining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth, usually from an ore body, vein or seam. Materials recovered by mining include base metals, precious metals, iron, uranium, coal, diamonds, limestone, oil shale, rock salt and potash...
, from which metals (mostly
copperCopper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29.It is a ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Pure copper is rather soft and malleable and a freshly-exposed surface has a pinkish or peachy color...
,
CyprusCyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country situated in the eastern Mediterranean, south of Turkey and west of Syria and Lebanon....
' chief
exportIn economics, an export is any good or commodity, transported from one country to another country in a legitimate fashion, typically for use in trade. Export goods or services are provided to foreign consumers by domestic producers. Export is an important part of international trade...
in the ancient
worldWorld is a highly common name for the planet Earth, but it was originally used to mean the sum of human civilization living on it, specifically human experience, history, or the 'human condition' in general....
) were extracted. However, Tamassos has managed to survive throughout the ages, despite the fact that all
copperCopper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29.It is a ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Pure copper is rather soft and malleable and a freshly-exposed surface has a pinkish or peachy color...
minesMining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth, usually from an ore body, vein or seam. Materials recovered by mining include base metals, precious metals, iron, uranium, coal, diamonds, limestone, oil shale, rock salt and potash...
were exhausted, and is now thought to remain buried under the
villageA village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet, but smaller than a town or city. Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New York City and the Saifi Village in...
of
PolitikoPolitiko is village located in the Nicosia District of Cyprus.The hamlet of Filani is part of this municipality....
.
Foundations, inhabitants, and economy
Unlike other city-states on the
islandAn island or isle is any piece of land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls are called islets. A key or cay is another name for a small island or islet. An island in a river or lake may be called an eyot, .There are two main types of islands:...
, there is no precise information from either
historyHistory is the study of the human past, with special attention to the written record. Scholars who write about history are called historians. It is a field of research which uses a narrative to examine and analyse the sequence of events, and it often attempts to investigate objectively the patterns...
or
traditionThe word tradition comes from the Latin traditionem, acc. of traditio which means "handing over, passing on", and is used in a number of ways in the English language:...
, concerning the establishment of Tamassos as a
humanHumans are bipedal primates belonging to the species Homo sapiens in Hominidae, the great ape family. They are the only surviving member of the genus Homo. Humans have a highly developed brain, capable of abstract reasoning, language, introspection, and problem solving...
settlement and later as an important
tradeTrade is the voluntary exchange of goods, services, or both. Trade is also called commerce or transaction. A mechanism that allows trade is called a market. The original form of trade was barter, the direct exchange of goods and services. Later one side of the barter were the metals, precious...
cityA city is a relatively large and permanent settlement, particularly a large urban settlement. Although there is no agreement on technical definitions distinguishing a city from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status...
. The oldest known reference of Tamassos which proves its existence is found in
HomerHomer is a legendary ancient Greek epic poet, traditionally said to be the author of the epic poems the Iliad and the Odyssey...
's
epicAn epic is a lengthy narrative poem, ordinarily concerning a serious subject containing details of heroic deeds and events significant to a culture or nation. Oral poetry may qualify as an epic, and Albert Lord and Milman Parry have argued that classical epics were fundamentally an oral poetic form...
poem of the
OdysseyThe Odyssey is one of two major ancient Greek epic poems attributed to Homer. It is, in part, a sequel to the Iliad, the other work traditionally ascribed to Homer. The poem is fundamental to the modern Western canon. Indeed it is the second—the Iliad being the first—extant work of...
(A, 184). Particularly, a man called Efstathios (Eustace) talks of a Cypriot town:
"…There is a town in Cyprus, "Temesi" according to some, that is also copper-bearing…"
The correlation between a town in Cyprus called "Temesi" and copper lead to the assumption that Homer was actually referring to Tamassos.
The area of Tamassos itself was in fact home to a number of small farmer settlements, which were replaced by the
cityA city is a relatively large and permanent settlement, particularly a large urban settlement. Although there is no agreement on technical definitions distinguishing a city from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status...
following the discovery and manipulation of the
copperCopper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29.It is a ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Pure copper is rather soft and malleable and a freshly-exposed surface has a pinkish or peachy color...
minesMining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth, usually from an ore body, vein or seam. Materials recovered by mining include base metals, precious metals, iron, uranium, coal, diamonds, limestone, oil shale, rock salt and potash...
. Thus
copperCopper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29.It is a ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Pure copper is rather soft and malleable and a freshly-exposed surface has a pinkish or peachy color...
became the heart of economy in Tamassos in the centuries which followed. Studies of the archaeological
artifactsAn artifact or artefact is any object made or modified by a human. In archaeology, an artifact is an object recovered by some archaeological endeavor, which may have a cultural interest. Examples include stone tools such as projectile points, pottery vessels, metal objects such as buttons or guns,...
suggest that the
regionRegion is most commonly a geographical term that is used in various ways among the different branches of geography. In general, a region is a medium-scale area of land or water, smaller than the whole areas of interest , and larger than a specific site...
was inhabited since Prehistoric times and, more specifically, since the Chalcolithic Age. Even so, villages belonging to the wider
regionRegion is most commonly a geographical term that is used in various ways among the different branches of geography. In general, a region is a medium-scale area of land or water, smaller than the whole areas of interest , and larger than a specific site...
of Tamassos (such as
KampiaKampia may refer to several villages in Cyprus and Greece:*Kampia, Chania, a village in the Chania prefecture, Crete*Kampia, Euboea, a village in Euboea*Kampia, Chios, a village on Chios*Kampia, Phthiotis, a village in Phthiotis...
,
MargiMargi is village located in the Nicosia District of Cyprus. Before 1960, the village half of the population was made up almost exclsively of Turkish Cypriots....
,
KotsiatisKotsiatis is village located in the Nicosia District of Cyprus....
, and
MathiatisMathiatis is village located in the Nicosia District of Cyprus. Before 19060 the village had a mixed Greek and Turkish Cypriot population....
) were of a dense
populationIn biology, a population is the collection of inter-breeding organisms of a particular species; in sociology, a collection of human beings. Individuals within a population share a factor may be reduced by statistical means, but such a generalization may be too vague to imply anything...
ever since the Early
Bronze AgeThe Bronze Age of a culture is the period when the most advanced metalworking in that culture utilised bronze. This could either have been based on the local smelting of copper and tin from ores, or trading for bronze from production areas elsewhere...
. The
populationIn biology, a population is the collection of inter-breeding organisms of a particular species; in sociology, a collection of human beings. Individuals within a population share a factor may be reduced by statistical means, but such a generalization may be too vague to imply anything...
of central Tamassos increased significantly following the exploitation of the area's
copperCopper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29.It is a ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Pure copper is rather soft and malleable and a freshly-exposed surface has a pinkish or peachy color...
minesMining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth, usually from an ore body, vein or seam. Materials recovered by mining include base metals, precious metals, iron, uranium, coal, diamonds, limestone, oil shale, rock salt and potash...
. Evidently, the tombs and
copperCopper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29.It is a ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Pure copper is rather soft and malleable and a freshly-exposed surface has a pinkish or peachy color...
-processing installations which were discovered in the area date back to the Late
Bronze AgeThe Bronze Age of a culture is the period when the most advanced metalworking in that culture utilised bronze. This could either have been based on the local smelting of copper and tin from ores, or trading for bronze from production areas elsewhere...
.
Other writers such as Claudius Ptolemy and Stefanos Byzantios also speak of Tamassos. The latter describes the city as "mesogeia" (of the midlands) with copper of excellent quality. Yet it is the fact that Tamassos was located in the middle of the island and had no
port||-||-||-||-||-||-||-||-|}A port is a facility for receiving ships and/or transferring cargo. It is usually found at the edge of an ocean, sea, river, or lake. The best ports have deep water in channels or berths, and protection from the wind and waves...
, which hindered it from becoming a major trading post such as Salamina (otherwise known as
SalamisSalamis may refer to* Salamis Island in the Saronic Gulf of the Aegean Sea, near Athens, Greece* Battle of Salamis, fought at Salamis Island in 480 B.C.* Salamis , a genus of butterfly in the family Nymphalidae...
) and
PafosPaphos Paphos Paphos (Paphos is usually written Paphos, Pafos or Paphus in English, Ancient Greek: ; Modern Greek: Πάφος, Páfos; Latin: Paphus, and for a time, Augusta; Turkish...
. The city also lacked the cosmopolitan character of the island's
coastalThe coast is defined as where the land meets the sea. A precise line that can be called a coastline cannot be determined due to the process of tides. The term "coastal zone" can be used instead, which is a spatial zone where interaction of the sea and land processes occurs...
cities. In truth, Tamassos resembled an "industrial" city with of mines and workshops, though it had without doubt developed in both
agricultureAgriculture is the production of food and goods through farming and forestry. Agriculture was the key development that led to the rise of human civilization, with the husbandry of domesticated animals and plants creating food surpluses that enabled the development of more densely populated and...
(due to the surrounding fertile land) and stock-breeding. The agriculture of the area was also boosted by the fact that one of Cyprus' most important torrential rivers, the
PediaiosThe Pedieos is the longest river in Cyprus. The river originates in the Troodos Mountains close to Machairas Monastery and flows northeast across the Mesaoria plains, through the capital city Nicosia...
, and other tributaries, made the soil fertile.
The two royal tombs of Tamassos are proof of the city's wealth during the Archaic era. For these to be constructed a considerable amount of
moneyMoney is anything that is generally accepted as payment for goods and services and repayment of debts. The main functions of money are distinguished as: a medium of exchange, a unit of account, a store of value, and occasionally, a standard of deferred payment...
was required. Therefore, the tombs suggest financial prosperity.
The influence of the Greeks
The
GreekAncient Greece is the civilisation belonging to the period of Greek history lasting from the Greek Dark Ages ca. 1100 BC and the Dorian invasion, to 146 BC and the Roman conquest of Greece after the Battle of Corinth. It is generally considered to be the seminal culture which provided the...
influence in the region can be proved by the evident worship of
Greek deitiesGreek religion encompasses the collection of beliefs and rituals practiced in ancient Greece in the form of both popular public religion and cult practices...
. Furthermore, there seem to have been many interactions between Tamassos and the Greeks. For example, the King of Tamassos, Pasikypros, is said to have sold his kingdom to the
PhoeniciansPhoenicia what is now modern day Lebanon, was an ancient civilization centered in the north of ancient Canaan, with its heartland along the coastal regions of modern day Lebanon, extending to parts of Israel, Syria and Palestine...
of Kition for a price of 50 talents. Having received this amount of money, the King went to spend his last days in
AmathusAmathus was one of the most ancient royal cities of Cyprus, on the southern coast in front of Agios Tychonas, about 24 miles west of Larnaca and 6 miles east of Limassol. Its ancient cult of Aphrodite was the most important, after Paphos, in Cyprus, her homeland...
. Athenaeos claims that
Alexander the GreatAlexander III of Macedon, popularly known as Alexander the Great , was an Ancient Greek king of Macedon who created one of the largest empires in ancient history...
gave the same city to Pnytagoras, the King of Salamina, as he had assisted him with the invasion and capture of Tyros.
Moreover, the reconstruction of
AphroditeAphrodite is the Greek goddess of love, beauty and raw sexuality. According to Greek poet Hesiod, she was born when Cronus cut off Ouranos's genitals and threw them into the sea, and from the aphros arose Aphrodite.Because of her beauty other gods feared that jealousy would interrupt the peace...
's
templeA temple is a structure reserved for religious or spiritual activities, such as prayer and sacrifice, or analogous rites. A templum constituted a sacred precinct as defined by a priest, or augur. It has the same root as the word "template," a plan in preparation of the building that was marked out...
, and perhaps of other public buildings, is observed during the beginning of the Hellenistic years. It is assumed that there was an alteration to the city character and political structure, not to mention that new public buildings must have been constructed.
During the reign of the Hellenistic Empire, Greeks from various places of the empire came to live in Tamassos. One of these people was Aspendios from Asia Minor.
After the appearance and spread of
ChristianityChristianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as presented by the revelations in the New Testament....
to most of
southern EuropeThe term Southern Europe, at its most general definition, is used to mean "all countries in the south of Europe". However, the concept, at different times, has had different meanings, providing additional political, linguistic and cultural context to the definition in addition to the typical...
, Tamassos became one of the first Greek Orthodox
diocesesIn some forms of Christianity, a diocese is an administrative territorial unit administered by a bishop. It is also referred to as a bishopric or Episcopal Area or episcopal see, though strictly the term episcopal see refers to the domain of ecclesiastical authority officially held by the bishop,...
(Bishopric Seats) of Cyprus. The presence of its two first
BishopsA bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
, Saint Herakleidios and Saint Mnason, was prominent.
The archaeological site
No major archaeological excavations have been conducted in the area of Tamassos because the centre of the town, which is believed to have been the location of various public buildings and shrines, is thought to be under the
villageA village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet, but smaller than a town or city. Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New York City and the Saifi Village in...
of
PolitikoPolitiko is village located in the Nicosia District of Cyprus.The hamlet of Filani is part of this municipality....
and the nearby Greek Orthodox
monasteryMonastery , a term derived from the Greek word μοναστήριον, neut. of μοναστήριος - monasterios denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer Monastery (plural: monasteries), a term derived from the Greek word μοναστήριον, neut. of μοναστήριος - monasterios...
of "Agios Hrakleidios".
Sporadic excavations (specifically between 1970 and 1990) in the outer area resulted in the discovery of many artifacts as well as parts of the original
cityA city is a relatively large and permanent settlement, particularly a large urban settlement. Although there is no agreement on technical definitions distinguishing a city from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status...
dating from the
ArchaicThe archaic period in Greece is a period of Ancient Greek history. The term originated in the 18th century and has been standard since. This term arose from the study of Greek art, where it refers to styles mainly of surface decoration and plastique, falling in time between Geometric Art and the...
,
ClassicalClassical antiquity is a broad term for a long period of cultural history centered on the Mediterranean Sea, comprising the interlocking civilizations of Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome collectively known as the Greco-Roman world...
, and Hellenistic
erasEras is a humanist sans-serif typeface designed by Albert Boton and Albert Hollenstein , and released by the International Typeface Corporation in 1976. A distinct and curious feature of Eras is its slight, 3-degree right tilt. Eras follows ITC's formulary of increased x-height, and multiple...
. The visible sections of this large and important archaeological site also include the site of the
templeA temple is a structure reserved for religious or spiritual activities, such as prayer and sacrifice, or analogous rites. A templum constituted a sacred precinct as defined by a priest, or augur. It has the same root as the word "template," a plan in preparation of the building that was marked out...
of
AphroditeAphrodite is the Greek goddess of love, beauty and raw sexuality. According to Greek poet Hesiod, she was born when Cronus cut off Ouranos's genitals and threw them into the sea, and from the aphros arose Aphrodite.Because of her beauty other gods feared that jealousy would interrupt the peace...
, the two majestic royal tombs, and other
gravesGraves is an important subregion of the Bordeaux wine region. Graves is situated on the left bank of the Garonne river, in the upstream part of the region, southeast of the city Bordeaux and stretch over...
.
Fortifications which surrounded the city during the Archaic period have also been unearthed, as well as,
copperCopper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29.It is a ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Pure copper is rather soft and malleable and a freshly-exposed surface has a pinkish or peachy color...
-processing installations,
clayClay is a naturally occurring material composed primarily of fine-grained minerals, which show plasticity through a variable range of water content, and which can be hardened when dried and/or fired...
and
stoneIn geology, rock is a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals and/or mineraloids.The Earth's outer solid layer, the lithosphere, is made of rock. In general rocks are of three types, namely, igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic...
statuettes, and various
oblationOblation, an offering [Late Latin oblatio, from offerre, oblatum, to offer], a term, particularly in ecclesiastical usage, for a solemn offering or presentation to God. It is thus applied to certain parts of the Eucharistic service in the Roman Church...
-
vesselsVessels are a post-rock band from Leeds, UK. Vessels were born from the ashes of A Day Left in September 2005.On 5 March 2007, the band released a limited 7" single through Cuckundoo Records, and have been tipped by BBC Radio One as one of the hottest new bands in the country...
,
censerCensers are any type of vessels made for burning incense. These vessels vary greatly in size, form, and material of construction. They may consist of simple earthenware bowls or fire pots to intricately carved silver or gold vessels, small table top objects a few centimetres tall to as many as...
s, and oil lamps. A
limestoneLimestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the mineral calcite . The deposition of limestone strata is often a by-product and indicator of biological activity in the geologic record...
altarAn altar is any structure upon which offerings such as sacrifices and votive offerings are made for religious purposes, or some other sacred place where ceremonies take place. Altars are usually found at a shrines, and they can be located in temples, churches and other places of worship...
was found nearby
AphroditeAphrodite is the Greek goddess of love, beauty and raw sexuality. According to Greek poet Hesiod, she was born when Cronus cut off Ouranos's genitals and threw them into the sea, and from the aphros arose Aphrodite.Because of her beauty other gods feared that jealousy would interrupt the peace...
's
templeA temple is a structure reserved for religious or spiritual activities, such as prayer and sacrifice, or analogous rites. A templum constituted a sacred precinct as defined by a priest, or augur. It has the same root as the word "template," a plan in preparation of the building that was marked out...
as well as a temple devoted to Kiveli (the Mother of Gods). The latter was discovered alongside an epigraphic testimony regarding the goddess' worship. In addition, there are various literary references proving the worshipping of Apollo, Aesculapius, and Dionysus.
Recently six life-size
limestoneLimestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the mineral calcite . The deposition of limestone strata is often a by-product and indicator of biological activity in the geologic record...
sculptures were discovered, of which two represented sphinxes and four represented lions in a crouching position. Apparently, the sculptures originate from the
6th century BCThe sixth century BC started the first day of 600 BC and ended the last day of 501 BC.In India, Panini, sometime during this century, composed a grammar for Sanskrit, which is the one of oldest extant grammar of any language after 15 other proto-dravidian languages like Brahmi.In the Near East,...
. When
EgyptianAncient Egypt was an ancient civilization of eastern North Africa, concentrated along the lower reaches of the Nile River in what is now the modern country of Egypt. The civilization coalesced around 3150 BC with the political unification of Upper and Lower Egypt under the first pharaoh, and...
rule was present on the
islandAn island or isle is any piece of land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls are called islets. A key or cay is another name for a small island or islet. An island in a river or lake may be called an eyot, .There are two main types of islands:...
. The findings are currently on display at the
Cyprus MuseumThe Cyprus Museum is the oldest and largest archaeological museum in Cyprus. It houses artefacts discovered during numerous excavations on the island. The museum is home to the most extensive collection of Cypriot antiquities in the world and is located on Museum street in central Nicosia...
in
NicosiaNicosia, known locally as Lefkosia , is the capital and largest city of Cyprus. Located on the River Pedieos and situated almost in the centre of the island, it is the seat of government as well as the main business centre...
.
The necropolis and the tombs
North-east of Aphrodite's temple lies the
necropolisA necropolis is a large cemetery or burial ground, usually including structural tombs. The word comes from the Greek νεκρόπολις - nekropolis, meaning "city of the dead"...
of Tamassos. In addition, three
cemeteriesA cemetery is a place in which dead bodies and cremated remains are buried. The term cemetery implies that the land is specifically designated as a burying ground. Cemeteries in the Western world are the place where the final ceremonies of death are observed...
are located in the region. One dates back to the
CopperThe Chalcolithic period or Copper Age period [also known as the Eneolithic ], is a phase in the development of human culture in which the use of early metal tools appeared alongside the use of stone tools.The period is a transitional one outside of the traditional three-age system, and occurs...
/
Bronze AgeThe Bronze Age of a culture is the period when the most advanced metalworking in that culture utilised bronze. This could either have been based on the local smelting of copper and tin from ores, or trading for bronze from production areas elsewhere...
, another to the
Archaic periodThe archaic period in Greece is a period of Ancient Greek history. The term originated in the 18th century and has been standard since. This term arose from the study of Greek art, where it refers to styles mainly of surface decoration and plastique, falling in time between Geometric Art and the...
, whilst the third belongs to the
Hellenistic eraHellenistic civilization represents the zenith of Greek influence in the ancient world from 323 BC to about 146 BC ; note, however that Koine Greek language and Hellenistic philosophy and religion are also indisputably elements of the Roman era till Late Antiquity...
and the times of Roman rule.
Most of the Bronze Age cemetery is probably close to the Lambertes
barrowBarrow may refer to:* a cart or flat rectangular tray with handles at each end; for example, a wheelbarrow* a tumulus, a large mound of earth or stone placed over a burial site* a castrated pig-United Kingdom:...
(south-east of the Politiko village). South-west of the "Agios Herakleidios" monastery, a tomb belonging to the Middle Bronze era was dug up in 1963. Yet another tomb from the latter part of the Bronze Age was excavated south-east of the monastery, in the region between the present-day nunnery and the Lambertes barrow.
The Archaic era cemetery is located south-west of the village, between the region's two rivers, of which one is the torrential Pediaios, which waters most of Nicosia District and particularly the fertile (and now
TurkishTurkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey
, is a Eurasian country that stretches across the Anatolian peninsula in Western Asia and Thrace in the Balkan region of southeastern Europe...
-occupied) area of
MesaoriaThe Mesaoria is a broad, sweeping plain which makes up the centre of the island of Cyprus.-Geography:The Mesaoria plain is bounded on the east and west by the Mediterranean Sea, on the south by the Troodos mountains and on the north by the Kyrenia mountains. It has an area of approximately 1000 km²...
.
The Hellenistic/Roman cemetery is found on a slope north-west of Politiko, where the "Agios Mnason" monastery once existed.
Many shrines also seem to have existed around the ancient city of Tamassos. This can be proven by the presence of the Archaic earthen statue and the famous
bronze statue of ApolloThe Chatsworth Head is a slightly over-life-size bronze head dating to around 460 BC. It was originally part of a complete statue, probably one of Apollo, made up of various sections produced separately by lost-wax casting then joined into one whole - a leg from the same sculpture is in the...
found in the area.
Nowadays the two monasteries of St. Herakleidios and St. Mnason are believed to be important monuments of the region.
The decline of Tamassos
Tamassos is referred to as a city of Cyprus until the
10th centuryThe 10th century is the period from 901 to 1000 in accordance with the Julian calendar in the Christian/Common Era.The tenth century is usually regarded as a low point in European history. In China it was also a period of political upheaval. In the Muslim World, however, it was a cultural zenith,...
, yet by that time the city was already in decline. The mines were abandoned after their exhaustion, and the economy was destroyed. Much later on, the city was replaced by small settlements such as Politiko and Episkopeio. The name "Politiko" refers to the brilliant ancient city it has replaced, whereas
the name "Episkopeio" is reminiscent of Tamassos's old diocese. "Ergates" has been thus named because it is the area where the mine workers lived, while "Pera Orinis" is named because it is opposite Politiko ("pera" being Greek for "yonder"), and because it is located in a hilly area ("oreinis" being Greek for "of the mountains" as opposed to the village "Pera
Chorio Nisou" which is in the lowlands). It is believed that these settlements are a continuation of ancient Tamassos and that the inhabitation of this region has thus been continuous from the ancient Prehistoric times until present times.
Tamassos Today
Tamassos is now a local term used to describe the area in which the villages of
PsimolofouPsimolofou or Psimolophou is village located about 16 km from Nicosia District Capital of Cyprus, en-route to the historic Machairas Monastery....
,
EpiskopeioEpiskopeio is village located in the Nicosia District of Cyprus....
,
Pera OrinisPera Orinis, or Pera Oreinis or Pera , is a village in the area known as Tamassos, which is in turn part of the Nicosia District in Cyprus.Pera is situated near ; about one hour walking distance across the...
,
ErgatesErgates is village located in the Nicosia District of Cyprus....
,
PolitikoPolitiko is village located in the Nicosia District of Cyprus.The hamlet of Filani is part of this municipality....
,
KampiaKampia may refer to several villages in Cyprus and Greece:*Kampia, Chania, a village in the Chania prefecture, Crete*Kampia, Euboea, a village in Euboea*Kampia, Chios, a village on Chios*Kampia, Phthiotis, a village in Phthiotis...
, Analyontas, and
KapedesKapedes is village located in the Nicosia District of Cyprus....
are located. For the past few centuries the villages have developed from being poor agricultural villages housing some 10 families to becoming villages consisting of 1000 inhabitants. Pera Orinis and Politiko retain much of the older buildings of the older settlements at the centre of the villages, which are deemed to be of high cultural significance. Highlights of these include the church of
Panagia Odigitria, the
Old Mill, the
Parthenagogion and
Arenagogion, as well as the recently restore chapel of
St George of Pera Orinis, and the famous
Tombs of the Kings of the village of Politiko.
The TAMASSOS Cultural Association
The TAMASSOS Cultural Assciation was established in 1989 by the 8 communities that constituted the ancient kingdom of Tamassos. After having been neglected for a few years, it becoming active once more in 2000. The association currently strives to bring the inhabitants of Tamassos together and to organise certain cultural activities during the year. Of these events the most important is considered to be the so-called "TAMASSIA", which takes place every year by the end of September and lasts for approximately two weeks. These event includes a cross-country bicycle ride within Tamassos, a seven-a-side soccer league, a backgammon contest, a "Pilotta" contest ("Pilotta" being a type of card game), Target Shooting Games, theatrical performances, and camping. The "TAMASSIA" are believed to make participants appreciate their cultural heritage. The Cultural Association also regularly issues a free newspaper, through which the activities of both the TAMASSOS Cultural Association and the separate communities are promoted.
External links
- Archeological Sites: Tamassos - Department of Antiquities of the Republic of Cyprus.
- http://www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk/explore/highlights/highlights_search_results.aspx?searchText=tamassos&x=0&y=0 Archeological findings of Tamassos at the British Museum
The British Museum is a museum of human history and culture situated in London. Its collections, which number more than seven million objects, are amongst the largest and most comprehensive in the world and originate from all continents, illustrating and documenting the story of human culture from...
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- Rare Cypriot Sculptures found in Tamassos - archeology.org, a publication of the Archaeological Institute of America
The Archaeological Institute of America is a North American nonprofit organization devoted to the promotion of public interest in archaeology, and the preservation of archaeological sites. It is based at Boston University....
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- tamassos.org - History and culture of the area; list of churches etc.
- collection - Harvard Semitic Museum
The Semitic Museum at Harvard University was founded in 1889, and moved into its present location at 6 Divinity Avenue in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1903....
, Harvard UniversityHarvard University is a private university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts and a member of the Ivy League. Founded in 1636 by the colonial Massachusetts legislature, Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and currently comprises ten separate academic units...
- Weapons, Tools and Ritual Remains - Ashmolean Museum
The Ashmolean Museum on Beaumont Street, Oxford, England, is the world's first university museum...
, OxfordOxford is a city, and the county town of Oxfordshire, in South East England. The city has a population of just under 165,000, with 151,000 living within the district boundary. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through Oxford and meet south of the city centre...
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- Information and photos of Tamassos.