Ask the Chatbot Games & Quizzes History & Society Science & Tech Biographies Animals & Nature Geography & Travel Arts & Culture Money Videos
Amathus
Table of Contents
Introduction References & Edit History Related Topics
Images
Amathus: ruins of the Temple of Apollo Amathus, Cyprus Amathus sarcophagus
Quizzes
Temple ruins of columns and statures at Karnak, Egypt (Egyptian architecture; Egyptian archaelogy; Egyptian history)
History Buff Quiz
Three flint axes from the stone age. (prehistoric, tools, early humans, culture, archaeology, implements)
Ancient Civilizations
Related Questions
Read Next
Union Jack flag of Great Britain, united kingdom
What’s the Difference Between Great Britain and the United Kingdom?
Beet. Beta vulgaris. Sugar beet. Two rows of harvested beets.
18 Questions About Farming Answered
A wooden organizer holds various grains and seeds on a table. rice; oats; wild grains; healthy; barley; buckwheat; farro; wheat; bran
What Is the Difference Between a Grain and a Seed?
Map view of Europe on a geographical globe.
Where Does the Name Europe Come From?
Aphrodite. Greek mythology. Sculpture. Aphrodite is the Greek goddess of love and beauty.
12 Greek Gods and Goddesses
Discover
The Colosseum, Rome, Italy. Giant amphitheatre built in Rome under the Flavian emperors. (ancient architecture; architectural ruins)
New Seven Wonders of the World
United States electoral college map showing number of electoral votes by state.
How Does the Electoral College Work?
Globe South America, map
What’s the Difference Between Hispanic and Latino?
Close up of books. Stack of books, pile of books, literature, reading. Homepage 2010, arts and entertainment, history and society
12 Novels Considered the “Greatest Book Ever Written”
An ancient egyptian hieroglyphic painted carving showing the falcon headed god Horus seated on a throne and holding a golden fly whisk. Before him are the Pharoah Seti and the goddess Isis. Interior wall of the temple to Osiris at Abydos, Egypt.
11 Egyptian Gods and Goddesses
Aphrodite. Greek mythology. Sculpture. Aphrodite is the Greek goddess of love and beauty.
12 Greek Gods and Goddesses
Andrew Jackson delivering a speech while on his way to Washington, D.C., for his inauguration in 1829. From Harper's Weekly, 1881.
5 Remarkably Close U.S. Presidential Elections
Amathus: ruins of the Temple of Apollo
Amathus: ruins of the Temple of Apollo Ruins of the Temple of Apollo at Amathus, near Limassol, Cyprus.

Amathus

ancient city, Cyprus
verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style
Share
Share to social media
URL
https://www.britannica.com/place/Amathus
Feedback
Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login).
Thank you for your feedback

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

External Websites
Print
verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style
Share
Share to social media
URL
https://www.britannica.com/place/Amathus
Feedback
Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login).
Thank you for your feedback

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

External Websites
Written and fact-checked by
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Article History
Related Topics:
temple
Phoenician
Related Places:
Cyprus
See all related content
Amathus, Cyprus
Amathus, Cyprus

Amathus, ancient city located near Limassol, Cyprus, among sandy hills and sand dunes, which may explain its name (Greek amathos, “sand”). Founded by the Phoenicians (c. 1500 bce), Amathus maintained strong sympathies with the Phoenician mainland and refused to join various Cypriot revolts against Persia. When the rest of Cyprus was annexed to Egypt after the death of Alexander the Great, Amathus resisted annexation. It derived its wealth from grain and from copper mines. Its temple of Adonis and Aphrodite was famous in Roman times, hence the Latin epithet Amathusia applied to Venus. The city still flourished in the 7th century ce but was almost deserted by the 12th century.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia BritannicaThis article was most recently revised and updated by Amy Tikkanen.