DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4856#0095
AMATHUS
THE excavations here began on November 20th, 1893, under the superintendence of
Mr. A. H. Smith, who on January 16th, 1894, was relieved by Mr. J. L. Myres,
at that time of New College, Oxford. Mr. Myres remained at Amathus till the
middle of March, when the work ceased. Mr. Percy Christian was also present during
the whole of the season.
HISTORY.
The great antiquity of the town of Amathus is asserted by several writers, and its
inhabitants have even been styled Autochthones* It was commonly regarded as one of
the early and important Phoenician settlements in Cyprus. There are many indications
of its Phoenician origin and sympathies. The name of Amathus was also borne by a
town in Palestine, east of the Jordan, and it is compared with Hamath. At Amathus
Heracles is said to have been worshipped under his Tyrian name of Malika.2
The legendary founder of Amathus was Kinyras, who may be supposed to stand
in Homer as a representative of Phoenician culture in Cyprus. It was from him that
Agamemnon had received his marvellous breastplate of enamelled metal work {Iliad xi.
19). In later stories, however, the relations of Kinyras with the heroes of the Trojan
siege were of a less friendly nature. We have, for instance, the curious tale of the
substitution of ships and crews of clay for the fleet that was promised to Menelaos
(cf. p. 113), and of the vengeance of Agamemnon.
It must be pointed out, however, that the excavations here described failed to yield
the slightest traces of the early culture commonly known as Mycenaean, and so strongly
represented at Salamis (Enkomi) and Curium. Only scanty remains were found of the
periods following.3
In historical times, Amathus continued to show oriental sympathies. At the time
of the Ionic revolt (about 500 B.C.), and again a century later when King Evagoras of
Salamis was seeking to extend his rule over the island, Amathus remained faithful to
Persia.4 Somewhat later, however, when Alexander had brought the fleets of Cyprus to
the siege of Tyre (332 B.C.), Androcles of Amathus is found among the- rest, though
probably his attendance was involuntary.5
Amathus was a noted seat of the worship of Aphrodite, where an eponymous
Amathus is said to have been its founder, and the ancient privileges of her shrine were
pleaded before the Roman Senate in the reign of Tiberius.6 The cult of Adonis, whom
1 Scylax, Periplus, p. 41.
2 i.e. Melkart, or perhaps Melech. Hesych. s.v. Malika; cf. Roscher, Lexikon, s.v.
3 Compare, however, Cesnola, p. 268, for a specimen of a chariot vase (such as that in p. yT)t
Fig. 126, of the present volume), which he attributes, probably incorrectly, to Amathus.
4 Herod, v. 104; Diod. xiv. 98. s Arrian, Exp. Alex. ii. xxii. 2.
6 Tac. Ann. iii. 62.
THE excavations here began on November 20th, 1893, under the superintendence of
Mr. A. H. Smith, who on January 16th, 1894, was relieved by Mr. J. L. Myres,
at that time of New College, Oxford. Mr. Myres remained at Amathus till the
middle of March, when the work ceased. Mr. Percy Christian was also present during
the whole of the season.
HISTORY.
The great antiquity of the town of Amathus is asserted by several writers, and its
inhabitants have even been styled Autochthones* It was commonly regarded as one of
the early and important Phoenician settlements in Cyprus. There are many indications
of its Phoenician origin and sympathies. The name of Amathus was also borne by a
town in Palestine, east of the Jordan, and it is compared with Hamath. At Amathus
Heracles is said to have been worshipped under his Tyrian name of Malika.2
The legendary founder of Amathus was Kinyras, who may be supposed to stand
in Homer as a representative of Phoenician culture in Cyprus. It was from him that
Agamemnon had received his marvellous breastplate of enamelled metal work {Iliad xi.
19). In later stories, however, the relations of Kinyras with the heroes of the Trojan
siege were of a less friendly nature. We have, for instance, the curious tale of the
substitution of ships and crews of clay for the fleet that was promised to Menelaos
(cf. p. 113), and of the vengeance of Agamemnon.
It must be pointed out, however, that the excavations here described failed to yield
the slightest traces of the early culture commonly known as Mycenaean, and so strongly
represented at Salamis (Enkomi) and Curium. Only scanty remains were found of the
periods following.3
In historical times, Amathus continued to show oriental sympathies. At the time
of the Ionic revolt (about 500 B.C.), and again a century later when King Evagoras of
Salamis was seeking to extend his rule over the island, Amathus remained faithful to
Persia.4 Somewhat later, however, when Alexander had brought the fleets of Cyprus to
the siege of Tyre (332 B.C.), Androcles of Amathus is found among the- rest, though
probably his attendance was involuntary.5
Amathus was a noted seat of the worship of Aphrodite, where an eponymous
Amathus is said to have been its founder, and the ancient privileges of her shrine were
pleaded before the Roman Senate in the reign of Tiberius.6 The cult of Adonis, whom
1 Scylax, Periplus, p. 41.
2 i.e. Melkart, or perhaps Melech. Hesych. s.v. Malika; cf. Roscher, Lexikon, s.v.
3 Compare, however, Cesnola, p. 268, for a specimen of a chariot vase (such as that in p. yT)t
Fig. 126, of the present volume), which he attributes, probably incorrectly, to Amathus.
4 Herod, v. 104; Diod. xiv. 98. s Arrian, Exp. Alex. ii. xxii. 2.
6 Tac. Ann. iii. 62.