Akamas Peninsula, situated in the most western part of Cyprus, is a unique area of unparalleled beauty and ecological value as well as of significant natural and cultural landscape. The area is one of the most important natural areas of Cyprus which is included in the Ecological Network of protected areas of the European Union ”NATURA 2000”. Akamas is a declared National Forest Park by the Council of Ministers since 2016. Today, the biodiversity, the natural and cultural landscapes of Akamas, are all threatened by illegal structures and state plans. The state plans are currently under review. Upon the completion of the evaluation process in regards to the impact of these plans on the environment and landscape, final decision will be then taken that will determine the future of Akamas.
Akamas has a long history, dating back to pre-prehistoric times. Before the archaeological investigations at Akamas Peninsula, the site of Akrotiri – Aetokremnos was considered as the earliest known site [12th – 11th millennia BC] at which human activity is attested. The investigations at Akamas –Aspros indicate that human activity goes back to the time before 10,000 BC. According to Dr. P. Flourentzos and Dr. A. Ammerman (Department of Antiquities, Press release, 2007), ”this is the first time that archaeological material of such an early date (that is, material going back to the time before the Aceramic Neolithic period on the island which starts within the 9th millennia BC) has been recovered in a submerged context off the coast of Cyprus. This represents a major breakthrough in terms of the study of the earliest archaeology of Cyprus and the origins of seafaring in the Mediterranean world.” Thus, Akamas has provided tangible evidence that seafarers reached Akamas in times before the appearance of permanent occupation within the island. Equally importantly, the evidence from Aspros indicate that human activity took place in Western Cyprus as result of the exploitation of island resources including shellfish and avifauna. Such evidence have been also identified at Nissi Beach, at Eastern Cyprus (Zeman-Wiśniewska, 2018).
The area took its name from the mythical hero ”Akamas”, son of Theseus, who according to tradition, fought in the Trojan War. After the War, he founded cities in several areas of Greece and he travelled to Cyprus where he also founded a city, as believed Akamas. Akamas is closely connected with Goddess of love and beauty, Aphrodite. According to local tradition, Aphrodite had her sacral baths at an area, today known as the ”Baths of Aphrodite”. Archaeological remains dating to the Hellenistic and Roman periods have been also recovered. The Danish Akamas Project (1989 to 1993, the University of Aarhus), conducted surveys and excavated Ayios Kononas and three sites in its vicinity (Sergis, Osia Maria and Dhamalospilios), which yielded stratified material from the 5th to the 7th century AD. The results from the surveys yield evidence that date to the 3rd century BC and the 7th century AD (Lund, 2002).
Human presence is evident during the Byzantine and medieval times as well. The architectural remains of a complex that likely comprised an orthodox monastery, are situated in the forest of Akamas, near the Baths of Aphrodite. The site is known as the ”Tower of Rygaina” (greek: Ο Πύργος της Ρήγαινας).
The significant archaeological discoveries as well as the historical and natural importance of the region of Akamas renders future archaeological investigations necessary in order to reconstruct the past and understand the landscape of Akamas Peninsula as a whole, naturally and culturally.
Taking into consideration all the above, the whole region of Akamas peninsula has to be protected from illegal structures, plans for developments and proposals (links to relevant sites/studies can be found at the end of this article) that puts the uniqueness and importance of the area in threat. While the State Plan for the National Forest Park considers a number of positive developments, as BirdLife Cyprus (2021) points out, ”many of the proposals are of questionable value for the protection and proper management of Akamas”. Akamas is Cyprus’ legacy to the future generations. It has to be protected in a sustainable way, while promoting its ecological uniqueness and the real and long-term prosperity of the local communities.
Research and Text: Cyprus Archaeology Team
Photos: Cyprus Archaeology
Bibliography & Sources
Ammerman, A. et al., 2011, Underwater Investigations at the Early Sites of Aspros and Nissi Beach on Cyprus, in J. Benjamin, C., C. Bonsall, C. Pickard, A. Fischer, (eds). Submerged Prehistory, Oxbow Books.
BirdLife Cyprus [online] https://birdlifecyprus.org/what-is-happening-with-akamas-the-latest-developments/
Department of Antiquities of Cyprus, [online]
Department of Forests, Cyprus, [online]
Lund John. Frying pans and other cooking wares from the Akamas (Western Cyprus). In: Céramiques hellénistiques et romaines, productions et diffusion en Méditerranée orientale (Chypre, Égypte et côte syro-palestinienne). [Actes du colloque tenu à la Maison de l’Orient méditerranéen Jean Pouilloux du 2 au 4 mars 2000] Lyon : Maison de l’Orient et de la Méditerranée Jean Pouilloux, 2002. pp. 43-58.
Zeman-Wisniewska, K. 2018. The space above. Sacred sky in Prehistoric Cyprus, In L.S. Nebelsick, J. Wawrzeniuk, K. Zeman-Wisniewska, (eds.), Sacred space: contributions to the archaeology of belief, Archaeologica Hereditas Monographs of the Institute of Archaeology of the Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński in Warsaw, Institute of Archaeology, Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University in Warsaw.
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