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The ancient kingdom of Lambousa (translates as -the shining
one-) was founded by Phoenician traders in the 8th
century B.C. and remained a quietly prosperous until
the Christian era, when groves of mulberries fed a
highly profitable silk industry. The foundations of
a lighthouse, sea-water fishponds and a portion of
the city's wall survive from the 6th century Byzantine
town. A silver dinner service from this period was
found here in the early years of this century, presumably
hidden just before the Saracens ransacked the city in
the 7th century.
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It
is the finest example of secular art from early
Byzantium and is now split between the collections
of the Metropolitan, British and Cyprus museums.
Lambousa
was revived as a port, though all that remains
from this second period are three distinctive
medieval churches.
The
13th century double-doomed Monastery of Akhiropietos
(translates as -Built without Hands-), was erected
over the ruins of an old cathedral. Akhiropietos
was enlarged in the 15th century, at the same
time that the ancient shrine of St. Evalios
was also completely restored. |
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The
curious rock hewn chapel of St. Eulambios is the
core remnant of an old quarry. It was turned into
catacombs in the late Roman period, and is where
the body of Eulambios, an elderly martyr, was
interred. |
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In the
last years excavation works have re-started at
Lambousa by the Department of Antiquities in collaboration
with an archaeological team from Germany, and the
site is open to public as an open air museum. |
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