Enkomi

an ancient city in southeastern Cyprus that arose in the third millennium B.C. and flourished from 1600 B.C. to 1050 B.C. Enkomi was also known as Alashiya (a name that in the 15th century B.C. became applied to the entire island of Cyprus).

An influx of Achaeans from Greece in the 16th century B.C. contributed to the rapid growth of Enkomi and led to the predominance of features of the Mycenaean culture. Excavations begun in the early 20th century uncovered ruins of a defensive cy-clopean wall and of a royal palace dating from the late 15th to early 13th centuries B.C. In Enkomi multiroom houses that had family burial vaults under them were built along paved streets. Evidence of copper-smelting production, including copper ingots made for export, has been discovered in the artisans’ quarters of the city.

Enkomi was overrun by a new wave of Achaean settlers circa 1200 B.C; a temple of Apollo was erected from cut stone next to a restored palace. Enkomi went into decline circa 1050 B.C. as a result of attacks by the Peoples of the Sea.