Ταμασσός | |
 Map showing the ancient city-kingdoms of Cyprus | |
  Shown within Cyprus | |
| Location | Cyprus |
|---|---|
| Region | Nicosia District |
| Coordinates | 35°02′06″N 33°15′00″E / 35.035°N 33.250°E |
| Management | Cyprus Department of Antiquities |
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (December 2021) |
Tamassos (Greek: Ταμασσός) or Tamasos (Greek: Τἀμασος)[1] – names Latinized as Tamassus or Tamasus – was a city-kingdom in ancient Cyprus, one of the ten kingdoms of Cyprus. It was situated in the great central plain of the island, south-east of Soli, on the road from Soli to Tremithus. It is an archaeological site bordering the village of Politiko, about 21 kilometres southwest of Nicosia.
An Assyrian inscription from ca. 673 BC (Prism of Esarhaddon) refers to it as Tamesi, described as a city-state which paid tribute to the Neo-Assyrian Empire.[2] As there were copper mines in the neighbourhood, it is very probably the Temese mentioned by Homer (Odyssey, I, 184), which was in his time the principal copper market of the island.[3]
Today the villages of Psimolofou, Episkopeio, Pera Orinis, Ergates, Politiko, Kampia, Analyontas, and Kapedes occupy the site of the city.
- ^ Lewis & Short: Tămăsŏs
- ^ Maria Iacovou (2008). "Cyprus: from migration to Hellenization". In Gocha R. Tsetskhladze (ed.). Greek Colonisation: An Account of Greek Colonies and Other Settlements Overseas. Vol. 2. Brill. p. 261. ISBN 978-90-04-15576-3.
- ^ Sophrone Pétridès, "Tamassus" in Catholic Encyclopedia (New York 1912)