CITIUM (Gr. Kition), the principal Phoenician city in Cy prus, situated on the south-east coast at the north end of modern Larnaca (q.v.). Converging currents from east and west greatly facilitated ancient trade. To south and west the site is protected by salt lagoons. The earliest remains go back to an Aegean colony of Mycenaean age (c. I400-1100 B.C.), but in historic times Cit ium is the centre of Phoenician influence in Cyprus. The biblical name Kittim, representing Citium, is, in fact, used quite gener ally for Cyprus as a whole ; later also for Greeks and Romans in general. In a list of the allies of Assur-bani-pal of Assyria in 668 B.C. a king, Damasu, of Kartihadasti (Phoenician for "New town") occurs where Citium would be expected. A Phoenician dedication to "Baal of Lebanon," found here, suggests that Citium may have belonged to Tyre : and an official monument of Sargon II. indicates that Citium was the administrative centre of Cyprus during the Assyrian protectorate (7o9-668 B.e.). During the Greek revolts of 500, 386 et seq., and 352 B.c., Citium led the side loyal to Persia and was besieged by an Athenian force in 449 B.C. It remained a considerable city even after the Greek cause triumphed with Alexander. But it suffered repeatedly from earth quakes and in mediaeval times its harbour became silted and the population moved to Larnaca, on the open bay. Harbour and citadel have now quite disappeared, the latter having been used to fill up the former shortly after the British occupation; some gain to health resulted, but an irreparable loss to science. There are traces of the circuit wall and many tombs.