SALAMIS Sǎl’ ə mǐs (Σαλαμίς, G4887). A harbor on the W coast of the island of Cyprus.

The ancient site, N of modern Famagusta, has been completely silted in by the River Pedias. According to tradition it was founded after the Trojan war by Teucer who was from the island of Salamis near Athens. However, there is archeological evidence of an earlier Mycenean settlement. It traded actively with Phoenicia, Egypt, and the E. The sources of commerce were grain, wine, olive oil, and salt.

The city is mentioned as a tributary of Assurbanipal of Assyria in 668 b.c. Assyrian influence is evident from terra cotta figures found on the site. Salamis took part in the revolt of the Ionian Greeks against Persia in the 5th and 4th centuries. Demetrius I Poliorcetes, in quest of all of Alexander’s empire, defeated Menelaus, the brother of Ptolemy I, off Salamis in 306 b.c. The Egyptians recovered the island in 295 and controlled it until M. Porcius Cato annexed it in 58 b.c. in repayment for loans made to Ptolemy Auletes. Cyprus first became part of the province of Cilicia, but in 31 b.c. it became a separate imperial province. In 22 b.c. it became a senatorial province; hence, Sergius Paulus is correctly identified as proconsul (Acts 13:7).

A large number of Jews were encouraged by the Ptolemies to settle in the city. Greatly damaged by the Jewish revolt of a.d. 116-117 and by earthquakes, it was rebuilt by Constantius II and renamed Constantia.

Paul and Barnabas, assisted by John Mark, preached in the synagogues there on the first missionary journey (Acts 13:5). From Salamis they proceeded across the island to Paphos. Barnabas was a Cypriot. His reputed tomb, discovered in a.d. 477, is located near the monastery of Ail Barnaba.

Epiphanius, bishop of Salamis (a.d. 367-402), was a strong supporter of the monastic movement and a rigorous opponent of the followers of Origen.

Bibliography Oberhummer in Pauly-Wissowa, RE s. v. “Salamis 2.”