Archaeologists have made an exciting discovery in Cyprus: an ancient temple dedicated to the Greek god Apollo. This remarkable site, known as the Sanctuary of Apollo, is nestled in a remote valley and is believed to be around 2,700 years old.
A team of German experts began excavating the area in 2021, and after four years of work, they revealed their findings, which were announced by the Cyprus Department of Antiquities. The sanctuary is filled with hundreds of votive statues, some of which are impressively large. Along with these statues, the team found unique objects like marbled glass beads and Egyptian amulets made from faience, a type of tin-glazed pottery.
The Sanctuary of Apollo was first discovered in 1885 by the German archaeologist Max Ohnefalsch-Richter. At that time, it was considered one of the most significant archaeological finds. However, due to his insufficient excavation methods, the site was reburied, and its exact location was lost for over a century.
In their recent work, the archaeologists uncovered treasures that had been overlooked in the past. They found fragments of colossal statues, including parts that appeared to be feet. The new findings highlight that many statues in museums can now be restored with these newly discovered fragments.
The team also documented completely new types of statues that were previously unknown from this site. The discovery of larger-than-life feet suggests that there may have been colossal male figures made of limestone in ancient times. Previously, such figures were only known to exist in terracotta, like the famous ‘Colossus of Tamassos’ displayed in the Cyprus Museum.
Additionally, two inscriptions found on the bases of some statues date back to the 6th and 7th centuries BC. One inscription features local Cypro-Syllabic characters, while the other is written in Greek and mentions the Ptolemies, the Hellenistic rulers of Egypt who controlled Cyprus during that period.
This discovery has opened up new avenues for understanding the significance of the Sanctuary of Apollo and its role in ancient worship. The ongoing research will likely continue to shed light on this fascinating site and its historical context.