Description of the attraction
Not far from the Cypriot capital of Nicosia is the town of Morphou, the main attraction of which is the ancient city of Soli, of which today only ruins remain. It was once one of the ten largest city-states, where all the active life of Cyprus was concentrated at that time. And it got its name in honor of the legendary Greek politician and philosopher Solon.
Scientists have not yet come to a consensus about the date of the city's foundation. The first evidence that people lived in this area dates back to the 11th century BC. And a full-fledged city appeared there, according to one version, only by the 6th century BC, according to another version, this event took place even later - in the 2nd century BC.
During their excavations, archaeologists discovered many interesting buildings and objects on the territory of the city. Although all the temples, palaces and the most significant buildings in Soli belong to different historical periods, most of the finds belong to the Roman era. One of the most grandiose finds was a huge Roman amphitheater, which was designed for about 3, 5 thousand people. The amphitheater has excellent acoustics, and also offers a wonderful view of the surroundings. Also, scientists have found a statue of Aphrodite of Cyprus, dating back to the 1st century, which, however, is quite well preserved.
In addition, during the excavations, it was possible to find temples dedicated to Aphrodite, Isis, Serapis, several large palaces, an agora with a marble fountain, many tombs where a large number of treasures were found, which can now be seen in the archaeological museum of the city of Guzelyurt, and many other interesting things. …
