1. HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT KITION

To the south coast of Cyprus and underneath the houses of the modern town of Larnaca, lies the ancient town of Kition one of oldest and, in those times, one of the most important towns on the island of Cyprus.

As recent excavations have shown, the first civilized society flourished here at around 2000 B.C. This society continued until the Middle Bronze Age until 1650 B.C., and then for 400 years the site seems to have been abandoned.

Towards the end of the 13^th century B.C., the first Achaean settlers arrived. With their culture and experience, the Achaeans revived the town and most importantly, improved and refined the process of copper mining.

In 1050 B.C., the town was destroyed by a violent earthquake but was rebuilt to be inhabited for another 50 years until 1000 B.C. when the old site was abandoned in favor of moving closer to the sea.

It was not until 900 B.C. that the Phoenician settlers arrived in Cyprus and made Kition their main basis for their commercial activities in the Mediterranean. The Phoenicians ruled Kition until the end of 4^th B.C., when Ptolemy I destroyed the Phoenician dynasty. The Greek Macedonian King Ptolemy I, according to historian Diodoros, defeated and killed the last Phoenician King, Poumiathonas, in 312 B.C.

Zeno the founder of the Stoic School of Philosophy was born in Kition in about 338 B.C., a fact that is of great significance and pride for the people of the town of Larnaca.

The town of Kition was fortified at the beginning of the 13^th century B.C. by a mud-brick wall that at intervals had four-sided towers made of hewn stones. A little later towards the end of the 13^th century B.C., the Achaeans rebuilt the wall into a strong Cyclopean wall and built monumental Mycenaean temples near the copper workshops.

Two copper statuettes dating to the 12^th century B.C., one representing a bearded god and the other a naked goddess are indicative of the relation that existed between the temples of worship and the copper workshops.

In the area of Chrysopolitissa Church, the Cyprus Department of Antiquities in 1962 excavated and brought to light houses dated in the period 1300-1000 B.C. In the yards of some houses, there were found chamber tombs with rich offerings, among which the well-known rhyton made of faience with scenes from hunting. Other excavated objects included in Mycenaean pottery, gold jewels, alabaster vessels and artifacts made of ivory.

These findings tell of the relations of Kition with the outside world especially with the Aegeans, Egypt and the Syro-Palestine coast countries, and are evidence of the wealth and prosperity of the town attributed, no doubt, to the exports of copper which was then the basis of the economy of the whole Cyprus. Copper ore was transported probably from the nearby mines of Troulli and Kalavasos to the Kition where at its workshops the copper was excavated and worked into copper objects and coins, which were then conveniently exported from its harbor.

The Phoenician dynasty of Kition issued important series of coins mostly made of silver. In addition, the Phoenician temples and inscriptions found in Kition are widely known.

The ruins of Ancient Kition were believed to be one of the most important archaeological sites of Cyprus. It is with justified pride that the charter members of the new Rotary Club have decided to use Kition as the name of their Club and to exhibit the Cyclopean Wall of Kition on the Club’s banner as part of the emblem of the Rotary Club of Larnaca-Kition.

PP P.A. Sardos

Rot. L.K. Papasavvas

2. THE TOWN OF LARNACA

The town of Larnaca is the oldest living town of Cyprus. Its name is derived from the word “larnax” which means tomb or sarcophagus a great number of which are to be found in the area. Unlike Salamis, Amathus, Alasia, Engomi and other ancient cities of Cyprus, which were destroyed by earthquakes or other causes and were abandoned by their inhabitants, Larnaca from the time of it’s founding, lived and still lives on the same location. Present-day Larnaca is built over the ruins of ancient Kingdom of Kitium or Kition, which was founded by Kittim the grandson of Noah.

From the early dawn of history, Larnaca attracted many visitors. Some came as colonizers, like the Mycenaeans, others as peaceful traders, like the Phoenicians, those mysterious traders from ancient Lebanon, and others as invaders and conquerors like the Persians, the Romans, the Louisianans, the Venetians, the Turks and the British.

Without labouring on historical points too heavily,  it is worth noting a couple of great men of Kition: Zeno, the founder of Stoic School of Philosophy in Athens, was born here; St. Lazarus, raised from dead by Jesus, came to live his second life here, becoming the Bishop of Kition and is still reserved as the local Patron Saint of the town.

Moving swiftly through a fascinating history to more modern times, the British rule of Cyprus in 1878 found modern Larnaca a leading port and a diplomatic capital of the island.

At the end of second World War, Larnaca as a port was overtaken in importance by Famagusta and Limassol. Now, once again, after a long decline into obscurity, Larnaca has climbed rapidly back to tourist and commercial importance, with its modern port, its marina, its international airport, its industries and its many beautiful hotels and other catering establishments.

Its central geographical position on the south coast (just 10 minutes from the International Airport, yet outside the cone of noise of landing and departing aircraft) makes it an ideal base from which one can easily explore the rest of the island.

Larnaca is one of the Island’s most popular tourist resorts. With the new plan fir revamping its beautiful sea front and on completion of this most ambitious plan, which is the biggest tourist infrastructure project ever attempted in Cyprus, the town takes a step forward in its attempt to develop to the maximum possible extent its tourist potential.

The Cote d’ Azure style promenade of the town will thus take on a bright view air, behind the ageing palm trees on the beach. With the yachting marina which is also to be extended soon, at one end and the pleasant strip of bars, restaurants, tavernas and modern hotels extending along this spectacular sea front, Larnaca presents a unique picture of an oriental setting with plenty of modern amenities and comforts that the present day tourists search for.

The commercial and shopping centre of the town lies behind the promenade. All along the coast of Larnaca extend beautiful sandy beaches, which provide safe bathing for families relaxing with young children, and is dotted by beautiful modern and luxurious hotels.

Last bit not least Larnaca has s substantial culture activity. The Larnaca-Famagusta Association of Friends of Classical Music and the Culture Department of the Municipality of Larnaca, in close cooperation, work out a very rich programme of artistic events such as art exhibitions, recitals, concerts, festivals, lectures, etc. These take place at the Municipal Theatre, at the Larnaca Fort, the open-air theatre on the sea front and the Pattichion Amphitheatre within the Salt Lake Park of the town. This beautiful open-air theatre can seat over 2500 speactators.

The Church of St. Lazarus, The Fort of Larnaca, the Pierides Museum, Tornaritis-Pierides Palaeontology Museum the District Archaeological Museum, the Old Aqueduct known as “Kamares”, the Phaneromeni Church, the ruins of Ancient Kition, the Hala Sultan Tekke, the Angeloktisti Church with its famous mosaics, the Larnaca Salt Lake, the Khirokitia Neolithic Settlement, the Stavrovouni Monastery, the Agios Minas Monastery for nuns, the village of Lefkara and the picturesque and lovely villages of the Orini district of Larnaca, are sights worth paying a visit to.