Kouklia, Cyprus - The Sanctuary of Aphrodite, Part 2

Today I worked 9:30 to 2 at the Charity shop; sorted books, changed out the clothing hanging in the windows, put some different stuff outside to lure passersby in and, at the end of the day, swept. We had a good day, breaking Maureen's previous record of 70 euros in a day.

Inside the Medieval Manor House (which looked more like a fortress to me) it was warm, out of the wind, and quiet. The 4  people there left as I walked in.

Pieces from the Sanctuary are scattered around the courtyard

and some have been used

in the building itself.

A beautiful Gothic hall is now used

for community events and concerts.

The Museum is made up of 2 galleries. One, with a geometric mosaic floor, holds the large finds from the site

The dates are mind boggling.

The original focus of the worship of the Great Goddess. A sign asked that you not touch the artifacts but with this one I was tempted. Had it been polished originally or was it smooth from people touching it for thousands of years?

The other gallery contained smaller finds, displayed in chronological order. Figures assumed to be depictions of the Goddess or gifts to the Goddess.

Jugs and containers

Pieces of what, at one time, had been fine pottery.

It was difficult to get good pictures as they were behind glass

including the only non-geometric mosaic found on the site of Leda and the Swan.

There were some larger pieces in here too

including this wing from a Sphinx, made from stones of different colours

and some more bathtubs and finely carved pillars.

Back outside again I followed a tiny sign

to a path around the periphery of the site

to the Roman Villa where the Leda and the Swan mosaic had been found. Although covered, that is a reproduction in the centre of the original mosaic.

I walked back to the entrance and around the outside of the fence

to the Byzantine church

Built in the 12th Century and added to in the 16th,

unfortunately it was all locked up.

Walking back into the village, I found

where all the feral cats were fed

and where I could be fed.

I sat, just inside the front window, in the sun, and had a carafe of tap water, glass of wine, prawns and avocado and tahini with pita.

I had been told that the village sits on the remains of a large Roman community and walking back to the bus stop I saw walls being uncovered in someones garden.

Behind the bus stop, next to the garbage pick up, fenced, but with no sign;

another mosaic!