According to ancient Greek tradition, Salamis was founded after the Trojan War, placing it not only on the shores of Cyprus but deep within the world of epic myth. While archaeology offers its own timeline, the legendary version tells of heroes who sailed from the ruins of Troy and brought their culture, language, and gods to a new home on the eastern edge of the Mediterranean.
Ancient Cyprus: Salamis was founded after the Trojan War
Teucer and the Mythical Origins of Salamis
The most famous tale links the founding of Salamis to Teucer, the half-brother of Ajax, one of the great warriors of the Trojan War. After failing to return home because of his exile, Teucer is said to have landed on the coast of Cyprus. There, he founded a new city and named it Salamis, in memory of his homeland in Greece. This myth gave the Cypriot Salamis an aura of nobility and heroism, linking it directly to Homeric legend.
A City That Grew Beyond the Myth
Though its foundation story is wrapped in myth, Salamis became a real and powerful city in ancient Cyprus. By the 11th century BC, it had emerged as a significant settlement. Over the centuries, it grew into a major urban center, thriving under Assyrian, Persian, Hellenistic, and Roman influence. With its harbor, temples, gymnasiums, and theaters, Salamis reflected both its Greek origins and its role as a cultural crossroads.
A Place Where Legend and History Meet
Today, the ruins of Salamis lie near modern-day Famagusta in Northern Cyprus. Visitors walk among crumbling columns and mosaic floors, surrounded by whispers of both gods and kings. While Salamis was founded after the Trojan War according to Greek tradition, its enduring power lies in how myth and history overlap—telling a story that still captures the imagination more than three thousand years later.