Solomin Island in Greece. Open the left menu Salamis. Great battle and brilliant victory
Salamis (another name is Koulouri) is the island that is the easiest and fastest to get to from Athens. Take the metro to Piraeus (modern Greek name Piraeus), and from there take one of the green buses to the port with the Perama shipyard, 5 kilometers west of, and take a car ferry, which will take you to the small harbor of Palukia in a matter of minutes. The ship crosses the same narrow strait where in 480 BC the Greek navy defeated the Persian naval army, although there were three Persian ships for every Greek ship. Many believe that this battle is almost more important than the Battle of Marathon that happened ten years earlier.
You'll be rewarded for your troubles along the way with pristine beaches and postcard views, but keep in mind that this island of wide bays is home to slow-paced rural communities, showcasing their folk costumes and dances at festivals, which are clearly influenced by the Albanian Arvanitika style. The waters in the bay have become cleaner since the 1990s, and joyful swimmers can be found everywhere, especially on the better protected western shore. Although the Athenians themselves speak about Salamis, to put it mildly, with restraint, this island is a magnificent refuge from the noise, polluted air and frantic rhythms of the bustling capital.
Palukia, Selinia, the city of Salamis and Faneromeni
From the bus station at the pier in the port of Palukia, buses go to the capital of the island, the city of the same name, Salamis (3 kilometers) and further, although the many destinations indicated on the signs can be confusing. 6 kilometers south of Palukia (direct bus service), the town of Selinia supports quite a lively tourist life. This is the main summer resort on the island: a pleasant promenade, a bank, taverns and a couple of inexpensive but very pleasant hotels.
In the city of Salamis (like the island, it is popularly called Kouluri) 26 thousand people out of 31 thousand islanders live. The place is businesslike, “functional”: a couple of banks, a fish market and a palm-fringed promenade along the Bay of Salamis. At the same time - an unheard of case for an island town - there are no tourists and, accordingly, there is no rental of bicycles or scooters and not a single hotel. However, the local public is enough to create eternal pandemonium in decent ouzeri on the seaside embankment; several taverns are always crowded. Ilyakti Beach, 5 kilometers to the west, is quite decent, as is the strip of coast south of the city, between the resorts of Agios Ioannis and Resti.
Buses marked "Faneromeni" go to the port of Steno on the north-western edge of the island, and from the port ferries often depart across the strait opposite to Nea Peramos, and there is Megara very close on the road -. Along the way, the road passes the rich frescoed monastery of Faneromeni (6 kilometers from the city of Salamis), majestically located above the bay among a pine forest, since 1944 the monastery has been a women’s monastery (25 nuns). The monastery was founded in the 13th century, and the unusual Catholicon was restored in 1670 by Blessed Lawrence of Megara, after which the church was decorated by Yeorios Markos of, who painted such vivid frescoes that he himself, stepping back to appreciate his work (and admire it), as they say, died of admiration.
Near the monastery, in a former boat workshop that previously belonged to the monastery, there is the so-called Kelly Sikelianou - “cell”, which the outstanding modern Greek poet Angelos Sikelianos received, with the blessing of the local archbishop, at his disposal in 1941 and lived in it until his death (1951). The poet not only had fun here with his fellow brothers, but also wrote some of his best poems, so they are seriously thinking about setting up a museum of Sikelianos in the “cell”, having restored it.
The village of Mulki and the south of the island of Salamis
South of the city of Salamis, the road along the coast runs to Mulki (6 kilometers; regular bus service). Along the way there are taverns and places where you can swim, although a well-maintained fenced public beach awaits you at the edge of Mulka. Mulki itself is a quite pleasant village with a small pebble beach and the best hotel on the island, Gabriel, facing the bay.
There are also roads beyond Mulki. The most interesting path is to the southwest, to the village of Kanakya (8 kilometers from Mulki; 2 buses daily), through the largest mountain on the island, covered with coniferous forest, and past (at about the 5th kilometer) the picturesque monastery of St. Nicholas in Schisandra. The other road goes more or less south to the seaside resort of Perani (4 kilometers) and then to the resort of Peristerya (5 kilometers). Although it is small, it is much more interesting than Kanakya, where the beach is dirty and bare, squalid huts and a feeling of being lost - as if at the end of the world.
In contact with
Athens. The island of Salamis is clearly visible on the map as a bend that is not wrapped in a ring. The island is very close to the Greek mainland. There is a strait between them, in one place five hundred meters wide, in another more than a kilometer. It cannot be called high mountain, the peak Mavrovouni rose only 365 meters.
And even then, the mountainousness of Salamis is mainly in the southern part, while the north is flat, only crossed by hills, and it is closer to the mainland. Therefore, logistics - the main roads and settlements are located in flat areas. There are enough forests on the island. The impression from them is that they are as old as the island. Centuries-old trees are not cut down in their “youth”, so they bring joy to generations of islanders.
There are very few hotels on Salamis, because most tourists are Greeks. This is, so to speak, a sleeping or holiday place on the mainland. Here the territory was built up with villas and summer cottages. But this does not mean that tourists are not welcome here.
They come here to the beautiful beaches and to see Hellenic sights: monasteries, churches built several centuries ago. The nature here is cozy and beautiful. It’s rare that any of the island’s guests will not rise to Euripides' cave- on a cliff more than one hundred and ten meters high.
Or will not want to visit the oldest island city Ambelakia with the ruins of an ancient acropolis and a 16th century church. Or visit the valley where the Greek warriors who took part in the Battle of Salamis were concentrated long before our era.
Two wonderful coniferous forests of Faneromeni produce healing air, which, in combination with sea air, cures a number of respiratory diseases.
Battle of Salamis
In the 500s BC, the Greeks clashed with the Persians. Both of them wanted to strengthen themselves: the Persians - at the expense of the Athenian and Spartan lands, and the Greeks sought to defend their islands and policies. The Persians fought on several fronts at the same time, the thirst for profit was so strong in them. For example, in the Greek direction and in. Athens suffered defeats.
The battle of two fleets in the long-lasting Greco-Persian War. Happened in 480 BC near. Even before this, the Persians destroyed Athens, its population moved to the island of Salamis. There, on the narrow inlet channels between the mainland and the island territory, the Greek fleet was located. According to various estimates, from 300 to 400 triremes (oared warships).
But in the face of a new danger, the Greeks decided to unite all forces, forgetting about internal strife. Persian troops crossed from Asia to Europe by land and by sea. Darius took away ships from the conquered peoples, strengthening his fleet. He increased the number of all triremes to 1200 units.
But in the Battle of Artemisia - the prologue Battle of Salamis, the Greeks realized in practice that an advantage in ships did not ensure a quick victory for the Persians. Thanks to the straits, through which enemy triremes rarely traveled, they always fought in open water, and here there was little room for ship maneuvers.
But the allies of the Greeks could not stop the advance of the enemy hordes into the interior of the country. This did not suit any of the rival parties.
The Persians at their meeting decided to give battle to the Greeks at Salamis. Perhaps this was facilitated by a Greek spy from Themistocles, who talked about how weak the Greeks were and it was necessary to defeat them here. Queen Artemisia, who accompanied the army, warned the military commander Xerxes against imposing a battle at Salamis. Stating that the defeat of the fleet would be the end of the existence of the ground forces. They say that the Greeks themselves will soon flee.
The Greeks also had disagreements about the future battle; not everyone perceived Salamis as a territory for victory. The Athenians stood their ground: only here is victory over an enemy superior both in ships and in the experience of naval warriors possible.
For the Persians, the Battle of Salamis was a strategic miscalculation that decided who would win. They also say: listen to the woman, but do it your own way. The queen was right.
The Greeks gradually lured enemy ships into narrow straits. Trier teams Xerxes lost orientation in such a space and became uncontrollable. The ship carrying Queen Artemisia that took part in the battle in the strait found itself in this situation. In the mass of floating craft, it was difficult even to turn to the side, rather than turn around and flee from a naval battle. Moreover, at the beginning of the strait into which the Greeks were lured, an ambush awaited the triremes.
The victory saved Hellas from enslavement by the Persians. Gave a new impetus to the development of ancient Greek culture and its circulation in Europe.
Let us add that in the first quarter of the nineteenth century, the provisional government of the rebel Greece was located on the island of Salamis, and the printing industry operated. In the local church of St. Demetrius, the national hero of Greece G. Karaiskakis was buried in 1827.
Cities and resorts of Salamis
On its coastline, there are beaches with a sandy bed for numerous vacationers. Nearby are taverns, boarding houses, private apartments. There is no need to leave the beach anywhere: everything here is at the service of travelers.
If we take into account that a huge amount of sea fish is caught near the island, and some of it is prepared for food near the beaches, then fish tourists, instead of one day, will have a whole week of relaxation in luxurious nature.
Since the north of the island is industrial, most of the beaches are located in the southern part. Three beaches have already been awarded UNESCO awards for cleanliness and improvement.
Salamis- the capital of the island with a population of 30 thousand people. Even smaller policies were included within the city limits. A kind of island metropolis, there is nothing like it anymore.
Vasilika means “royal” in Greek. A cozy village in the northwest. It has an amazingly beautiful beach and everything around it. The sea is always calm.
Zephyros Beach in the settlement of Eandio has received awards for quality of service from UNESCO more than once.
Accommodation for tourists
Mainly in the private sector in small apartments in bungalows. Hotels recommend booking rooms in advance. Tourists are warned not to come to the island on weekends, when there is an influx of mainland holidaymakers.
Salamis on the map
According to legend, on the day Euripides was born, Aeschylus took part in a naval battle against the Persians, and the young man Sophocles greeted the victors of this battle.
The setting for these real events, which brings together the names of three great playwrights of Ancient Greece, is the island of Salamis, a favorite vacation spot for the residents of the capital.
The main advantage of Salamis is its proximity to the capital and at the same time the atmosphere of a small, cozy island with beaches and groves, restaurants and taverns near the sea, where excellent fish dishes and all kinds of snacks are served.
The connection with Salamis is frequent, every 15 minutes a ferry leaves from Perama (Piraeus) to Salamis, the ticket price is 0.80 euros (for a passenger), 4.50-5.70 euros for a car, and 0 for the driver of a car. 40 euros. Cheaper than a ticket for public transport!
Geography
Salamis is the largest island of the Argosaronic Gulf. Its area is 93.5 square meters. km, and the coastline stretches for 100 km.
The shape of the island of Salamis resembles a horseshoe or an unfinished ring. The island is located very close to the mainland, the northwestern part is separated by a strait 500 meters wide, and the eastern part is 1200 meters wide. The highest point of the island is Mount Mavrovouni - 365 meters. Salamis is, as it were, divided into two parts. The northern one (facing mainland Greece) is flat, with small rising hills. Southern - with a predominant mountainous terrain. However, the main roads and settlements in this part of the island are located on flat areas. A significant part of the mountainous area is covered with pine forests.
Climate
The climate in Salamis is typically Mediterranean with cool winters and hot summers. Despite the fact that Salamis is separated from Athens by a small strait, the climate here is milder. The temperature on the island is noticeably different from the capital - in winter it is about 5 degrees warmer, and in summer it is 5 degrees cooler. The hottest months are July and August. The swimming season lasts almost 5 months from mid-May to mid-October.
Population and tourism
31 thousand people permanently live on Salamis. But in recent years there has been a steady trend of increasing population on this island. The increase in the number of residents is especially noticeable on weekends and holidays, because most of the island is built up with country houses of Athenians.
Mythology and history
According to Greek mythology, the name of the island was given by its first king, Cychreus, in honor of his mother Salamis, one of the 50 daughters of the river god Asopus.
The king of Salamis, Ajax, took part in the Trojan War. Homer in the Iliad describes Ajax as the most fearless hero. He recaptured the body of Achilles, who died in battle, from the Trojans. However, by decision of the Greek leaders, the armor of the fallen hero went to Odysseus. Lost in anger, Ajax decided to kill the Achaeans in anger, but the goddess Athena darkened his consciousness and he rushed at the rams, mistaking them for Greek leaders. When he came to his senses, he committed suicide out of shame.
After the end of the Trojan War, Teucer and Ajax's son Eurysaces returned to Salamis. Teucer, expelled by his father for not avenging the death of his brother, went to Cyprus, where he founded a city named after his homeland - Salamis. Eurysaces' son, Philaeus, became a citizen of Athens and gave the island of Salamis to the Athenians. During the wars with the Persians, Salamis provided invaluable assistance to its allies. In the strait near the island of Salamis in 480. BC. The famous naval battle of Salamis took place.
The victory of the Greeks in this battle not only saved Greece from Persian enslavement, but gave a new impetus to the development of ancient Greek civilization and its spread in Europe. During the years of Turkish rule and the Greek Revolution, Salamis again, due to its geographical location, played an important role. Families of fighters for national independence took refuge here.
In 1823, the Provisional Government of the rebel Greece was located on Salamis, and in 1824 the government printing house. He was buried in the Church of St. Demetrius in 1827. hero of the Greek War of Independence G. Karaiskakis.
Traditions and customs
On the island of Salamis, in the last week before Easter Lent, it is held annually. carnival with a traditional treat of sweet wine and local pies - pupecks. On Fisherman's Day, usually held at the end of August, you can taste fish freshly caught at sea, which is baked over coals right on the shore and served with wine.
In September, during the celebrations dedicated to the Battle of Salamis (“Salaminia”), regatta, kayaking and canoeing, and other sports and cultural events.
From August 23 to 25, the miraculous icon of the Mother of God is honored in the historic Monastery of the Apparition of the Virgin Mary.
Attractions
Salamis. The city has been known since ancient times. Already in the 4th century BC. there was a city and a port here. Numerous excavations on the island have shown that the city was a center of trade and craft life. Occupying a strategic location, Salamis has long been a bone of contention between Athens and Megara.
During the Middle Ages, Salamis was ruled by Venetian and French barons. And during the war for independence, Salamis was a stronghold and shelter for Greek patriots.
Now it is a modern city that combines old and new, neoclassical buildings from the early twentieth century juxtaposed with modern maisonettes of the last decade. The embankment with the towering Church of St. Nicholas and evergreen palm trees is especially impressive.
Eandio. 6 km from the city of Salamis is the village of Eandio, the second most important settlement on the island. About 3 thousand people now live here. It is the site of the country residences of many Athenians and prominent residents of Salamis. From here, through a pass and a huge pine forest, the road to Kanakya begins. From the top of the pass a breathtaking, fantastic panorama opens up. Eandio is famous for its beach and the many taverns, cafes and nightclubs located along it.
Beaches
Kanakya Beach. One of the most remote and picturesque beaches of Salamis. Located on the west coast of the island. A sea with a fairly flat, flat bottom. A pine forest descends to the shore.
The beach overlooks two rocky islands jutting out from the wide bay.
Zephyros beach. Located in the central part of the island at the entrance to the village of Eandio. This is a well-equipped sand and pebble beach with umbrellas, sun loungers and showers. There are many taverns along the beach line. The beach has repeatedly received the Blue Flag.
Ilyakti beach. It is located in the northern part of the island in an elongated, fjord-shaped bay. This is a shallow beach with a sandy bottom, an ideal safe place for families with children. The water here warms up well and swimming is possible even in the cooler months.
Entertainment
Palm embankment The city of Salamis, in the area of Agios Nikolaos, is familiar to Athenians with its cozy taverns and cafeterias.
In the summer, taverns open in all the famous coastal villages of the island, where you will have a great time admiring the sea.
For those who are young or feeling young, there are clubs, bars, as well as taverns with live Greek traditional music, where the fun continues until the early hours. They are especially famous night clubs in the largest village of Eandio and the Agios Nikolas area of Salamis. Active recreation enthusiasts can go jogging or cycling in the forest near the village of Kanakia.
There is also a riding club in Salamis. In summer they are carried out sea excursions to the islands neighboring Salamis - Aegina and Angistri.
Transport and movement
Getting to Salamis is very easy. A ferry leaves the port of Perama every 15 minutes; the journey takes 20 minutes.
Message available 24 hours a day. Also works boat line from Piraeus (40 minutes). There is a ferry service from Megara (every 30 minutes, travel time 5 minutes).
Every town on the island can be reached by bus or at Taxi, which depart from the port in Palukya.
Kitchen and food
Salamina is famous for its dishes from fish and seafood. You can visit the Fish Market (Ichthyoagora), which offers freshly caught fish and other gifts from the Aegean Sea.
From traditional local cuisine, try Salamis flatbread "platetsi" and sweet pumpkin pie "guluari".
Salamis fish restaurants serve the freshest fish, squid- both fried and stuffed, as well as a wide variety of shellfish snacks.
Gourmets are well aware that the restaurateurs of Salamis serve their customers their own homemade dishes. salted and smoked fish, and stuffed potatoes, And sardines under a “fur coat” from all kinds of vegetables.
Bored of Athens beaches? Urgently go to the island of Salamis! Just 15 minutes from the capital of Greece, and so much!.. The portal “ZagraNitsa” found out how to get to the island, what to do there and how much you can buy a summer house on Salamis
Once upon a time, Salamis was uninhabited. Only the pine trees grew and wild animals ran around. Nowadays the place is quite populated: according to official estimates, there are almost 30 thousand inhabitants. Plus tourists, mainly from Athens. The cheapest and fastest way to get to the island is by boat. The boat departs from Salamis Port of Palukia every half hour, Monday to Saturday. The journey takes about 40 minutes. It's even faster - just 15-20 minutes - to sail from Perama, a small port near Piraeus. Ferries run between the piers every quarter of an hour every day.
Photo: Shutterstock In Palukia, taxi drivers will welcome you with open arms and take you to any resort on the island. But it is much more profitable to rent a car. A daily car rental will cost at least 40 euros plus gasoline costs. The third, most budget option is to take a quick ride on an intercity bus from the KTEL company. You can check the bus schedule by calling +3 2104671333.
Photo: Shutterstock 
Photo: from the personal archive of Ioannis Kotidis
Where to start your tour of the island? Perhaps from its capital of the same name! Locals nicknamed the city of Salamis “koulouri”, which means “donut” in Greek. This is what the island resembles from a bird's eye view.
In summer, all nightclubs are open in the capital. They are concentrated in the Agios Nikolaos area.
After this, we recommend that you look into Selinia , Eandio , Vasilik And Palukia- also famous towns.
Ioannis Kotidis, resident of Salamis::
Koulouri has excellent taverns where the fish is straight from the sea. And seafood for every taste: shellfish, cuttlefish, squid - you're always welcome! The only thing is that there are not many hotels: I know of four, but two are very good. One is located in Selinia, just opposite Piraeus, and the second is on the road to Eantio. Selinia is very cool in the evening: the area is beautiful, full of taverns, and the mountains nearby are interesting.
Photo: Shutterstock 
Photo: Shutterstock Now about the beach holiday. There are two municipal beaches on the island! The first, Zefyros, is located in the Aentio region. The second, Spithari, is located in the northwest in the Resti area. All the rest are wild. However, only by status, because there are a lot of vacationers on them. The most crowded beaches are in the south of Salamis, so don't count on peace and quiet on Kanakia, Peristeria and Pirtakoni! But there you are guaranteed a clean sea, fine sand, a lot of entertainment (jet skis, banana boats, slides, etc.), umbrellas, sun loungers and, of course, fish taverns where you can refresh yourself and refresh yourself.
Ioannis Kotidis, resident of Salamis:
If you're craving a secluded beach holiday, look no further than the north-west of the island. There are very good beaches there, and the further away the better. Eantio, Saterli, East Club, Lambrano (the last one is the coolest!). But I warn you: it takes a long time to get there and there is no good road there.
Photo: Shutterstock Salamis is not very popular among the native Greeks. The fact is that there is an oil refinery not far from the island. They say that because of this, a haze constantly hangs over Salamis. Although, to be honest, many Greeks bought villas here long ago. They themselves live in Athens, and on weekends they go to their dacha - to the nearest island.
Irina Kakomitas, real estate agent:
Here you can find inexpensive houses with a garden in a traditional Greek style costing 50,000 euros, as well as luxury villas that are not inferior in price to villas in the Peloponnese and popular islands. Houses, depending on the area, size of the plot and proximity to the sea, will cost you from 120,000 to 300,000 euros. And for magnificent villas with an area of 250 m² or more you will have to pay about 400 - 450,000 euros and more. Plots for building a single-family house start from 50,000 – 80,000 euros per 600 m². But if they are located on the first coastline, the price is much higher - up to 160,000 euros and more!
Photo: Shutterstock What to see
In the capital of the island there is the Archaeological Museum (main street P. Lembessis) and the Museum of Folklore, which is located in the building of the Salamis administration on Kon/nou Karamanli street, 1. And 8 km from the city there is an impressive open-air Euripides Theater with a capacity of 3000 seats. . Almost a smaller copy of the Athenian one.
Photo: Irina Papoyan / Shutterstock
By the way, a whole story is connected with Euripides! According to legend, the great tragedian of antiquity was born on the island of Salamis. And archaeologists found evidence - they discovered a cave in which Euripides allegedly lived. It is quite possible that the playwright wrote his tragedies here. You can look at the cave yourself and even go inside (it goes 47 meters deep!). The Cave of Euripides is located in an area called Peristeria, 13 km south of the city of Salamis.
Photo: Ath76 
Photo: Ath76 In addition, there are many monasteries and temples on the island: the 17th century Faneromeni monastery (northwest of Salamis), the 15th century monastery of St. Nicholas (on the road to Kanakia), the 12th century Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary (in Eandio) and others.
Antique Salamis(or Salamis, other Greek Σαλαμίς) is the most interesting and visited attraction in Northern Cyprus. Here, better than anywhere else on the entire island, you can get acquainted with the real life of the ancient Greeks and Romans. First excavations on the territory of this city began in 1880, and have not stopped to this day. Salamis is located 8 kilometers north of modern Famagusta (Northern Cyprus) at the mouth of the Pedieos River.
History of the founding of Salamis
At the end of the Trojan War, Teucer returned to his home on the island of Salamis (16 km from Athens in Greece) bringing his father, King Telamon, the news of the death of his brother, Ajax the Great. Telamon then cursed Teucer for failing to either protect his brother or avenge his death on Odysseus. Talamon decided that Teucer abandoned Ajax at the moment of danger because he wanted to become the first contender for the possession of the kingdom of Salamis, and because of this father forever forbade his son to return to the island. Humiliated, Teucer boarded a ship with his soldiers and sailed to Cyprus, hoping that it would become his new home. On the way, the ship lost its course and, after wandering for several days in the Mediterranean Sea, Teucer landed on the coast of Egypt. He heard that the prophetess Theonoia lived here, who was born with knowledge of everything that exists and the future, and he wanted to find out from her the way to Cyprus. Walking down the street, he came across a beautiful woman, Elena, who asked him “who are you and where are you going?” Teucer told her about his participation in the Trojan War and that he was expelled by his father from his native island. He also told her that he was sailing to Cyprus, but lost his way, so looking for Feonoy, so that she would show him the shortest route to the island. Helen said that he must leave Egypt as quickly as possible, since the ruler, the son of Proteus, kills all Greeks who set foot on Egyptian soil (in this version, Paris was kidnapped by the ghost of Helen the Beautiful, and she herself lived in Egypt all this time). Helen showed Teucer the way to Cyprus, where he sailed and founded New Salamis.
Mycenaean colony existed in this place long before the arrival of the semi-mythical Teucer. It was founded around 1000 BC. settlers from the more ancient city of Engomi, located a few kilometers from Salamis. Probably what prompted the Mycenaeans to leave Engomi and found a new city was that its harbor had silted up and merchant ships could no longer dock at its port.
Earliest finds in Cyprus date back to the 11th century BC. (late Bronze Age). Copper ore was mined here and transported to Europe. Children's burials in Canaanite vessels indicate the presence of Phoenicians (immigrants from Canaan) on the island. In 877 BC. The Assyrian army first entered the Mediterranean Sea, and there is evidence that as early as 708 BC. the city-states of Cyprus paid tribute to their king Sargon II (reigned 722 - 705).
Entrance, ruins of the baths, palaestra and theater. All of them are no older than the 1st century BC.
Development and decline of Salamis
In the 6th – 5th centuries BC. Salamis was the most influential of the ten main city-states of Cyprus, which prospered through trade. with richly decorated tombs, discovered near Salamis, clearly testifies to the prosperity that he had achieved by this time. It may have been the first city in Cyprus to started minting coins according to the Persian model. Based on the inscriptions on these coins, a whole list of rulers can be compiled starting from the end of the 6th century BC. At this time, Cyprus was alternately under the rule of different civilizations: Assyrians (673 - 669 BC), Egyptians (560 - 565 BC), Persians (545 - 332 BC .).
Coin from the 6th century. BC. Cypriots under the leadership of King Onesil rebelled against Persian rule in 498 – 497 BC. (this was just one of the Ionian revolts). At first they were lucky, but in the end, the rebels were defeated and Cyprus once again found itself part of the Persian Achmenid Empire.
In 350 - 344 BC. under the leadership of King Evagor I (reigned 411/10 – 374/73) arose in the city another uprising against the Persians, but in the Battle of Salamis the Cypriots lost due to the betrayal of the king of the city-state Kourion Stasanor.
Salamis later supported Alexander the Great in the war with the Persians and in 331 BC. the entire island came under his rule. After his death in 323 BC. his heirs (diadochi) Demetrius I Poliorcetes and Ptolemy I began the fight for Salamis. Demetrius, in the end, in the “Battle of Salamis,” which took place both on water and on land, he defeated Ptolemy’s troops and conquered Cyprus.
In 295 - 294 BC. Ptolemy I was able to recapture Cyprus when Demetrius was on a campaign against Greece. Salamis did not surrender immediately - he was defended by Phila, the wife of Demetrius. After a long siege, she surrendered and was sent to her husband in Macedonia.
Tetradrachm of Vespasian (1st century) In 58 BC. Cyprus has become Roman province.
In 22 BC. Romans moved the capital to the city of New Paphos, but Salamis continued to be an important commercial center.
After the first Jewish uprising against the Roman yoke in Palestine (66 - 70) in Cyprus in general, and in Salamis in particular, many Jews moved(Saint Barnabas lived here around this time).
In 117 Jews led by Artemion raised a big uprising in Cyprus against the Romans and their ruler Trajan. According to some estimates, they killed 240,000 Greeks and destroyed Salamis. A small Roman army under the command of Lucius Severus landed on Cyprus and suppressed the uprising, after which the Jews were forbidden to live on the island or even sail to its shores (although they still remained and in 610 they raised another uprising).
After the destruction of part of the city, Salamis began a rapid decline.
Those that followed in 334 and 345 two earthquakes They destroyed the city under Constantine the Great (272 - 337).
In the 4th century the emperor Constantius II(317 - 361) built a small but beautiful town on the ruins of Salmina, which he called “Constance”.
In 648 this the town was destroyed Muslim military leader Mu'awiya I (603 - 680) and was never restored. Stone from the destroyed buildings of Salamis was used for the construction of Famagusta (then Arsinoe), where its last inhabitants moved.
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Ruins of Salamis today
Ruins of Salamis They are quite large and may take several hours to inspect, depending on what is included in the inspection program.
The road from the ticket booth goes to the eastern part of the gymnasium with a marble swimming pool swimming pool, surrounded by headless sculptures. The sculpture of Persephone, made of black marble, especially stands out here. All of them were beheaded with the accession of Christianity on the island, since they were considered relics of paganism. Greek gymnasium was an educational institution in which young people developed both intellectually and physically. It is believed that there were three such gymnasiums in Salamis - two for boys and one for girls.
Just behind the pool is large yard, fenced with columns, which was the gymnasium’s palaestra, i.e. area for physical exercise. Most of the columns and several sections of the mosaic floor have been preserved from the courtyard. In its center stood a statue on a high pedestal-column, of which only the base remained. Both the palaestra and the gymnasium itself were built under Emperor Augustus (27 BC – 14 AD).
Palaestra (the base of the pedestal is visible on the left)
If you pass the baths, turn left, and walk along one edge of the palaestra, you can see another gymnasium pool, then one of the stoa (a long covered gallery, the inner wall of which was formed by a row of columns), and at the very end on the left a large semicircular latrin gymnasium - a public toilet in which 44 people could sit at the same time. The ancient Romans had no embarrassment about this, and the partitions now visible were already erected by the first Christians.
If you stand facing the pool with sculptures, then on the right you will find the entrance to the traditional Roman baths ( baths) with all their departments (see plan): two frihydrariums - cold halls with small octagonal pools; between which there was probably a tepidarium - a warm, dry room; Next was the caldarium - a large pool with hot water; and on its sides there are two sudatoriums - large steam rooms; in the northern part of the baths there was a prefurnium - a furnace for heating water. As in all thermal baths, under the floor and in the walls they had pipes through which hot steam or hot water was supplied, depending on the hall. The baths were probably also built during the reign of Emperor Augustus (27 BC – 14 AD).
The black sculpture in the center is Persephone
If you leave the bathhouse and go further along the main column road, on the left hand there will first be tank for water, which can be identified by a semicircular arch, and on the right hand there will be a large amphitheater And stadium, which are practically not excavated.
The most notable building here is the reconstructed Roman theater(63 BC – 14 AD), which could accommodate up to 15,000 spectators. The diameter of its orchestra (semicircular performance area) was 27 meters, the length of the skene (back wall) was 40 meters, and its height was 22 meters. A horizontal passage divided the auditorium (theatron) into two levels, and eight radial staircases into 14 sections. There were probably niches with statues in the skene, and in front of it - altar of Dionysus, to whom sacrifices were made before performances.
At one entrance to the orchestra there is a signed statue base the Roman emperor Lucius Commodus (177 - 192), and the other - the foundation of statues of the emperors Marcus Aurelius Maxentius (306 - 312) and his successor Constantine the Great (306 - 337). The theater was probably destroyed by an earthquake and abandoned around the 4th century.
Theater
The size of this theatre, the largest in Cyprus, gives an idea of how many people lived in Salamis. Typically, such theaters were built with the expectation one place per ten inhabitants, that is, the population of the city was approximately 150,000 people. Only the bottom 18 rows out of 55 have been restored at the theater, and only eight of them are originals and not reconstructions. The upper rows of the theater offer a good view of the surrounding area.
Market plan Continuing to walk straight along the street past the theater, you can get to the second most important area of the ruins of Salamis. It starts with what apparently happened square and fish market, from which began the paved with stone slabs column street, going deep into Salamis during its heyday (“cardo maximus” went in the north-south direction and “decumanus maximus” in the west-east direction). The extensive ruins next to the square are Roman baths, which consisted of the same sections as the baths at the gymnasium. Walking along Column Street on the right side, until it intersects with a modern dirt road, you can see another big tank underwater. After the intersection, this street will continue until the fork in five roads. On the street parallel to it, there are the ruins of a two-story small roman villa, which are best explored on the way back.
A well-preserved section of a columned street (“cardo maximus”)
During the Byzantine period, water was supplied to all cisterns and baths by aqueduct, which came from the village of Kitreya (modern Degirmenlik) 50 kilometers to the northwest, and near the city borders branched out on the northeastern thread, which supplied water to the baths near the market and the theater, and the southeastern one, along which the cistern at the agora was filled. Only two spans (three supports and two arches) 100 meters from the aqueduct have survived. This aqueduct apparently dates back to the 6th - 7th centuries, while its Roman predecessor, probably from the time of Nero (1st century), was completely destroyed.
At the intersection of five roads you need to go straight. These will be two more large areas of the ruins of Salamis.
At the intersection itself, they will be visible almost immediately old city walls times of decline (VII century), built by Constantius II to protect Salmina from Arab raids. Along the perimeter in some places the presence of an older wall, the dating of which is unknown, is noticeable (see plan).
Near the wall at the intersection of roads there is " granite forum", which was named so in 1890 by British archaeologists based on pink marble columns brought here from Egypt. On its territory on the left side of the road there will be unidentified ruins and ancient water clock by the reflection of the stars in which at night one could judge the time (now they look like the upper part of a large round stone well).
Basilica of St. Epiphanius
Walking further along the same road, you can see another large water tank (VI century), right behind which begins huge agora, or a retail area with sides of 220 x 60 meters. In fact, the agora begins with the wall of the cistern, since it was built from the propylae - its five-arched main entrance. Along the perimeter of the square, like Roman agora in Athens, there were stoas - covered long porticoes, with one blank wall and one column. Only the bases of their Corinthian columns have survived. Walking along the agora parallel to the road, you can get to the center of another small ruin - in Temple of Zeus (Jupiter). Nothing remained of it except marble steps, a single column and scattered fragments. Across the road from the temple stands what remains of small roman villa.
If you don’t know that this is an agora, you might simply not notice it.
Next, you need to continue driving along the same road (see plan), at the fork closer to the sea, turn right and go to the cape that protrudes into the sea. Standing on it you can see ancient breakwaters, who protected the ships in the harbor located here. It was here that the apostles Peter and Barnabas once landed. If you look closely on the shore, you can also find large stones from the foundations of port buildings. There was another, newer port south of the breakwater. There is evidence that during the heyday of Salamis the sea was further from the coast than it is now. The port areas were opened in 1971 and 1973.
After visiting the port, you need to return to the fork and go towards the entrance to the archaeological park of Salamis. First, on the right and left sides, there will be unidentified ruins, which are larger in area than the neighboring basilica and the Roman baths combined.
Ruins of the Basilica of Kambanopetra(or Campanopetra), built in the 4th century, are located a little further. In the central apse of this temple there were special seats for high-ranking officials. The floor of the entire basilica was covered mosaic with a geometric pattern, while the most beautiful mosaic is located near the restored columns - where there were other ones roman baths(eastern part; closest to the sea). Believers continued to come to this basilica until the 14th century.
Eastern part of the basilica (therms?)
It is obvious that Salamis has not even been half excavated, and archaeologists have yet to make many interesting finds in it.
Useful information about the ruins of the city of Salamis in Cyprus
Location:
Approximately 8 km north of Famagusta (Northern Cyprus)
How to get there:
It is better to travel by car. The journey from Nicosia to Salamis takes about an hour.
You can buy a tour to Salamis from any resort town in Cyprus.
You can take a bus from Nicosia to Famagusta (Otobüs Terminali bus station on Gazi Mustafa Kemal Bulvari), and from there take another bus to Salamis. But it should be borne in mind that public transport in Cyprus is poorly developed.
Name in Turkish:
Salamis Antik Kenti
Title in English:
Salamis ancient city