Marcello Hill (Kouklia)
The Marcello Hill (also Marchello Hill or Plateau , also called site KA in the specialist literature ) is one of four plateaus separated by incisions and valleys that together formed the ancient city of Old Paphos on Cyprus . Marcello Hill was the northeastern one, until the 3rd century BC. Settlement plateau used in BC and rises in the immediate vicinity of the village of Kouklia to about 115 meters above sea level . The terrain continues to rise gently to the northeast, while it drops more steeply, especially on the southwest side. The north-east side of the hill, which is not naturally protected, includes extensive remains of the city's defenses as a site and was the scene of a significant military conflict during the Persian Wars . The excavation site can be visited.
Research history
As part of the St. Andrews and Liverpool Museum Mission from 1950–1955, initial investigations were carried out on Marcello Hill. During the excavations, a gate and a Bothros - originally interpreted as a ditch in front of the wall - were uncovered. The Bothros contained over 1000 fragments of Cypriot sculptures, hundreds of remains of inscriptions written in Cypriot syllabary , bow and arrow heads and a Corinthian helmet .
In the years 1966–1969, 1971–1973, 1985 and 1992–1995, an archaeological mission made up of Swiss and Germans examined the hill again and uncovered the so-called northeast gate and a siege ramp.
Investigations since the 1950s revealed a massive defensive wall made of air-dried clay bricks. Between 2006 and 2008, archaeologists from the University of Cyprus examined the ramp system, which was made of massive stones, over a length of 52 meters. In addition, it was found that the Marcello hill, as an independent acropolis within Old Paphos, had its own surrounding wall.
Historical background and findings
After the elevation of the Greek city-states on the west coast of Asia Minor in the winter of 499/498 BC. The rebellious Ionian cities received almost unanimous support from the city royals on Cyprus. As a result, the Persians also landed on Cyprus and besieged them in the winter of 498/497 BC. The fortress of the Paphier at Kouklia. The city wall, for the five construction phases from the early 7th century BC. Until the 4th century BC. Can be proven, was towards the end of the 6th century BC. BC, possibly directly in connection with the armed conflicts, reinforced by the defenders by facing limestone to a thickness of 5.65 meters and additionally protected by a ditch dug in front of it. The Persians filled in the moat in front of the city wall and obtained the filling material from the sanctuaries near Old Paphos. The massive bombardment of the Persians by the besieged is proven by the discovery of hundreds of bronze and iron points of arrows and javelins. It is unclear whether the attempt to undermine the Persian siege ramp in front of the city wall through tunnels and bring it to collapse was unclear. Four tunnels have been identified and numerous tools and drinking vessels used by the miners were found when they were uncovered . They passed under the city wall and partially reached the ramp of the Persians. The best preserved, intact tunnel was 1.20–1.70 meters wide and 1.70–2.30 meters high.
The defense of the complex was unsuccessful, the Persians stormed the fortress and destroyed the northeast gate. Only in the middle of the 4th century BC The defenses and the gate were repaired again. The Persian ramp was not removed, but enclosed by a wall. With the beginning of the decline of the city , which became less important during the Diadoch period , the defensive facilities were no longer maintained and fell into disrepair. From the 3rd century BC. There are no more findings that indicate settlement activities. Rather, the area seems to have only been used for agriculture until modern times.
Location and excavation site
The excavation area of the Marcello hill is about 500 meters northeast of the center of Kouklia. Coming from the center of Kouklia in the direction of Archimandrita it is approx. 50 meters to the right of the road.
The inside of the wall ring can be reached through the foundation walls of the city gate. The city gate was narrowed by two transverse bastions, so that the Persians had to overcome a winding entrance. A tunnel begins under the city wall.
literature
- Franz Georg Maier : Northeast gate and Persian siege ramp in Old Paphos (= excavations in Old Paphos on Cyprus. Volume 6). von Zabern, Mainz am Rhein 2008, ISBN 978-3-8053-2415-1 .
- Kyriakos Nicolaou: PAPHOS or Palaipaphos (Kouklia) Cyprus. . In: Richard Stillwell et al. a. (Ed.): The Princeton Encyclopedia of Classical Sites. Princeton University Press, Princeton NJ 1976, ISBN 0-691-03542-3 .
Web links
Remarks
- ↑ Maria Iacovou: , The Palaepaphos Urban Landscape Project ': Theoretical Background and Preliminary Report 2006-2007. In: Report of the Department of Antiquities, Cyprus. 2008, pp. 263–289, here: p. 277 ( PDF ( Memento of the original from July 3, 2016 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link has been inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and remove then this note. ).
- ^ Franz Georg Maier, Marie-Louise von Wartburg: Reconstructing history from the earth, c. 2800 BC-1600 AD: Excavating at Palaepaphos, 1966-1984. In: Vassos Karageorghis (Ed.): Archeology in Cyprus 1960-1985. Ananstasios G. Leventis Foundation, Nicosia 1985, pp. 142-172, here: pp. 153-155.
- ↑ Maria Iacovou: , The Palaepaphos Urban Landscape Project ': Theoretical Background and Preliminary Report 2006-2007. In: Report of the Department of Antiquities, Cyprus. 2008, pp. 263-289.
- ↑ Maria Iacovou: , The Palaepaphos Urban Landscape Project ': Theoretical Background and Preliminary Report in 2006-2007. In: Report of the Department of Antiquities, Cyprus. 2008, pp. 263–289, here: 276 f.
Coordinates: 34 ° 42 ′ 41.2 " N , 32 ° 34 ′ 51.8" E