Royal Tombs of Tamassos

The Royal Tombs of Tamassos (Vasilikoi Tafoi Tamassou) are located just next to the homonymous temple of Aphrodite, located in the archaeological site of Politiko of Nicosia in Cyprus.

In 1890, three built tombs of the Cypriot-Archaic period (about 650-600 BC) were excavated in Tamassos. The two of them are still in the place where they were found, while in the place of one of the tombs, the archaeological excavation brought to light only one ditch. According to the scholars, the construction of the royal tombs of Tamassos was first done by digging the trench, then building the tomb floor, and then building vertical walls, possibly placing the sarcophagus inside, while the tomb was still constructed, since it was more large in size than the doors.

The first and largest of the Royal Tombs of Tamassos consists of a corridor with over 11 steps, an antechamber and the burial chamber that contained the sarcophagus. The sidewalls of the corridor leading to the grave were built with hewed limestone blocks. This corridor eventually ended at the flat entrance of the tomb, which was supported by large blocks of relief pilasters, while above the entrance there is still a relief decoration with contiguous helical capitals and plant motifs. The burial chamber, as the visitor can see today, is a bit bigger than the anteroom. At its back, there is a platform on which a huge sarcophagus with decorative striations on the front is supported, and in front of it there is a stairway that served as a space for offerings. The whole building seems to be imitating wooden constructions, and its total height is almost 3 meters.

Moreover, the second of the Royal Tombs of Tamassos is considered to be simpler in construction and consists of a corridor with an initial 12 steps and a chamber. Its facade is triangular in shape and is formed by two large orthogonal limestones, which in turn are supported by two pillars. Additionally, the propylaio (vestibule) of this burial monument is surrounded by two large slabs with embossed reliefs that are covered from above by primitive capital columns. The burial chamber is rectangular, the walls were made of hewed limestone blocks, its total height is about 2.5 meters, and there is also a great sarcophagus in the depth of the chamber.