T his is one of the earliest examples of architecture, and man reshaping the environment to suit his needs. The hypogeum is a series of underground caves and chambers with ceilings carved to reproduce the interior of an above-ground temple. They are one of several labyrinths and the remains of over 7,000 people have been found inside one of the burial chambers. The Bronze Age (~3600-~2500bc) catacombs were discovered by modern man between 1899 and 1902 when workers constructing homes surrounding a British naval base broke through one of the chambers. They were filled with water, dirt, or both and had to be cleaned out. Today the hypogeum is in remarkable condition, and an air conditioning system has recently been installed to help preserve the site. Also a drainage system has been added to keep water from seeping into the walls causing further damage.
1913 - The hypogeum is first opened to the public.
1992 - The hypogeum is closed to the public.
2000 - The hypogeum is reopened to the public after extensive conservation and preservation work.
