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Time of India

Hundreds of statues found at 2,700-year-old Greek temple in Cyprus

Image: Department of Antiquities Cyprus Archaeologists have uncovered a magnificent ancient temple in a quiet valley in Cyprus where hundreds of statues dedicated to the Greek god Apollo have been found. The site dates back nearly 2,700 years and offers a rare look into the rituals and beliefs of early worshippers. A team of German researchers led the excavation and described the discovery as spectacular. Among the artefacts were towering statues, fine glass beads and even Egyptian amulets. The finds offer new clues about Cyprus's ancient past and the sacred spaces once built to honour gods like Apollo. How scientists discovered hundreds of statues in Cyprus The Sanctuary of Apollo was first found in 1885 by a German archaeologist named Max Ohnefalsch-Richter. He carried out a brief and incomplete dig before covering the site back up. For more than a hundred years the exact location was lost. Then in 2021 a new team of German archaeologists returned to the area and found it once again. They began a proper excavation and soon came across parts of statues and other remains that had been missed the first time. Artefacts found from the ancient temple What they found was extraordinary. There were hundreds of offerings made to Apollo, including statues both small and massive. Some were familiar and already housed in museums. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với mức chênh lệch giá thấp nhất IC Markets Đăng ký Undo But new fragments allow these pieces to be fully restored. Other objects were entirely new such as marble-like beads and decorative items from Egypt. One striking find was a pair of huge limestone feet suggesting that statues even larger than life once stood there. New discoveries change what we know so far The team also found statue types never seen before at this site. These included larger male figures made of limestone which were only known in terracotta form until now. The famous Colossus of Tamassos thought to be one of a kind may now be part of a wider tradition of grand sculptures made for this sanctuary. These findings show that the site was more complex and important than experts had believed. Ancient writing links to Egyptian rulers Among the most important discoveries were two statue bases with inscriptions. One used a local Cypriot script while the other had Greek writing mentioning the Ptolemies who ruled Egypt and also controlled Cyprus during that time. These inscriptions help date the site to the 6th and 7th centuries BC and show that the temple stayed in use for a long time. Rewriting Cyprus's ancient past The discoveries have opened a new chapter in the story of ancient Cyprus. Experts from the Cyprus Department of Antiquities say the finds have changed what we know about the island's religious history. Many broken statues can now be pieced together and put on display. Others are being studied to understand how people worshiped and what they believed. After lying hidden for more than a century the Sanctuary of Apollo is once again revealing its secrets.