- Famagusta is a deep water port founded in 274 BCE, after nearby Salamis was hit by an earthquake.
- It is located 4 miles (6km) south from the ruins of Salamis, in the Turkish controlled area of Eastern Cyprus.
History of nearby Salamis and Cyprus
- Finds from Salamis date to the 11th century BCE, when Copper was already being exported from Cyprus.
- In 708 BCE, the Kings of Cyprus came under the control of Assyria and paid homage to the Assyrian King Sargon II.
- Between 334/3 BCE, the Kings of Cyprus allied with Alexander the Great against Persia, and lent him their fleets. 120 ships belonginhg to the Kings of Cyprus besieged Tyre until it fell in 332 BCE. Cyprus then came under the control of Egypt.
- In 58 BCE, Salamis became part of the Roman Province of Cyprus.
- Salamis was rebuilt after an earthquake in the 4th century CE, by Constantius II (337-361 CE), who renamed it Constantia.
- Cyprus was lost to the Arab Invasion of 654 CE, when the population abandoned Salamis and moved to Famagusta.
Roman Sites of Salamis
- Theatre (restored), with 50 rows of seats for 15,000 spectators
- Gymnasium (restored), with a colonnaded Palaestra.
- Statue of Augustus
- Baths
- Public Latrines (with 44 seats)
- Harbour Wall
- Basilica
- Water Cistern, near the Agora
- The Roman Agora
- Temple of Zeus
- Necropolis
Museums
- St. Barnabus Monastery and Icon Museum
- near Salamis, Famagusta, N. Cyprus.
St. Barnabus Archaeological and Icon Museum