Overview:

Ancient Kition, also known as Citium, was an ancient city located in today's Larnaca district on the southern coast of Cyprus. It was an important port-city in the region from the Late Bronze Age to the Early Iron Age. It was occupied by the Assyrians in the early 8th century BC, and from the 5th century BC it was under the control of the Persian Empire. The city was populated until the late 3rd century AD and it served as an important economic and religious center, having many sanctuaries and temples dedicated to various gods, such as Apollo and Aphrodite. Ancient Kition existed until it was destroyed by the Arab invasions in 647 AD. It is now listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You can learn history, culture, and heritage through these magnificent monuments in Cyprus
Prominent Features:

1. Ancient Citadel: The most prominent feature of ancient Kition was its Citadel, a large, fortified area containing the city's most important religious, public, and government buildings. 2. Temples & Shrines: The city also housed a number of temples and shrines dedicated to various gods, including Astarte, Anat, Marnas, and the Cypriot god of thunder and lightning, Baal-Hadad. 3. Royal Palace & Acropolis: Kition was home to a royal palace and acropolis, which served as both a residence for the city's rulers and a place of spiritual and governmental importance. 4. Royal Tomb: The city's two royal tombs, the Tombs of the Kings and Tombs of the Pharaohs, were located in the acropolis and housed the remains of the city's royals. 5. Water Supply System: The city had an extensive and well-developed water supply system. This was especially important for irrigation since the city was located in an arid region. This national monument of Cyprus portrays the history and culture of the country.

History:

Ancient Kition was a city-kingdom located on the south coast of present-day Cyprus in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. It was also known as Citium or Kiti in antiquity, and is now known as Larnaca. It was founded around 1200BC by traders from the Mycenaean kingdom of Mycenae, who established it as an important port in the region. The city-kingdom grew to become a major trading hub in the region, and some of its rulers were known to have had contact with the various kingdoms in the Near East. Kition reached its peak between the 9th and 5th centuries BC and was a major center of worship for the Phoenician deities Astarte, Baal, and Melkart, as well as several local gods. It later became a Phoenician colony in the 5th century BC and was a powerful rival of nearby Salamis and Paphos. It also had contact with the Achaeans, Egyptians, and Assyrians, and was an important stop on Mediterranean trade routes. Kition encountered a period of decline from the 4th century BC onwards, due in part to the rise of Salamis as a major competing port. It eventually became a part of the Hellenistic kingdom of Ptolemaic Egypt in the 3rd century BC, and then a Roman protectorate later on. Kition was eventually destroyed by an earthquake around 900AD, and its ruins are now part of the Larnaca Archaeological Park. You must visit one of these historical places in Cyprus on your Cyprus tour

Interesting facts:

1. Kition was one of the main cities of Cyprus and the capital of the Phoenician city-kingdom of the same name. 2. Kition was founded in the 13th century BC and was an important trading port, as well as an important religious center. 3. The city was destroyed by the Assyrians in the 7th century BC, and rebuilt by Alexander the Great in 325 BC. 4. In Kition, it was believed that Zeus and Aphrodite had their sanctuary: the sanctuary of Astaúroá. 5. During excavations it was discovered that Kition had one of the oldest known pottery centers in the eastern Mediterranean, with Phoenician pottery being found dating back to the 12th century BC. 6. Excavations at Kition also unearthed numerous gold artifacts, probably serving as votive offerings. 7. The city was also known for its production of purple dye. Visit one of the famous monuments of Cyprus with your friends and family.