Historical Places
Ancient City of Salamis
The funerary offerings found in the necropolis where the royal tombs were uncovered provide information about how wealthy Salamis was during this period. It is observed that the city minted its first coins in the 6th century BC, and the name Salamis is first encountered in inscriptions from the same century. After the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BC, Salamis became part of the Kingdom of Cyprus. It is seen that during this period, the city became one of the important centers of Hellenistic Civilization, much like Alexandria, Antioch, Ephesus, and this splendid era continued throughout the Roman rule. Most of the remains here belong to the Roman Period.
In the 1st and 4th centuries AD, the city faced its greatest adversaries in the form of the Jewish Revolts and earthquakes. After the earthquakes, it is noted that the city was rebuilt by the Byzantine Emperor Constantius (AD 337-361) and renamed Konstantia.
As a consequence of the Arab Invasions that began in AD 647-649, the city's inhabitants migrated to Arsinoe, which would later form the city of Famagusta. The Kampanopetra Basilica, constructed in the 4th century AD, consisted of a courtyard surrounded by columns, a central nave, side aisles, and three apses. The bishop's pulpit and the seats for the priests were in the central part of the apse. Another group of ruins, which appeared to be a bathhouse, was discovered behind the basilica's apse. The mosaic adorning the floor of one of the rooms, made of small and colorful stones, is quite impressive.
The Ayios Epiphanios Basilica, the largest church in Cyprus, also served as the metropolitan church of Salamis. It is known that the basilica was commissioned during the episcopate of Bishop Epiphanios (AD 368-403). Epiphanios's marble tomb is located in front of the southern part of the apse.
Since 1999, scientific excavations have been conducted at the ancient city by the Eastern Mediterranean University. The ancient city, one of the most important archaeological sites in Northern Cyprus, has revealed numerous marble statues as well as a Gymnasium, theater, basilicas, residential areas, colonnaded streets, bathhouses, aqueducts, cisterns, burial areas, agora, and many marble sculptures.
St. Barnabas Church and Monastery
St. Barnabas Church and Monastery are located at the western end of the Salamis Necropolis. Information about the personality and life of St. Barnabas, for whom the monastery is named, is based on historical sources. St. Barnabas was born in Salamis to a Jewish family, and after receiving his education in Jerusalem, he returned to Cyprus and began working with St. Paul to spread Christianity in the year 45 AD. Due to these efforts, he was martyred by the Jews, his fellow countrymen, who encountered him on his second visit to Cyprus in the year 75 AD. His body was burned and his remains were hidden in a swamp with a stone tied to it. Some of St. Barnabas' students who witnessed these events secretly took his body, buried it in an underground cave under a carob tree in the west of Salamis, and placed a copy of the Gospel of St. Matthew, written by St. Barnabas himself, on his chest. These students fled to Egypt, and since no one knew the location of the body in Cyprus, it remained a secret for a long time.
In the year 478 AD, the Bishop of Cyprus, Anthemios, saw in his dream the place where the body was hidden and ordered the opening of the tomb. When the tomb was opened, it became evident that the body belonged to St. Barnabas, thanks to the Gospel of St. Matthew with his handwritten notes on his chest. Bishop Anthemios took St. Barnabas' bones and the Gospel to Istanbul and presented them to Emperor Zeno. In response, Emperor Zeno declared the autonomy of the Church of Cyprus and donated funds for the construction of a monastery at the location of St. Barnabas. The church built at that time was destroyed during the Arab invasions that began in the 7th century. Its current form was established in 1756 during the Ottoman period under the leadership of Archbishop Philotheos. Since 1976, this site has been preserved in its original form and opened to visitors, displaying various icons, wall paintings, and other artifacts within the monastery. After being restored by the Department of Antiquities and Museums, St. Barnabas Monastery and Church were opened to the public on May 29, 1992, under the name "St. Barnabas Icon and Archaeology Museum.
Salamis Necropolis (Royal Tombs)
Salamis Necropolis, covering an area of approximately 4 square miles, extends from Enkomi to the western edge of the Salamis forest and all the way to St. Barnabas Monastery. Some of the excavated tombs, due to their architectural structures and rich findings, have been designated as Royal Tombs. The primary architectural features include the broad, long, and sloping pathways in front of the tomb chambers. Here, horses that pulled the funeral chariots were sacrificed in honor of the deceased, and jars filled with oil, wine, or honey were arranged.
Research indicates that these tombs were constructed in the 7th century BC and were in use until the 4th century BC. Particularly rich findings have been unearthed from the Royal Tombs numbered 47, 50, and 79. Tomb number 50 is also known as St. Catherine's Prison because it is believed that St. Catherine, who embraced the Christian faith, was imprisoned here by her uncle, the ruler of Salamis. Excavations have revealed various vessels, pottery, bronze and ivory objects, as well as the skeletons of sacrificed horses and funeral chariots inside these tombs.
Salamis Aqueducts
Initially, the required fresh water was supplied from underground cisterns fed by springs, wells, and rainwater. However, the transportation of spring waters to distant locations through channels and aqueducts began during the Roman period, and examples of this can be found in cities like Kourion, Ayia Napa, Paphos, and Salamis. Among these, the most impressive is the Salamis Aqueducts, stretching 23 kilometers between Değirmenlik Baş Pınarı and Salamis. The water reaching Salamis was first collected in large cisterns and then distributed to street fountains located in various parts of the city. The Salamis Aqueducts were maintained with new additions and repairs by Archbishop Plutarchus, Arcadius I, and Emperor Heraclius (either in AD 618 or 633) during the last decade of the 6th century AD and the beginning of the 7th century AD. In the 13th or 14th century AD, they were restored and put back into use by the Lusignans.
Cittaslow Yeniboğaziçi is a popular destination, with its 8 kilometer long coastline, the Salamis Forest hiking trail, its unique beaches, park complexes, and stunning sandy shores.
