The ancient city of Salamis is located 6 kilometers north of Famagusta. In its heyday, it was the largest city in Cyprus. The Marble forum, Roman baths and Roman theater have been preserved here to this day. All this makes Salamis one of the most beautiful ancient cities in Europe.
According to Greek legends, Salamis was founded by Taucer. Together with his brother Ajax, he participated in the Trojan war. He was one of the best archers, but he could not save his brother and avenge his murder. His native island was called Salamis, where the battle of the Greek and Persian fleets took place in 480 BC. When Taucer returned home, his father Telamon drove him out of the house. Then Taucer sailed to Cyprus, and founded the city with the same name - Salamis.
The events of the Trojan war date back to the 10th century BC. Archaeological excavations indicate that the city of Salamis was founded around this time. Thus, Salamis can be considered the oldest city in Cyprus. The city is located on the shore of a convenient and extensive Bay. Thanks to this, Salamis became one of the major trading city of antiquity. Under the Ptolemies, who captured Cyprus after the death of Alexander the Great, Salamis became the main city in Cyprus.
During Roman rule, it ceded this rank to Paphos, which is located in the West of Cyprus. In 332 and 342, two powerful earthquakes occurred in Cyprus. They completely destroyed Salamis and Paphos, but the Roman Emperor Constantine restored Salamis, naming it Constantia. Thus, under Constantine, Salamis once again became the main city of Cyprus. In the 7th century, Salamis ceased to exist due to frequent attacks by the Arabs.
Nowadays, you can see the ruins of the ancient city in Salamis. There is a large rectangular courtyard (palaestra) called the Gymnasium. It is surrounded by a colonnade. In the ancient Greek period, the columns were made of stone. When the Emperor Constantine restored Salamis after the earthquake, the stone columns were replaced with marble ones. The gymnasium of Salamis became known as the Marble Forum, which is one of the most famous monuments among all ancient cities. In front of the Gymnasium there is a road called Stoa. An antique mosaic has been preserved on it.
There are ruins of ancient Baths near the Gymnasium. Here you can see an octagonal pool in the cold zone of the Thermae ("Frigidaria"). From there you can go to the "Sudatorium". It was a steam room with a warm floor (its construction is visible). The building of the steam room is well preserved, it is supported by arches from the outside.
There is an aqueduct at the side of the Therme complex. From it, the marble road goes to the amphitheater, where sports games were held, and then to the Theater. Theater of Salamis was built by the Romans in the 1st century AD. It is the largest in Cyprus. Today, the Roman Theater has been restored and performances are held there.
