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| Soli
Amphitheatre |
Soli is located near the Lefke
town. Soli was one of the ten ancient city kingdoms of Cyprus . Soli Was built
in the beginning of the sixth century BC. It is foundation is attributed to
Solon. Solon was the Greek and Solon is the founder of the Soli (ancient kingdom
of Soli ). Soli was built near the Xero's river for the economic reasons . Soli
was one of the ancient kingdoms of Cyprus and played an important part in the
history of the island during the revolt against the Persians but later all the
Cypriot cities were reduced by the pensions. It was destroyed by Arab invasions
in the 7th century.
Excavations have shown that
settlement was made here as early as the 11th century BC. owing probably to the
existence of a good water supply, fertile Soli and a protected harbour, the near
by copper deposits and timber to smelt the copper Soli flourished up till 648 ad
when it suffered during the first of the ruined cities of ancient Cyprus the
stones were later removed for building elsewhere. Those of Soli were destined
for the construction of port said in Egypt in the later half of 19th century.
Excavation of the old city of
Soli began in 1929 under the direction of a team of Swedish archaeologists . A
Roman Theatre was discovered with an auditorium of seventeen cows of seats and a
larges semi circular orchestra. This theatre has now been restored recent
excavations by Canadian archaeologists have brought to light the remains of an
Agora an Acropolis and a church with a mosaic floor. The rest of the Soli city
which stretches over a wide area , has still not been fully uncovered.
Excavation is not finished yet . There are lots of ancient monuments still under
the land The archaeologist knows them but they think it is safe there. Because
protect the ancient monuments is very big problem in Northern Cyprus. In
addition Soli consists very big port of the land.
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VISIBLE REMAINS
OF SOLI
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The
visible remains of Soli today are the theatre, basilica and the agora. Basilica
the meaning is a type of church but it is smaller then church. Agora meaning is
shopping centre for that time.
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BASILICA OF SOLI
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| A
view from Basilica Photo
by: Eda Kandulu |
Soli is known as the traditional
place where St Mark received baptism and St Auxibius, a Roman who fled the city
in the 1st century, was its first bishop.
Soli Basilica was one of the
earliest of its kind in Cyprus featuring. Its own individual characteristics The
first church of Soli is thought to have been built in the second half of the 4th
century. This was a three aisled building of approximately 200m length. The most
important part of the basilica of Soli its mosaics.
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SECTILE MOSAICS
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View
of Abstract Mosaics
Photo
by: Eda Kandulu |
A large part of these have
survived to the present day. As is the case with the other churches of Cyprus ,
originally the mosaics were of geometric design . Gradually, animals and later
opus sectile decoration pavements made from small coloured stone tiles A goose
like swan surrounded with floral and four small dolphins in the floor of the
nave catch one's attention. The Greek inscription in mosaic set in the apse
reads: "Christ save those who gave this mosaic".
The church which was built on
the ruins of the originals one in the 12 th century was smaller in size and
occupied the eastern section. Mosaics both abstract and animal . Basilica
destroyed in the seventh century some of the mosaics were built over during
construction of a smaller , later church closer to the apse , where a mosaic
inscription has been partly obliterated.
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ROMAN THEATRE OF
SOLI
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| Entrance
of the theatre |
The Roman
theatre of Soli occupies the site of the original Greek amphitheatre on the
northern slope of a hill overlooking the sea below. It has a capacity of some
4000 spectators. Its stage building was of two storeys, covered with marble
panelling and decorated with stoves.
Its semi circular auditorium
has very good acoustic system . The excavation and restoration of the Roman
theatre of Soli was completed in 1962. The orchestra area was gained through two
side entrances at present this section is restored halfway from the stage
building only a platform on which. It was built has survived at the west of the
theatre on the nearby hill traces of the temples dedicated to Aphrodite have
been discovered. The famous torso of the Aphrodite have been discovered. The
famous statute of torso of the Aphrodite of Soli was found here which is now in
the Cyprus Museum in the Greek-Cypriot side of Nicosia.
These days the Roman theatre of
Soli is used for the cultural activities such as concert and plays.
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AGORA
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| View
of the Agora |
Agora was the shopping centre
of the Soli and excavations of agora still not finished. Excavation in the agora
west of the custodian's hut to below the amphitheatre were suspended after 1974
as was all work in the north.
It is now fenced off, but
before then a columned paved street leading through the market to a Nymphoeum
had already been uncovered as had the famous Aphrodite statuette and the bronze
boys head, both now in the Cyprus museum.
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PLAN OF
SOLI RUINS
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This mirror site of Lefke Town website,
is prepared by Eda
Kandulu. |
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