New Paphos
Listen here: Introduction, Archaelogical Park of Paphos
Built on a small promontory on the south – west shore of the island, the ancient town of Nea Paphos is one of the most important archeological sites in Cyprus.
The town was founded at the end of the 4th century BC by Nicoclis, the king of Pafos, who moved the seat of his kingdom there from Palaepafos at the site of the modern village Kouklia.
At the beginning of the 3rd century BC, Cyprus was annexed to the kingdom of the Ptolemies with Salamis as its capital.
By the end of the 2nd century BC, having acquired a significant role as an administrative and economic center in the region, Nea Paphos became the capital of island under the Ptolemies who ruled from their capital, Alexandria.
When, in 58 BC, Cyprus was annexed to Rome, New Paphos remained the capital of the island, the only town in Cyprus retaining the privilege of minting coins during the Roman period.
Following the devastating earthquakes in the 4th century AD, the capital was once more moved to Salamina, renamed Constantia, and yet Papfos retained a dominant status among the rest of the towns on the island due to the Sanctuary of Aphrodite in Palaepaphos.
The decline and desertion of the town started following the Arab raids in the 7th century AD When Cyprus was annexed to the Byzantine Empire a new period of development started for the town and continued up to the Frankish period but towards the end of the same period, Paphos fell into decline again. The inhabitants started deserting it and moved inland to where, today, the modern town of Pafos (Ktima) is located.
Since 1980, the aecheological site of New Paphos, as well as that of Palaepaphos, are included in UNESCO ‘s World Heritage List.
Listen here: The house of Dionysus, Archaeological Park of Paphos
The House Of Dionysos: A sumptuous building of the Roman Period built according to the type of Hellenistic buildings where the rooms are arranged around an open colonnaded courtyard, which constitutes the nucleus of the house.
The roman villa seems to have been built at the end of the 2nd century AD and was destroyed during the earthquakes at the beginning of the 4th century AD.
One quarter ,out of an area of 2000 square meters over which the building extends, is covered with mosaic floors which depict mythological subjects or scenes from everyday life such as vintsage or hunting.
At the entrance to the building there is a mosaic floor made out of pebbles depicting the mythological monster Scylla. This belongs to an earlier Hellenistic building.
Listen here: The house of Orpheus, Archaeological Park of Paphos
The House Of Orpheus: Much as the House of Dionysos, this also a sumptuous building of the type of a Hellenistic house.
Dating from the end of the 2nd Beginning of the 3rd century AD it boasts superb mosaic floors.
The most notable one depicts an exquisite representation of Orpheus among animals.
It is of special interest that the name of the artist survives on an inscription.
Among themes on other mosaics in this building there is Hercules and the lion of Nemea and an Amazon riding her horse.
Listen here: The villa of Theseus Achilles Mosaic, Archaeological Park of Paphos
The Villa Of Theseus: was built in the second half of the 2nd century AD on the ruins of a previous houses of the Hellenistic and Roman periods and was inhabited until the 7th century AD.
Due to its immense area (it had no less than 100 rooms), it is believed to have been the residence of the Roman Pro-consul.
A number of rooms as well as the atrium, surrounded by colonnades, have their floors covered with mosaics.
Three rooms in the south wing of the building have mosaic floors that, in fact, belong to three different phases. The earliest, dating from the end of the 3rd beginning of the 4th century AD shows Theseus fighting with the minotaur inside the Labyrinth.
On this mosaic there is visible evidence of repairs done at a later time probably after the earthquakes in the mid 4th century. Another mosaic depicts Poseidon and Amphitriti and dates from the end of 4th century.
Concluding, at the beginning of the 5th century a new mosaic was added in the main hall of the villa showing the first bath of the newly born Achilles.
Listen here: The house of Aion, Archaeological Park of Paphos
The villa of Aeon: Just a small section of this building has been excavated to date.
On the floor of the apsidal reception hall there is one of the most spectacular specimens of the Paphos mosaics dating from the first half of the 4th century AD.
This exquisite mosaic consists of five panels depicting, in turn, the newly born Dionysos, Leda and the Swan, the beauty contest between Kassiopee and the Nereids, Apollo and Marsyas and, finally, the triumph of Dionysos.
The ornate designs and the presence of unique personifications in these mosaics clearly indicate a concealed deeper meaning.
The Roman Forum, The Odeion ,The Asklepieion: The forum, of which only the foundations survive, has the form of an immense courtyard.
The buildings on the western wing of the forum are better preserved.
The Odeion, which formed part of the complex of the Forum, was restored by the department of Antiquities and is used, today, for various cultural events.
A building to the south of the Odeion has been identified as the Asklepieion. The whole Roman complex dates from the 2nd century AD.
The Theater is located in the south –east tip of the of the ancient town on the slopes of the “Fabrica “hill.
Excavations conducted by the Sydney University are still to be concluded .
The theatre was built in 300 BC at the time, that is, of the foundation of the town of New Paphos.
During the Hellenistic and the Roman periods ,the theater underwent many changes and sems to have stopped being functional by the end of the 4th century AD.
The Chrysopolitissa Basilica is one of the first and largest basilicas built on the island in the second half of the 4th century AD.
Initially it had seven aisles which, in the 6th century, were reduced to five. The floors are covered with mosaics dating from the 4th and 6th centuries AD.
After its destruction, a new Byzantine church was built on its ruins in the 11th century followed by yet another church built in 1500 AD.
This last one survives and is being used by the Anglican Church. To the north of the basilica there are the ruins of a Gothic church that formed part of a Franciscan monastery. It dates from about 1300 AD and was destroyed in 1600 AD.
The Saranda Kolones Castle: The Byzantine castle known as Saranta Kolones, due to the large number of granite columns that survive in the site, is situated very close to the town harbor, south from the Roman forum.
The castle was built in the 7th century to protect the harbor from Arab raids and continued to be used up to 1222 AD when an earthquake destroyed it.
Source:Department of Antiquities Republic of Cyprus
More information about the Cypriot monuments of UNESCO see here
District: Pafos
Address: —
Administration: Department of Antiquities.
Working hours:
Winter Hours September 16th – April 15th: Monday – Sunday 8:30 to 17:00. January 1, Easter Day and December 25th closed.
Summer Hours 16 April – 15 September: Monday – Sunday 8:30 to 19:30.
During the following holidays the site is open as follows: January 6, 8:30 to 17:00, March 25, 8:30 to 17:00, Clean Monday 8:30 to 17:00, April 1 8:30 – 17: 00, Good Friday 8:30 to 19:30, Saturday 8:30 to 19:30, Easter Monday 8:30 to 19:30, May 1, 8:30 to 19:30, the Holy Spirit 8:30 – 19 : 30, 15 August 8:30 to 19:30, 1st Oktoviou 8:30 to 17:00, October 28 8:30 to 17:00, December 24 8:30 to 17:00, December 26 8:30 – 17 : 00.
Open: All round the year.
Facilities: The archeological site is partly accessible to wheelchairs (The guards can assist). Special rest rooms: available (marked). Special parking place: available (marked). There is a designated parking place. Toilets are available. Transactions in cash only. Groups of over 11 visitors have a 20% reduction on entrance fee (4,50 Euros) if accompanied by a licensed tourist guide. There are weekly tickets (25 Euros) and daily tickets (8,50 Euros) 3 day special entry card (17 euros) obtainable at any museum or archeological site under the competence of the Department of Antiquities. Access to free wifi network.
Postscript for people with visual impairment The House Of Dionysos: People with visual disabilities have the opportunity to gain seamless access to our archaeological tradition. The House Of Dionysos, have the opportunity to people with visual disabilities to learn about and understand in a direct and tangible way archaeological concepts such as mosaics and technology, recognizing the value and importance of preserving our archaeological heritage.
In collaboration with the School for the Blind have been constructed and placed explanatory signs for The House Of Dionysos with Braille writing system, and three-dimensional replica of the theater enables people with visual impairment of space perception. Dummy and mosaic tesserae that follow the ancient construction methods and are free to the public to touch enable individuals to understand interactive technology and workmanship. The guardian, located in the archaeological area, appropriate to the School for the Blind trained as guides, so that people with visual disabilities to have a meaningful and personal experience and to gain the most from their visit. At the same time, reinforcing the acquisition of comprehensive knowledge, informative guides have been published in Greek and English, in Braille system and enlarged writing, you are free to people with visual disabilities, with information materials on the monument.
Telephone / Fax: 00357-26306217 / —
Website / Email: www.mcw.gov.cy/mcw/da/da.nsf / antiquitiesdept@da.mcw.gov.cy
Entrance Fee: 4,50 Euros. (free entrance for elementary and secondary students, students – should have student cards, soldiers in uniform, holders of icom card and unemployed. 50% ticket price reduction for recipients of public assistance, retired persons and members of large families).
Tickets: Entance of archeological site or any museum or archeological site under the competence of the Department of Antiquities.
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