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Castle · Ancient Monument

The Castle of Saint Hilarion

Saint Hilarion, Kyrenia District · Middle Byzantine Period · In the area occupied by Turkey since 1974

The Castle of Saint Hilarion: a castle in Saint Hilarion, Kyrenia District, in the area occupied by Turkey since 1974. Declared an Ancient Monument in 1905. 9 dated records of work on it, 1799 to 1963, with sources.

Protection

Antiquities Law
  1. 11 September 1905

    Declared an Ancient Monument, No. 7774

    “Castle of Saint Hilarion”

    The Cyprus Gazette No. 834 of 22 September 1905 (Notice No. 7774), p. 5725, PDF p. 253 Online

  2. 10 May 1935

    Scheduled in 1935, First Schedule, Kyrenia item 1

    “The Castle of Saint Hilarion”

    Supplement No. 1 to The Cyprus Gazette No. 2441 of 10 May 1935, A Bill entitled A Law to consolidate and amend the Law relating to Antiquities [the Antiquities Law, 1935], First Schedule, District of Kyrenia, item 1, p. 326, PDF p. 346 Online

  3. 1 December 1939

    Protection, No. 380

    “the Castle of Saint Hilarion”

    Supplement No. 3 to The Cyprus Gazette No. 2799 of 6 December 1939, No. 380, The Antiquities Law, 1935: Notice under section 11 (made 1 December 1939), pp. 657–658 Online

What was done when

10 records
  1. 1799

    Drawn by Ph. Delord (2003) and engraved by L.F. Cassas (1799).

    Study

    As printed

    “Castle ofSt. Hilarion: drawing by Ph. Delord (2003), and engraving by L.F Cassas (1799).”

    Anon., "Cyprus Through the Eyes of Two French Artists", Cyprus Today vol. 42 (September–December 2004), pp. 26–31, p. 30.

  2. 1947

    The entrance gate-house was rebuilt as a custodian's office.

    Repair and conservation

    As printed

    “At St. Hilarion Castle the entrance gate-house was rebuilt as a custodian's office”

    Colonial Office, Annual Report on Cyprus for the Year 1947 (London: HMSO, 1948), p. 46

  3. 1948

    Conservation work by the Department of Antiquities continued at the castle, a monument in its custody.

    Repair and conservation

    As printed

    “in Nicosia, St. Hilarion Castle and the Church of St. Anne in Famagusta”

    Colonial Office, Annual Report on Cyprus for the Year 1948 (London: HMSO, 1949), p. 43

  4. 1949

    Numerous improvements were made to develop the castle as a tourist attraction: access to sections not previously visited, a larger water supply, and barriers and railings at dangerous points. Visitors rose from 7,147 in 1947 to 10,318 in 1949.

    Repair and conservation

    As printed

    “giving access to various sections not previously visited, increasing the water supply and providing barriers and railings at dangerous points”

    Colonial Office, Report on Cyprus for the Year 1949 (London: HMSO, 1950), p. 46

  5. 1951

    Repairs by the Department of Antiquities were in hand.

    Repair and conservation

    As printed

    “included the Castles of St. Hilarion, Buffavento, Limassol and Kolossi”

    Colonial Office, Report on Cyprus for the Year 1951 (London: HMSO, 1952), p. 57

  6. 1957

    The cistern in the basement of the royal apartments was restored, to supply water for future works in the upper ward.

    Repair and conservation

    As printed

    “The cistern in the basement of the royal apartments at St. Hilarion Castle was restored”

    Colonial Office, Cyprus: Report for the Year 1957 (London: HMSO, 1958), p. 87

  7. 1959

    In the Byzantine church the forming of the arches and vaults on the chancel piers, which had been reconstructed in 1958, was completed.

    Repair and conservation

    As printed

    “In the Byzantine church at St. Hilarion Castle the formation of the arches and vaults on the chancel piers”

    Colonial Office, Cyprus: Report for the Year 1959 (London: HMSO, 1961), p. 86

  8. 1963

    Byzantine origin on the Kyrenia range; demolition attributed to Venetians around 1490; restoration by Department of Antiquities in 1963 interrupted by Turkish rebellion; occupied since.

    Repair and conservation

    As printed

    “Some restoration work was done by the Department of Antiquities in 1963, but the work was interrupted by the Turkish rebellion in December”

    Nasa Christophidou, "The Medieval Castles of Occupied Cyprus", Cyprus Today vol. 31, no. 1 (January–March 1993), pp. 1–24, PDF p. 12.

  9. 1963

    Conservation work interrupted in December 1963 as a result of the Turkish Rebellion.

    Repair and conservation

    As printed

    “Conservation work on St. Hilarion Castle was interrupted in December 1963”

    A. PAPAGEORGHIOU, "Activities of the Department of Antiquities in the Field of the Conservation and Restoration of Ancient Monuments 1960-73", Cyprus Today vol. 11, no. 5-6 (September–December 1973), pp. 11–20, p. 15.

  10. Undated

    Medieval castle on the peak of Saint Hilarion above Kerynia; text says it was built in Byzantine era as a small church and fort, reinforced in Lusignan years.

    Repair and conservation

    As printed

    “In the Byzantine era, at the peak of Saint Hilarion a small church and fort was built, which, in the years of the Lusignans was reinforced”

    Theophano D. Kypri, "Popular Traditions of Kerynia", Cyprus Today vol. 47, no. 1 (January–March 2009), pp. 30–39, p. 33.

In the literature

14
  1. 1557

    Castle on a mountain peak two leagues from Kerynia, with three strongholds; Leonardo Dona described it and noted the Lusignan emblem above the entrance.

    As printed

    “Above the entrance to the castle Leonardo Donà picked out the emblem of the House of Lusignan.”

    Nasa Patapiou, "Kerynia during the Venetian Rule", Cyprus Today vol. 47, no. 1 (January–March 2009), pp. 13–29, p. 25.

  2. 1938

    Mediaeval castle in the Kyrenia District; 3,279 visitors in 1938 and 25,150 in 1959.

    As printed

    “The Mediaeval Castle of St. Hilarion in the Kyrenia District.”

    Sophoclis Hadjisavvas, "The Ancient Monuments of Cyprus", Cyprus Today vol. 23, no. 2 (April–June 1985), pp. 12–16, p. 15.

  3. 1942

    Castle on the northern range that Stark was taken to visit during her 1942 stay.

    As printed

    “She was taken to St. Hilarion castle on the northern range”

    Anon., "In the Footsteps of Freya Stark", Cyprus Today vol. 36, no. 1-2 (January–June 1998), pp. 56–62, p. 59.

  4. 1948

    The road to the castle was asphalted with a Colonial Development and Welfare grant and opened by the Acting Governor on 10 December 1948.

    As printed

    “the asphalting of the road to St. Hilarion Castle, which was opened by H.E. the Acting Governor on 10th December, 1948”

    Colonial Office, Annual Report on Cyprus for the Year 1948 (London: HMSO, 1949), p. 43

  5. Undated

    Building from the late Byzantine years, constructed under Frankish rule; Queen's Window illustrated.

    As printed

    “53. Saint Hilarion's Castle. Building from the late Byzantine years. Constructed under Frankish rule.”

    Anon., "Stamps with Themes Taken from the Occupied Area of Cyprus", Cyprus Today vol. 22, no. 2-3 (May–December 1984), pp. 19–26, p. 23.

  6. Undated

    Byzantine castle fortified under Franks; occupied by Turkish Cypriot irregulars in 1963-64.

    As printed

    “The Byzantine castles of Saint Ilarion, Bufavento and Kantara were also fortified.”

    Anon., "Kerynia", Cyprus Today vol. 47, no. 1 (January–March 2009), pp. 2–12, p. 7.

8 more
  1. Undated

    Crusader castle on a mountain top two miles from Kyrenia, described as one of the biggest attractions of the Middle East.

    As printed

    “St. Hilarion Castle and Mount Olympus on Troodos (6400 feet a.s.l.) constitute two of the biggest attractions of the Middle”

    Anon., "Cyprus Tourism, Its Evolution and Future (continued)", Cyprus Today vol. 7, no. 1 (January–March 1969), pp. 76–80, p. 77.

  2. Undated

    Described by Olive Murray Chapman as a dream-like, unreal place.

    As printed

    “such as Saint Hilarion's castle”

    Maria Roussou-Sinclair, "British Colonial Writing on Cyprus", Cyprus Today vol. 38, no. 1 (January–April 2000), pp. 34–43, p. 42.

  3. Undated

    Dramatic castle near Kyrenia, described as impressive; the text mentions it inspired a Disney film.

    As printed

    “the castle itself inspired Walt Disney's film of " Snow White."”

    SAVVA SP. PATSALIDES, "Cyprus, Island of Aphrodite and Homer", Cyprus Today vol. 10, no. 3-4 (May–August 1972), pp. 24–27, p. 25.

  4. Undated

    First built by Byzantines probably in the 11th cent. A.D. on a former monastery site; enlarged by the Lusignans.

    As printed

    “St Hilarion Castle. It was first built by the”

    Anon., "President Makarios Proposals to Amend the Cyprus Constitution", Cyprus Today vol. 1, no. 6 (November–December 1963), pp. 19–21, p. 21.

  5. Undated

    Medieval castle on the Kyrenia mountains, described as the most impressive site in the Middle East.

    As printed

    “They are St. Hilarion, Buffavento and Kantara Castles.”

    S. Patsalides, "In Search of the Unusual Tourist Treasures of Cyprus", Cyprus Today vol. 7, no. 2-3 (April–September 1969), pp. 12–17, p. 17.

  6. Undated

    Medieval castle visited by Princess Irene of Greece accompanied by the Director of Antiquities.

    As printed

    “visits the medieval Castle of St. Hilarion”

    Anon., "A Royal Visit", Cyprus Today vol. 1, no. 1 (January–February 1963), pp. 16–17, p. 17.

  7. Undated

    Minister says Turkish insurgents have set up batteries at the famous St. Hilarion Castle; answer is cut off in the text.

    As printed

    “It is a fact that Turkish insurgents have set up batteries at, (a) the famous St. Hilarion Castle,”

    Anon., "Memorials to King Paul", Cyprus Today vol. 2, no. 2 (March–April 1964), supplement, p. 4.

  8. Undated

    Named among the famous castles scattered over the island built under the Crusaders.

    As printed

    “the famous St. Hilarion and Buffavento Castles and Kolossi Castle near Limassol”

    Pefkios Georghiades, "A Brief Introduction to Cyprus Architecture", Cyprus Today vol. 3, no. 3 (May–June 1965), pp. 20–21, p. 20.

Pictures

19

In our archive · 16

Department of Antiquities of Cyprus1 photograph1949
  • Department of Antiquities, Republic of Cyprus, photographic archive, via HISTORICA (University of Bologna), fonds «OUC Department of Antiquities Republic of Cyprus» (BYZART, Open University of Cyprus), hdl 20.500.14008/28043: «Department of Antiquities, Republic of Cyprus, Karmi, Church of Saint Hilarion, view of bema», Photograph taken 1949 Online
Deutsches Archäologisches Institut, Abteilung Rom2 photographs1974
  • Deutsches Archäologisches Institut, Rome, Fotothek (dai-fotothek-rom), negative 74.507, «Kloster St. Hilarion», 20.03.1974, Arachne record 5671392, 1974-03-20 Online
  • Deutsches Archäologisches Institut, Rome, Fotothek (dai-fotothek-rom), negative 74.508, «Kloster St. Hilarion», 20.03.1974, Arachne record 5671393, 1974-03-20 Online

Sources

  1. 1.Department of Antiquities, Republic of Cyprus, photographic archive, via HISTORICA (University of Bologna), fonds «OUC Department of Antiquities Republic of Cyprus» (BYZART, Open University of Cyprus), hdl 20.500.14008/28043: «Department of Antiquities, Republic of Cyprus, Karmi, Church of Saint Hilarion, view of bema», Photograph taken 1949 Online
  2. 2.Supplement No. 1 to The Cyprus Gazette No. 2441 of 10 May 1935, A Bill entitled A Law to consolidate and amend the Law relating to Antiquities [the Antiquities Law, 1935], First Schedule, District of Kyrenia, item 1, p. 326, PDF p. 346 Online
  3. 3.Supplement No. 3 to The Cyprus Gazette No. 2799 of 6 December 1939, No. 380, The Antiquities Law, 1935: Notice under section 11 (made 1 December 1939), pp. 657–658 Online
  4. 4.The Cyprus Gazette No. 834 of 22 September 1905 (Notice No. 7774), p. 5725, PDF p. 253 Online
  5. 5.The National Archives, Kew, CO 1069/700, CO 1069-700-3, «St. Hilarion Castle: repairs to masonry by the Gate.», 1876-1942, The National Archives on Flickr Commons Online
  6. 6.The National Archives, Kew, CO 1069/701, CO 1069-701-03, «Queen's Window, St Hilarion», 1930-1939, The National Archives on Flickr Commons Online
  7. 7.The National Archives, Kew, CO 1069/706, CO 1069-706-27, «St. Hilarion Castle, Kyrenia», 1950-1959, The National Archives on Flickr Commons Online
  8. 8.Photograph: 1945. Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, G. Eric and Edith Matson Photograph Collection, matpc.21881. «Hill on top of which is St Hilarion Castle, Kyrenia» Online
  9. 9.Photograph: 1945. Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, G. Eric and Edith Matson Photograph Collection, matpc.21882. «Hill of St Hilarion Castle, Kyrenia, closer view» Online
  10. 10.Photograph: 1945. Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, G. Eric and Edith Matson Photograph Collection, matpc.21883. «St Hilarion Castle from the first line of fortification, Kyrenia» Online
  11. 11.Photograph: 1945. Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, G. Eric and Edith Matson Photograph Collection, matpc.21884. «St Hilarion Castle, Kyrenia: looking east from the castle» Online
  12. 12.Photograph: 1945. Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, G. Eric and Edith Matson Photograph Collection, matpc.21885. «St Hilarion Castle, Kyrenia: the royal apartment» Online
  13. 13.Photograph: 1945. Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, G. Eric and Edith Matson Photograph Collection, matpc.21886. «St Hilarion Castle: the royal apartment, the Queen's window» Online
  14. 14.Photograph: 1945. Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, G. Eric and Edith Matson Photograph Collection, matpc.21887. «Kyrenia seen from St Hilarion Castle» Online
  15. 15.Photograph: 1900. Travelers in the Middle East Archive (TIMEA), Rice University, via Wikimedia Commons, TIMEA 10027. "Heights of Hilarion". CC BY-SA 2.5. «Heights of Hilarion» Online
  16. 16.Print: 1878. Travelers in the Middle East Archive (TIMEA), Rice University, via Wikimedia Commons, TIMEA 21436. "Saint Hilarion". CC BY-SA 2.5. «Saint Hilarion» Online
  17. 17.Deutsches Archäologisches Institut, Rome, Fotothek (dai-fotothek-rom), negative 74.507, «Kloster St. Hilarion», 20.03.1974, Arachne record 5671392 Online
  18. 18.Deutsches Archäologisches Institut, Rome, Fotothek (dai-fotothek-rom), negative 74.508, «Kloster St. Hilarion», 20.03.1974, Arachne record 5671393 Online
  19. 19.Centre of Visual Arts and Research (CVAR), Costas and Rita Severis Foundation, Nicosia, online catalogue: pht_00471, “General view of Saint Hilarion Castle Nicosia – Cyprus”, 20th century, ; pht_00710, “St. Hilarion Castle”, ca. 1918, https://cvar.severis.org/en/collections/item/st-hilarion-castle-2/27966/; pht_00711, “St. Hilarion Castle”, ca. 1918, https://cvar.severis.org/en/collections/item/st-hilarion-castle-2/27967/; and 79 more records Online
  20. 20.Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation (ΡΙΚ), film and video archive, Digital Herodotus item 4006: «ΤΑ ΚΑΤΕΧΟΜΕΝΑ ΚΑΣΤΡΑ ΜΑΣ», 24 June 1987, 00:27:36 Online
  21. 21.Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation (ΡΙΚ), film and video archive, Digital Herodotus item 6364: «ΑΡΧΑΙΟΛΟΓΙΚΑ ΜΝΗΜΕΙΑ - ΕΠΙΣΚΕΨΗ ΤΟΥΡΙΣΤΩΝ», 31 May 1965, 00:05:22 Online
  22. 22.Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation (ΡΙΚ), film and video archive, Digital Herodotus item 3322: «ΑΥΤΗ ΕΙΝΑΙ Η ΠΑΤΡΙΔΑ ΜΑΣ», 20 July 2003, 01:03:49 Online
  23. 23.William Hepworth Dixon, British Cyprus (1879), p. 302 (scan 323)
  24. 24.Ashmolean Museum collection online, 'Iron nail, square in section and very corroded. [SM 09/01/2008]', 1957.1.14 Online
  25. 25.Ashmolean Museum collection online, 'Iron crossbow bolt-head. The tip has three faces. [SM 10/01/2008]', 1957.1.13 Online
  26. 26.Anon., "A Royal Visit", Cyprus Today vol. 1, no. 1 (January–February 1963), pp. 16–17, p. 17.
  27. 27.Colonial Office, Annual Report on Cyprus for the Year 1947 (London: HMSO, 1948), p. 46
  28. 28.Colonial Office, Annual Report on Cyprus for the Year 1948 (London: HMSO, 1949), p. 43
  29. 29.Anon., "President Makarios Proposals to Amend the Cyprus Constitution", Cyprus Today vol. 1, no. 6 (November–December 1963), pp. 19–21, p. 21.
  30. 30.Anon., "Memorials to King Paul", Cyprus Today vol. 2, no. 2 (March–April 1964), supplement, p. 4.
  31. 31.A. PAPAGEORGHIOU, "Activities of the Department of Antiquities in the Field of the Conservation and Restoration of Ancient Monuments 1960-73", Cyprus Today vol. 11, no. 5-6 (September–December 1973), pp. 11–20, p. 15.
  32. 32.Colonial Office, Report on Cyprus for the Year 1949 (London: HMSO, 1950), p. 46
  33. 33.Colonial Office, Report on Cyprus for the Year 1951 (London: HMSO, 1952), p. 57
  34. 34.Pefkios Georghiades, "A Brief Introduction to Cyprus Architecture", Cyprus Today vol. 3, no. 3 (May–June 1965), pp. 20–21, p. 20.
  35. 35.Colonial Office, Cyprus: Report for the Year 1957 (London: HMSO, 1958), p. 87
  36. 36.Anon., "Cyprus Tourism, Its Evolution and Future (continued)", Cyprus Today vol. 7, no. 1 (January–March 1969), pp. 76–80, p. 77.
  37. 37.SAVVA SP. PATSALIDES, "Cyprus, Island of Aphrodite and Homer", Cyprus Today vol. 10, no. 3-4 (May–August 1972), pp. 24–27, p. 25.
  38. 38.S. Patsalides, "In Search of the Unusual Tourist Treasures of Cyprus", Cyprus Today vol. 7, no. 2-3 (April–September 1969), pp. 12–17, p. 17.
  39. 39.Nasa Christophidou, "The Medieval Castles of Occupied Cyprus", Cyprus Today vol. 31, no. 1 (January–March 1993), pp. 1–24, PDF p. 12.
  40. 40.Colonial Office, Cyprus: Report for the Year 1959 (London: HMSO, 1961), p. 86
  41. 41.Anon., "Stamps with Themes Taken from the Occupied Area of Cyprus", Cyprus Today vol. 22, no. 2-3 (May–December 1984), pp. 19–26, p. 23.
  42. 42.Sophoclis Hadjisavvas, "The Ancient Monuments of Cyprus", Cyprus Today vol. 23, no. 2 (April–June 1985), pp. 12–16, p. 15.
  43. 43.Anon., "In the Footsteps of Freya Stark", Cyprus Today vol. 36, no. 1-2 (January–June 1998), pp. 56–62, p. 59.
  44. 44.Maria Roussou-Sinclair, "British Colonial Writing on Cyprus", Cyprus Today vol. 38, no. 1 (January–April 2000), pp. 34–43, p. 42.
  45. 45.Anon., "Cyprus Through the Eyes of Two French Artists", Cyprus Today vol. 42 (September–December 2004), pp. 26–31, p. 30.
  46. 46.Anon., "Kerynia", Cyprus Today vol. 47, no. 1 (January–March 2009), pp. 2–12, p. 7.
  47. 47.Nasa Patapiou, "Kerynia during the Venetian Rule", Cyprus Today vol. 47, no. 1 (January–March 2009), pp. 13–29, p. 25.
  48. 48.Theophano D. Kypri, "Popular Traditions of Kerynia", Cyprus Today vol. 47, no. 1 (January–March 2009), pp. 30–39, p. 33.

Corrections and additions

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