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

Continued from scan 1

… in the Roman period which is known to us. The earthquake of 76-77 A.D. which, according to literary evidence, destroyed the cities of Paphos and Salamis, was probably the one which also destroyed our sanctuary at this time. Most of the remains of buildings date from the reconstruction of the sanctuary which followed in the second century under the Flavians and Antonines. Finally two earthquakes in the middle of [handwritten: the] fourth century A.D. destroyed the sanctuary when the site was abandoned, and the ruins became a quarry for building elsewhere until little remained above ground.

There were two main entrances. The one led through the West Propylon, or Paphos Gate (fig. 1) which brought one into a large paved square between the Northwest and the South Buildings. The other and more important of the two led from the direction of the ancient city between the Baths and the Southeast Building through the Curium Gate at the east end of the paved square.

One enters the fence gate opposite the modern guard house which is constructed on foundation wall at the southeast corner of the South Building. Probably the most convenient way to visit the site is to turn right on entering and to walk down to the Southeast Building.

The Southeast Building

This building measures approximately 125 by 88 ft. It is built around a large rectangular unroofed court with porticoes on all four sides. Square piers, each with engaged half columns in the Doric order, stood at the four corners, and a colonnade ran between the piers. The restored northwest pier is preserved to its full height of 11, 1/3 ft. In antiquity one entered the building through a