A new Greco-Roman temple in Cyprus? A set of decorated stone details from the Latsithkia site: Reconstruction potential and research prospects

Anna Urszula Kordas, Monika Rekowska, Aleksandra Brzozowska-Jawornicka and Szymon Popławski present the preliminary findings of a Polish research project investigating decorated limestone architectural fragments from the site of Latsithkia near Kourion, and assess whether they belong to an unrecorded Greco-Roman temple.

Following an introduction to the project by Rekowska, Kordas explains how she encountered the material in the Archaeological Museum in Episkopi while studying Greek stonemasons' marks. The 38 architectural elements, collected during surface surveys in 1997 and 2000 directed by Eleni Prokopiou of the Department of Antiquities, come from a plateau overlooking the Roman road between Paphos and Kourion, close to the Sanctuary of Apollo Hylates. Because the plateau shows three rock-cut arcosolia, quarry traces and no visible foundations, Prokopiou had initially suggested that Latsithkia was a quarry rather than a building site. Kordas documents matching Attic column bases with masons' marks, column shafts, blocked-out capitals, cornices with modillions, an Ionic architrave with three fasciae, an uninscribed cippus interpreted as an altar, and a frame fragment from a niche or window crowned by a semicircular cornice and pointed pediment.

Brzozowska-Jawornicka analyses the seven fragments of blocked-out capitals, a simplified Corinthian form originating in Alexandria and dated between the 1st century BC and early 3rd century AD. She compares the three lower halves and three upper corners from Latsithkia with examples from the Temple of Apollo Hylates at Kourion, the Temple of Aphrodite at Amathus, the House of Dionysos and the Hellenistic House at Nea Paphos, and Palaepaphos. One twisted corner from an engaged support bears scroll-like discs closely resembling Egyptian prototypes.

Comparing dimensions, Kordas shows that the Latsithkia elements are smaller than those of the Temple of Apollo Hylates and were not quarried for it. Popławski then presents a theoretical reconstruction: using the 53 cm lower column diameter, Vitruvian proportions and the three preserved lower capitals, he proposes a tetrastyle portico about five metres high with a pedimented niche in the facade.

Rekowska concludes with results from a five-day non-invasive survey conducted with Demetrios Michaelides and Maksym Mackiewicz. Drone photogrammetry and ground-penetrating radar found no walls in situ, but recorded 60 further decorated blocks and column drums scattered on the southern slope.