Sanctuary of Apollo Hylates

Only about 3 km (1.5 miles) from the main site of Kourion, on the road to Paphos, you will find the Sanctuary of Apollo Hylates.

Apollo Hylates, was the God of the Woodland, and the protector of the city of Kourion. The cult of Apollo was celebrated at this site between the 8th century BC and the 4th century AD.

The site has undergone many extensions and alterations at different periods in time. Most of the structures as they are today belong to the restorations belonging to the 1st century AD. A wall from which one could enter the site via the Kourion Gate and the Pafos Gate surrounds the sanctuary. Originally the site consisted of: a temple, a circular monument, which was probably destined for processions or dances around a grove of sacred trees; and a formalized Archaic Altar and Precinct.

During the Roman era the site was enlarged with the addition of the north and south buildings, which may have been used for the display of votives or the accommodation of visitors. Pottery and figurines made out of terracotta, which were gathered in the temple from the 5th century B.C. to the Roman period, were buried in the Votive Pit.

There is a long road leads to the Temple of Apollo Hylates, which was built in the Late Classical or Early Hellenistic period on the ruins of the archaic temple. In the 1st century A.D. the temple was rebuilt. The priest might have had his house in a small building south of the complex. Along the external east side of the walls are the Palaestra where athletes once exercised and played games, and the baths.

Highlights:

• One of the most important sanctuaries on the island, testimony of the cult of Apollo

• So sacred was the shrine that the penalty for touching its altar was to be thorwn from the nearby cliffs into the sea.

Look Out For:

• The whole archaeological area of Kourion attracts lots of visitors, so it is recommended to visit early in the morning or later in the afternoon if you wish to avoid the crowds

• Wear comfortable shoes and have a bottle of water with you if visiting in the summer months, as the site is rather large and there is some walking and climbing involved

• You will need about two hours if you wish to visit the entire complex