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Roman Period  The
The first Roman Governor was Marcus Portius Catto whose task was to annex the island.
After he came to Cyprus in 58 B.C., almost four hundred years of Roman domination
began.
Prosperity
Although the Roman period (50 B.C. - 330 A. D.) was marked with the disasters like
earthquakes and droughts, it also reflects flourishing cultural development and
prosperity. Far-sighted tax reforms that were first initiated by Julius Caesar and
continued by Augustus, resulted in the treasury of the Roman Empire, which was now
reasonably well-off. This provided vast sums of money to be spent for the benefit of
the public.
Roman Architecture
The contribution to the Cyprus was massive. There were new well-frequented harbors
built, enabling the trade exchange all over the island. There was the particular one
of Salamis that became incredibly rich as it provided exports to other markets of
the Roman Empire. The harbor and a temple dedicated to Aphrodite are mentioned by
Strabo, when he visited Soloi around 20 B.C. In Limassol, the Stadium of Kourio,
the Theatre of Kourio (rebuilt and enlarged), the Sanctuary of Apollo (reconstructed)
and the mosaic of Kuorio represent the peculiar monuments of the epoch. The Mosaics,
the Odeion, the Theatre, the Asklepieion and the Agora in Pafos are also typical of
Roman period. Still visible at the monastery, the aqueduct in Agia Napa is the evident
proof of that time, as the water was channeled to all the major towns via large
aqueducts. There was one from the spring in the Kyrenia Mountain that linked Salamis
and was 35 miles (56 km) long.
| What is more, during the Roman period the road circling around
the island was laid, built with the Roman precision and linking the most important
towns. There were also stadiums, theatres, and places for entertainment of the
population built, among which the Stadium in Salamis as well as the theatres in
Salamis and Soloi. Market place had the function of the entertainment, but also
of the goods exchange and trade. |
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Launch of Christianity
There also exists the evidence that during this very period it was Apostles Paul, Barnabas and his
young relative Mark, who diffused the Christian religion and successfully persuaded the proconsul
Sergius Paulus to convert to Christianity at Paphos. Cyprus became the first country to be ruled
by a Christian. The mission of the Christianity was about to spread throughout the whole Roman
Empire. However, Barnabas' life ended unpleasantly. While he was preaching in the city, the
native Jews of Salamis stoned him to death. Jews continued their uprising against the spread of
Christianity, and it is reported that around 110 A. D. they murdered over 250 000 local Christians.
After the Emperor Trojan took the lead, this rebellion was put down and resulted in expelling all
the Jews from the island.
Constantine the Great
Next stage in the Roman domination showed a prosperous and a flourishing island. After the gradual
downturn of the Roman Empire, it was Constantine the Great, who took the lead and made tremendous
effort to maintain his empire together with the firm Christian establishment. Later the earthquake
struck and destroyed many cities including Salamis, which was given the name Constantia, after the
Emperor Constantinus II. Although it was partly reconstructed, it never reached its former grandeur.
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