IN-PERSON: Prague – Section B

Abstract

The purpose of my current research, of which this paper form’s part, is to explore the development of the Construction of Trypiti bay between the 1st and 6th Centuries AD in the region of Kourion, Cyprus. The island of Cyprus is famous for its rich history and heritage of medieval / Byzantine manifestations, many of which are located within (or in proximity to) Greek and Roman religious sites that were used for quarrying stone for these later Christian buildings. However, what is less known about this built heritage is the symbolic, topographical, and ritual relationships between the religious establishments, and how these changed and developed over time. Quite how both forms of religious sites (Pagan and Christian) co-existed in Late Antiquity and formed part of a larger network of religious foundations in the Eastern Mediterranean, connected through pilgrimage and trading routes and impacted by military conquests/campaigns, will serve as the principal focus of this research. Drawing upon examples in other parts of the Mediterranean, from main-land Greece to Anatolia, this research aims to build a picture of how these religious communities developed and responded/adapted to changing circumstances and socioeconomic challenges. The main area of investigation is the construction of Trypiti Bay in Episkopi, however the acropolis of Kourion, including the religious settlements, the Sanctuary of Apollo Hylates, along with the At Meydan (Small Basilica) and the Sea coast Basilica are also explored. In the nearby city of Kourion are various religious buildings, including small chapels, with many of them still waiting to be excavated. This research however will not investigate these unexplored monuments in Kourion, which will require a more extensive study, but instead compare the influences and impact they had on religious and socio-economic development in the selected areas outlined above.