Tamassos (in Greek: Ταμασσός) was one of the ten ancient kingdoms of Cyprus, located in the central inland part of the island, about 12 miles (20 km) southwest of present-day Nicosia. It was probably founded between the 10th and 8th centuries BCE, but the city is certainly documented in an Assyrian inscription from the 7th century BCE, which describes it as a city-state tributary to the Neo-Assyrian Empire. Archaeological excavations show that the site was inhabited since the Chalcolithic Age.
During the Hellenistic period, Tamassos came under Greek and Phoenician influence. King Pasikypros sold it to the Phoenicians of Kition, and later Alexander the Great assigned control of it to Pnytagoras, the king of Salamis. During this period, new public buildings were constructed, including a temple dedicated to Aphrodite, reflecting the city’s religious and cultural importance.
Today, the heart of ancient Tamassos lies beneath the modern village of Politiko, near the monastery of Agios Herakleidios. Although excavations are limited due to overlap with the current settlement, the area still preserves significant traces of its long history, making it one of the most fascinating archaeological sites on the island.