|Polis through the ages| In Egypt at Medinet Habu in the temple
of Ramesses III, for example, there is a large 12th century BC
inscription which refers to Cyprus. The names of Cypriot towns
mentioned include Marion. However, the first definite reference
to Marion occurred in 449 BC, when the city, as indeed other
city-kingdoms of Cyprus , was under Persian rule. During that
year, Kimon, the great Athenian general, freed the city from the
Persians. Later, the ancient geographers spoke of the town as
"Marion Ellinikon"The Hellenic Marion. The Kingdom was rich in
Gold and Copper ore, mind chiefly in the nearby Limni Mines. It
was the natural wealth which led the city to a period of
flourishing trade, especially with Athens, which in its turn,
exported many Attic pots to Marion. Samples of this pottery can
be viewed at Polis Archaeological Museum. According to
tradition, Athenian Akamas, son of Theseus, disembarked near
Polis after the Trojan war and gave his name to the Cape of
Akamas and the city of Akamantis,