History of Tamassos

History of Tamassos Cyprus Usefull Information

Tamassos is believed to have been in existence four thousand years before Christ. It owed its later importance in the ancient world to the discovery of copper, whereupon it became the centre of population of the island. Many deities were worshipped here, and Venus in particular. According to legend, her temple was built round the sacred tree from which came the three apples she presented to Hippomenes. The site of the Temple of Apollo has been identified. Except for two royal tombs (c. 600 B.C.) there is not a great deal to interest the unlearned sightseer. In the last century a life-size bronze of the god came to light. Accounts suggest that it was of supreme beauty. Unfortunately, due to fear of the Turks, who were then in power, coupled with great poverty, the finders sold it piece by piece for the price of the metal, making bad bargains at that. One discovery which has survived, and which is on show in the Cyprus Museum, is a sword which can be assumed to bear a close resemblance to the one described by Homer as in the possession of Agamemnon. Phoenician settlers of the sixth century B.C. came to Tamassos from coastal Kitium and Salamis. Towards the end of the fourth century B.C. the mining rights were awarded by Alexander the Great to the king of Salamis in reward for his support at the Siege of Tyre. When St Paul and St Barnabas visited Cyprus they were conducted here by Pleracleidos, who was ordained first bishop of Tamassos, and held the see until his martyrdom. The mines had by that time been rented by King Herod, who brought in Jews from Palestine to work them. In A.D. 115-16, as part of a widespread revolt, the Jews turned against their Roman masters. Fatal casualties during the initial massacre and the reprisals which followed, here and at Salamis, have been estimated at close on 250,000.

Description of Site
Evidence of this long history doubtless lies untouched in the rocky ground. Not much modern excavation has yet been done, but the two Royal Tombs should without doubt be visited. They are not unlike others discovered by Di Cesnola at Amathus. Slabs of stone form ridged roofs, and architectural detail in the form of moulding and pillars with Ionic capitals make them impressive. The larger tomb has an inner doorway surmounted by carvings of an oriental pattern. The cover of the sarcophagus in the inner chamber has disappeared, and a hole in the roof shows where robbers and violators broke in to remove what is certain to have been great treasure. The Monastery of St Heracleidos lies to the south of the confines of the ancient city not far from Politico. It was rebuilt in 1759. The skull of the patron saint is preserved in the church. A small medieval domed chapel, now in use as a reliquary, is of exceptional interest. Note especially the curious iconostasis formed of stone slabs which were subsequently covered with plaster, and the floor of hexagonal tiles in which there is an aperture leading to what is undoubtedly a Roman tomb, but which local piety insists was the burial place of the saint and his friend St Mnason, 'an old disciple', with whom St Paul lodged (Acts xxi 16). There are remains of a mosaic floor to the east of this chapel, and to the south the outlines, at ground level, of the first Byzantine church to be erected on this site. To continue for Makheras Monastery, follow the road south from Pera, the village to the east of Tamassos, which climbs and winds through lovely foothills.

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