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ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΑ

MUSEUMS

LIMASSOL DISTRICT ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM

 

The museum displays a rich and notable collection of antiquities from the earliest phases of the history of Cyprus to the Roman period, originating from systematic and rescue excavations in the Lemesos region. It often hosts temporary thematic exhibitions of archaeological or contemporary interest.

 The Limassol District Archaeological Museum was founded in 1948 and was initially housed in a section of the Limassol Castle. During the conflicts of 1964 it remained closed as it was handed over to the National Guard. Construction activities for the new modern Museum began in 1972. The new exhibition was organised in March 1975, under extremely difficult circumstances related to the recent Turkish invasion of the island.

 The Museum houses antiquities that cover the development of civilisation on the island from the 9th millennium to the end of the Roman period. The finds are the result of systematic and rescue excavations of the Department of Antiquities of Cyprus and of the foreign Archaeological Missions in the city and the district of Limassol as well. The building consists of two long rooms joined together by two transversal spaces. Artifacts that date from the earlier phases of the history of Cyprus such as the pygmy elephant and pygmy hippopotamus found at the Pre-neolithic site of Akrotiri-Aetokremmos are on display in the first part of the left Room.

Finds are also on display which date from the Aceramic Neolithic I period up to the Late Bronze Age. These objects were unearthed from some very important sites such as Chillourokampos in Parekklisia, Sotira, Erimi-Pampoula but also from the city of Lemesos and its neighbouring villages. From the Late Bronze Age onwards the commercial contacts and the establishment in Cyprus of settlers from the Aegean contributed to the close contacts between the island and the Mediterranean world. These close contacts can be acknowledged with the imported Mycenaean vessels, which are exhibited in the Museum alongside the locally produced vessels.

During the Geometric period and at the time of the establishment of the Cypriot Kingdoms until their abolishment by Ptolemy, who conquered the island in 310 B.C., the area of Lemesos included two Kingdoms: Kourion and Amathus. The finds from Kourion are exhibited in the Local Archaeological Museum of Episkopi and the Lemesos Archaeological Museum houses the material from Amathous and its surrounding settlements and sanctuaries. Amongst the Museum's rich collection, the objects that stand out are: a group of terracottas, a Hathor freestanding pillar and a limestone statue of the Egyptian god Bes- all objects which indicate the strong influences of eastern elements on the local artistic activity.

Information

Opening hours:Monday- Friday 8.00-16.00

5, Anastasi Sioukri & Vironos Street, tel +357 25305157.

Bus Nr 30 Any bus stop at seafront road. Get off at the Municipal Gardens.