Lost Sanctuary of Apollo Unearthed in Cyprus After 140 Years!
A long-lost sanctuary dedicated to the god Apollo has been rediscovered in the Frangissa Valley, near the village of Pera Orinis in Cyprus, bringing to light one of the island’s most significant archaeological treasures.
Originally uncovered in 1885 by German archaeologist Max Ohnefalsch-Richter, the sanctuary was once considered one of the richest rural religious sites in the region. Ohnefalsch-Richter unearthed hundreds of votive statues—some of them enormous—and fully excavated the site’s structural elements, including walls and statue bases. However, after his work was completed, the site was backfilled and, over time, forgotten.
Photo Credit: Republic of Cyprus
That all changed in 2021, when a joint team of archaeologists from the Universities of Frankfurt and Kiel/Würzburg, led by Matthias Recke and Philipp Kobusch, reignited the search. They successfully identified the original excavation site, and by 2024, they had resumed full-scale digs at Frangissa. What they found was astonishing: substantial parts of the sanctuary, a dedication courtyard, and over 100 statue bases, most of them belonging to colossal sculptures, emerged from beneath the earth.
According to the Republic of Cyprus Department of Antiquities, these excavations revealed more than just the bases. Among the backfill, researchers discovered a large number of statue fragments that had gone unnoticed during the original 19th-century dig. “It appears that in the rush to uncover the most impressive finds in 1885, many smaller fragments were overlooked,” the Department noted.
These rediscovered fragments are expected to help archaeologists and museum curators restore long-incomplete statues currently housed in the Cyprus Museum and the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto. Among the new finds are pieces of limestone statues with massive feet—clear evidence of monumental male figures dating back to the Archaic period (7th–6th centuries BCE). Until now, only terracotta statues, like the famous “Colossus of Tamassos”, had been known from this site.
Photo Credit: Republic of Cyprus
In addition to sculptures, the team also uncovered a fascinating variety of votive offerings not previously recorded. These include Egyptian faience amulets and glass marble beads, suggesting the sanctuary was not only a local centre of worship but also part of a wider network of cultural and religious exchange.
Intriguingly, two of the statue bases carry inscriptions, one in the Cypro-Syllabic script and the other in Greek, referring to the Ptolemaic dynasty. These texts show that the sanctuary remained in use well into the Hellenistic period, long after the fall of Cyprus's ancient kingdoms.
The dig also revealed evidence of substantial architectural developments during this later phase, including a large colonnaded courtyard that may have hosted ritual banquets or symposia. This points to the sanctuary functioning not just as a place of worship, but as a vibrant social and ceremonial hub.
Importantly, the rediscovery of the Apollo Sanctuary provides a rare opportunity for modern scholars to properly document and study features that were only partially recorded in the 19th century. With today’s archaeological methods, this re-excavation could significantly deepen our understanding of ancient Cypriot religious practices, monumental art, and cross-cultural connections.
After nearly 140 years hidden beneath the soil, the Apollo Sanctuary at Frangissa is once again illuminating the rich tapestry of Cyprus’s ancient past.