Europe

[Visited: August 2020]

After a long hike through Akamas peninsula, I arrive at the entrance of the Tombs of the Kings rehydrated and ready for something completely different. Before I even start exploring, I learn that these are, in fact, not tombs of kings - they are so called, because of their grand appearance. Buried here were dignitaries and high ranking officials. Most of these tombs date from the 4th century BCE, and are thus from the Hellenistic period. They are conveniently numbered, and I decide to just follow those numbers. Immediately after entering, I see Tomb I, which is a small affair: steps carved out in rock leading down to a burial chamber. The more interesting one is Tomb II. I first walk over the tomb, and then descend to several chambers carved out in rock, and a small courtyard with carved rocks and more openings in the rocks, loculi, where once the dead lay.
After a short walk, I arrive at Tombs III and IV, which are adjacent. You actually walk on top of them, and can look into their atriums. As I see people in Tomb III, I decide to first visit Tomb IV. Like the others, it is carved out in limestone, and some grave goods and jewellery were found here. In general, the tombs were once richly bestowed with valuable items for the dead, but over the centuries, grave robbers have taken most of those. Quarrying of materials from these tombs have also taken their toll. I see some loculi carved out in the rock, and then come to the square atrium which still has several columns, and cist and pit graves, as well as a burial chamber. I climb the stairs up, and find Tomb III empty. This is the most impressive burial complex: it has a square peristyle atrium, surrounded by 16 columns, all of which are still standing. Above the Doric columns, I see a frieze with triglyphs. The walls have ossuaries, and the burial chambers in two walls have niches. There is an opening in the northeast corner: this was created by looters. It leads to another, smaller, room with tombs.
From Tomb III, I walk to Tomb V, which is a more open structure. It has massive square columns, not as delicately carved as the ones I have just seen. Like all tombs, it also has a water well. It is one of the largest tombs of the collection. The tomb was also used by Romans and in the Middle Ages. Tomb VI is partly closed, and I circle around it for views from above. Nearby, I find Tomb VII, walk down the stairs and through a corridor with ossuaries and loculi carved out in its walls. It has a wide, square atrium, with some of the columns still remaining. Parts of the frieze with triglyphs can also be seen. Tomb VIII has a different approach: after walking down the stairs, you have to make a turn to arrive at the central area which is a square structure carved out in the rock. It somehow reminds me of the churches of Lalibela, and I imagine how this tomb is carved out from the top. Tomb IX has a more rugged look from the outside, and is carved out in the limestone at ground level. It is more exposed, and has numerous graves of various kinds. On my way back, I descend one more staircase I have not been to before, and when I look through an opening in the underground rocks, find myself looking at the atrium of Tomb III again. After having seen all tombs, I can now say that this easily is the most impressive of all of them.

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Tombs of the Kings (Cyprus)

Tombs of the Kings > Cyprus > Europe

[Visited: August 2020]

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