The Sanctuary & Temple of Apollo Hylates

Hylates was a god worshipped on the island of Cyprus who was later likened to the Greek god Apollo [1]. An important sanctuary was located in Kourion [1]. The sanctuary is located about 2.5 kilometres west of the ancient town of Kourion along the road which leads to Pafos [1]. It was one of the main religious centres of ancient Cyprus, where Apollo was worshipped as god of the woodlands [1]. It seems that the worship of Apollo on this site began as early as the eighth century BC and continued until the fourth century AD [1]. The site has undergone many extensions and alterations in different periods [1]. The majority of the monuments as they can be seen today belong to the site's first century AD restorations [1]. A wall from which one could enter the site via the Kourion Gate and the Pafos Gate surrounds the sanctuary [1].