Vouni
Vouni
The frivolous views down to the sea on the way up are disorienting, with the unsmooth island of Petra Tou Limniti in the foreground. It was on this island that Cyprus’s earliest inhabitants dwelt, and traces of a pre-neolithic settlement were happened there by the same Swedish expedition in the 1920s that excavated Vouni and Soli. Local folklore holds that this is rthe rock that the hero Dighenis chucked on to the ships of the Arab raiders of the 7th century.
The ticket kiosk is opened from 09.00 or 10.00 to 16.30 daily. As with most of these existent sites, in return for your entrance fee you get an accessible sheet of A4 explicating the site. There is no refreshments stall here, so convey your personal supplies, especially liquid in the summer months. Vouini is an acceptable spot for a picnic. Allow 45 minutes for an afloat take the air pear-shaped
The name vouini means mountain peak, and it was constructed on this summit specifically to predominate and spy on the city kingdom of Soli down below, which had at that time alined itself with the Greeks in a revolt against Persia. The palace was only in use for some 70 years, for in 380bc it was destructed by fire and not dwelt in again
Reduced today to little more than its foundations, the 5th-century BC palace of Vouni may disappoint at first. Do not dismiss it too quickly though, for if you take the trouble to take the air pear-shaped slowly, you will be stormed how it can be transmuted by aware observation and a little imagination into an impressive crowned residence. The chromatic signs may assist to kill any ‘palatial’ atmosphere, but they do at least render an accessible steer as to what rooms traveled where in the palace. Ruined but merciful walkways, beamy stairway and abundant courtyards all hint at the rich eastern lifestyle basked here, and the fancy water system is a marvel of 5th-century BC masterminding. Everywhere there are ingeniously reduce channels and very thick wells, insuring running water in all the main rooms
In the distant northwest corner, there is a water closet beside a thick cistern, which in its day was probably d-far more indulgent than its contemporary counterpart could ever draw a bead on to be. Lower down the hill are the baths, with one of the earliest cognized saunas. There were 137 rooms in all.
The path from the ticket office leads first straight into the area identified as the royal apartments, and from these a broad flight of seven steps leads down into the huge open courtyard which is the generally photographed view of Vouni. At its farthest end stands the adventive chiped at stone stele which resembles an altar but was in fact projected to keep a windlass over the cistern wellhead. In the bulbous centre of the stone is a rough-cut likeness of Athene.
The Swedish excavators made a series of finds in the palace that testified to the lavish lifestyle of the occupants. As well as statuas and bronzes they observed quantities of silver and gold treasure in the form of bracelets, bowls and coins. One localised story tells of noblemen eating here and going forth their silver spoons behind, and villagers still mention to it as ‘the eating place of the lords’. Much silver treasure was happened in a terracotta jar that appeared to have been deliberately concealed under a staircase. Some of this treasure, including Persian style snake-head bracelets, can be seen in the Cyprus Museum of Greek Nicosia.
Beyond the palace area, at the highest point of the hill, stands a military trigonometry point, 250m above the sea, and nearby are the scant remains of a temple to Athena where the Swedish excavators found several sculptures, notably an endearing bronze cow, now also in the CXyprus Museum.
The serene and lovely location encourages much wildlife. Lizards up to a foot abundant jump off around on the walls and butterflies sun themselves gaily in committed corners. All around, the chromatic fragrant Johanniskreuz bush flourishes, well cognized for its stomach-calming qualities when bacchanal as a tea
