The area around Limassol has been inhabited since the Stone Age and encompassed two ancient city-kingdoms: Kourion and Amathus. It is assumed that the city was founded by settlers from Amathus. The first recorded mention of the place dates to 451 AD, and the name Lemesos to the 10th century.

The museum was founded in 1948 and has been housed in a modern building since 1975, which has been further extended in recent years.

Capital
depicting the (Egyptian) goddess Hathor

Amathus, Cypriot Archaic period, 6th century AD

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Fifteen ‘Hathoric’ capitals and stelae have been found in Amathus, all of which date from the 6th to the 5th century AD. The depictions are inspired by Egypt and show a ‘Hellenised’ image of the Egyptian goddess Hathor.