Kourion
Kourion (
Greek: Κούριον), also
Curias (
Pliny v. 13) or
Latin:
Curium, was a city in
Cyprus from antiquity until the early
middle ages. Kourion is situated to the west of the river
Lycus, 16 M. P. from
Amathus. (
Peut. Tab.), and was recorded by numerous ancient authors including
Ptolemy (v. 14. § 2),
Stephanus of Byzantium,
Hierocles, and Pliny the Elder.
Kourion was said to have been founded by the
Argives. (
Herodot. v. 113;
Strabo xiv. p. 683.)
Stesenor, its sovereign, betrayed the cause of his country during the war against the
Persians. (Herod.
l. c.) Near the town was a
cape (Φρούριον, Ptol. v. 14. § 2), from which sacrilegious offenders who had dared to touch the altar of
Apollo were thrown into the sea. (Strab.
l. c.)
The ruins of Kourion, near
Piscopia, one of the most fertile spots in the island, (
Richard Pococke,
Trav. vol. ii. p. 329; Engel,
Kypros, vol. i. p. 118.), are extensive and include well-preserved
mosaics.
*
*
Kourion by Limassol Municipality
