Kourion Complex (Apollo) post 1945 (1 of 2)

A provisional Guide

Introduction

The expedition of the University of Pennsylvania Museum began excavations at Curium (Kourion) in 1934 and has continued work intermittently with a break during the war on various sites in and round about the site of the ancient city. The sanctuary of Apollo Hylates (Apollo of the Woodlands) is grandly situated in Episkopi Forest about two miles west of the ancient city behind Episkopi Bay. It was from a series of towering white cliffs on Episkopi Bay. Strabo informs us, writing one of these, the ancient geographer Strabo informs us, writing in the time of Augustus, that those who touched the altar of the god were flung into the sea. Traces of walls which may have led from the sanctuary to one of these cliffs, about half a mile to the south, lend considerable interest to this ancient tradition.

Aelian (170-235 A.D.) writes that the country round about Apollo's famous precinct was a reserve for deer, and this statement finds support in a number of bronzes and coins from recent excavations. The coin type bears on the obverse the head of Apollo, and on the reverse, a deer with sucking young. Such a type is listed in the British Museum Catalogue of coins as being of unknown origin. It would seem now that they came from Curium. Our coins of this type belong to the 4th century B.C.

The earliest dedications to Apollo date to the 8th century B.C.

It is probable that the sanctuary then consisted simply of an altar and a precinct wall. As time went on it grew in size and importance, and buildings were constructed within a somewhat enlarged enclosure. During the course of the centuries it was destroyed from time to time by earthquake with the result that it is only the sanctuary … continues