Archaeological park from Paphos 11 km village. Buildings of the ancient city. What you need to go to Cyprus in Paphos

Cyprus is known not only wonderful beaches, hotels and resorts with medical thermal springs. Every inch of this island's land is soaked centuries of history and contains traces of all civilizations that have left a mark in this fertile land. Amazing climate, fertile land, proximity to the sea, abundance fresh water, the richest deposits of copper ore, developed since the III millennium BC - these are just some of the reasons why Cyprus has always been tempting for many other countries and peoples.

It belonged to the Greeks, Romans, Byzantine Empire, Republic of Venice, Ottoman Empire, Great Britain. Its history is very interesting and multifaceted. The land of Cyprus has preserved and brought to us invaluable evidence of all ancient eras and traces of the peoples living on it. The study of the island and archaeological excavations continue at the present time, revealing more and more secrets to the world. rich history countries. Every modern city or a small settlement is hidden under the ruins of ancient or later buildings, so Kato Paphos, until recently, kept the secrets of ancient Nea Paphos.

History of the archaeological park in Paphos

1962 is the time of the sensational discovery of the remains of Roman villas on the island and the start of large-scale archaeological sites. A farmer from a small local village located just 300 meters from the old harbor of Paphos, while plowing his land with a tractor, accidentally discovered an ancient mosaic. The subsequent work, which lasted 20 years, with the participation of archaeological expeditions from different countries found four sites with unique floor mosaics. As it was found out, these sites turned out to be the only thing left of the richest villas of the II-III centuries of the first millennium AD. The mosaic has been remarkably preserved in many places, without losing its brightness and variety of colors.

In the following years, not only ancient residential buildings were discovered, but also temples, a theater, city walls, streets, basilicas, a stone bridge, as well as a fortress from the Middle Ages. Sensational discoveries continue to this day. Since 1980, the Paphos Archaeological Park has been the most important part of the world cultural heritage under the protection of UNESCO.

The name "park" and not "museum" very accurately reflects the essence: all objects, being in the open air in their almost original form (some have awnings), form a single complex on large area very convenient to visit and explore. Looking at each building, walking along the ancient streets or sitting on the stone bench of the amphitheater, modern man enjoys a unique opportunity to touch antiquity or the times of the crusaders and feel like an ancient Greek, Roman or knight.

The Archaeological Park of Paphos is open all year round and the entrance fee is only a few euros. The most valuable mosaics are in the very villas that were opened by the farmer in 1962. This is the house of Dionysus, Aeon, Theseus, Orpheus. Located in the southern part of the park medieval fortress Saranta Colones. On its vast territory, the agora (forum), odeon (amphitheatre), the temple of Asclepius, basilicas and other buildings are also open for inspection. It will take several hours to carefully examine everything and take photos.

Mosaics of the House of Dionysus

Remarkably preserved floor mosaics, occupying a considerable area of ​​a whole street block, are located in the so-called house of Dionysus. Its owner is a wealthy citizen of Nea Paphos, whose name has not been preserved. In his time, in the 2nd century AD, the dwelling had 40 rooms and more than 500 square meters. meters of mosaic floors. The house was built on the foundations of an even more ancient dwelling, which also had floor mosaics. Now all this beauty with many discovered objects of ancient life can be appreciated by every tourist. Unfortunately, the walls and ceilings of residential buildings have not been preserved, which were also richly decorated with frescoes and stucco according to the customs of those times. The dwelling of Dionysus and many other buildings were destroyed during earthquakes in the 4th century, from which the whole of Nea Paphos was significantly damaged.

During the excavations, an atrium was discovered, the center of housing, all other living and utility rooms are located around it. Each of them has its own unique mosaic pattern. The very first and ancient images are simpler, they are made with a simple geometric pattern from raw pebbles. There are only three colors: brown, black, white. The later mosaic is a true work of art. These are newer technologies for creating a mosaic coating, a specially made substrate of stones and lime, on which are laid out drawings from small pebbles, pieces of multi-colored glass and marble, which was specially imported to Cyprus and was very expensive. The combination of glass and stones of various shades resulted in a wide range of colors.

At the entrance to the house of Dionysus is the oldest mosaic in Cyprus. This is an image of Skilla (Scylla), a monster that combined a girl, a dog and a fish. Nearby is the same ancient symmetrical drawing of two dolphins. Both images were created in the first millennium BC and are almost completely preserved. A strict geometric pattern, clear lines, a combination of white, black and brown - these are the distinguishing features of the most ancient mosaic floor.

If you go inside the dwelling of Dionysus, tourists will be greeted by floor images of the first millennium of a new era. They are made more perfectly, in different color shades, the figures have smooth outlines and accurately express all the movements of the human body. Here you can see Narcissus, who is unable to take his eyes off his beautiful reflection on the water surface, or a masterfully executed figurative representation of Time and the four seasons of the year.

All other mosaics of the house of Dionysus are drawings traditional for the period of Roman rule over the island. Many hunting scenes, where the slightest movement of a person or animals, a stretched bowstring and an arrow flight are immediately guessed. There are also images of animals that are not typical for Cyprus, which speaks of the island's many-sided ties with other states. Very interesting are the drawings that tell about the history of winemaking, about the role of the god Dionysus in this, about the spread of wine drinking among people: shepherds are depicted, who became “the first to drink wine”. Clusters of grapes on climbing vines, various birds pecking at berries are skillfully and skillfully conveyed, the entire harvesting process is accurately captured. Each mosaic has an explanatory inscription about what characters and scenes are depicted.

Remarkable are the mosaic color drawings that tell about various mythical incidents and love stories. Through a variety of color shades and skillful transmission of various movements of the human body, the ancient artist was able to express both love and joy, as well as the drama of what is happening, horror, fear, despair of the characters.

House of Theseus, slayer of the Minotaur

Another residential building, the house of Theseus, is located in the open air and is the ruins of a once huge building. The proconsul of Rome lived here in the 3rd century AD. In the IV century, the house was destroyed by an earthquake, then rebuilt again. In the 7th century, the house of Theseus was destroyed by the Arabs.

The floor mosaics of the building were made before the earthquake using Roman technology and reconstructed already during the Byzantine Empire. Technical differences can be clearly traced even by an inexperienced person. These mosaic images are real highly artistic paintings, a combination of the richness of the color palette and the talent of the master, who managed to convey the slightest emotional nuances and movements of the characters. The scene of the battle between the Minotaur and Theseus in the labyrinth, schematically made in the form of a circle, is perfectly preserved here, the figure of Ariadne, the defeated monster and the figurative image of Crete are visible. Other mosaic paintings are scenes that successively depict the birth, washing and life of Achilles, the son of a goddess and a mortal man.

House of the god of justice Eon

Opposite the dwelling of Theseus, on the other side of the ancient street, are the ruins of another very interesting building. Its excavations are still ongoing, but what is already possible to survey is simply magnificent. It was the house of a rich man, as evidenced by the proximity to the residence of the Roman proconsul. The remains of the walls, painted unique frescoes. Most of the rooms are paved with floor mosaics with a simple geometric pattern, but central room, intended for receiving and treating guests, is a masterpiece.

Its flooring was made in the 4th century AD by the most skilled craftsmen. A very small mosaic was used, ranging in size from 2 to 5 mm, which has many color shades. Transitions from one color to another imperceptible to the eye create the impression of a three-dimensional image. All the figures of people, animals and birds, plants and fruits look as close to reality as possible and appear before a modern person as alive.

The central mosaic depicts the god of justice Eon, hence the name of the entire building. Other mosaic paintings are mythological scenes that tell about the competition of sea nymphs and Cassiopeia and about her victory, about Apollo and Marsyas, about Zeus in the swan form and Leda. Undoubtedly, during the excavations of the house of Eon, many mosaics and frescoes, objects of culture and everyday life will be discovered that will tell about the life of people at the beginning of the first millennium of a new era.

House of Orpheus

The ruins of this building were known even before the Second World War, but scientific excavations and research began only in 1982. For many years a large number of valuable artifacts were gone, part of the ruins was dismantled for the construction of modern buildings. What has been preserved is only a small number of rooms: bedrooms, baths and living rooms. The floors in the bedrooms were earthen, with mosaic flooring in only three other rooms.

The building dates back to the 2nd century AD, so the mosaic paintings there were created using a different technology - differently than in the dwelling of Aeon. Jigsaw puzzle pieces are bigger, smaller color palette, repetitive geometric patterns are widely represented. Thanks to the inscription in ancient Greek, laid out by the artist, it became known that the first owner of this dwelling was a Roman subject Titus Gaius Restitut.

But the building is not named after him. The house of Orpheus is so named because of the largest mosaic depiction of this character, well-preserved, playing the lyre, surrounded by trees and forest animals. The other two mosaics depict warlike Amazons, horses, plants, a scene of the struggle between Hercules and a lion.

Remains of the Middle Ages, or Saranta Kolones Castle

The history of this castle is very interesting, it died and was reborn three times. Built at the beginning of the 7th century, this defensive bastion was destroyed by the Arabs 40 years later. Then it was rebuilt, but after 30 years the fortress was dismantled as a result of already peaceful negotiations and agreements. Hundreds of years later, in 1191, King Richard the Lionheart, together with his crusaders, completely restored the castle of Saranta Kolones, or the castle of Forty Columns (according to the number of granite columns left after the destruction of the first structures of the fortress).

It was an excellent defensive complex, consisting of two rows of fortress walls. The first wall, three meters wide, had a semicircular gate facing east, and a drawbridge spanning a deep ditch. Behind it was another fortress wall that surrounded the castle itself. There were living quarters, outbuildings, soldiers' barracks, stables, bathhouses, kitchens and bakeries. On the top floor there was a Christian chapel.

But the earthquake of 1222 almost completely leveled this wonderful fortress, which was no longer restored. Today, visitors to the Paphos Archaeological Park will be able to see only the remains of the outer and inner fortress walls, some buildings and the gates of the castle.

Agora, Odeon and other historical buildings of the Archaeological Park

The ancient Agora, or Forum, of the city of Nea Paphos has survived to this day. This is a big Town Square, having a rectangular shape and lined with even stone slabs. Built in the 2nd century AD, before the earthquake of the 4th century, it served as a place for the townspeople to meet and communicate, to conduct trade. Along the edges of the Agora were the main government buildings.

The Odeon, or Roman amphitheater, was also dilapidated by an earthquake in the 4th century. Of the 25 rows, eleven are currently repaired and used for their intended purpose. It can accommodate 1,200 people to watch contemporary productions of ancient Greek tragedies, operas or ballets.

Near the Odeon stands the lighthouse of Paphos, built in 1888 by the British. Although it is not very ancient, it offers a magnificent panoramic view of the entire Archaeological Park and modern Paphos. But in order to reach the lighthouse, located on a narrow piece of land surrounded by the sea, you need to go through the entire park and get acquainted with all its facilities.

Another ancient building of the Archaeological Park is the temple of Asclepius, the god of healing. It was built in the 2nd century BC. e. and was a complex of several buildings. The most important of them consists of several floors, or terraces. Here they not only worshiped Asclepius, but also healed people in need of help, taught this art to novice healers. Asklepion is the prototype of our modern hospitals. It also includes a temple dedicated to Apollo.

In the direction of the sea there is a steep stone slope, all in large and small caves. These are ancient quarries, where they took building material for the construction ancient city. In the thickness of the rock, basilicas from the period of early Christianity were hollowed out, in which the followers of the new religion held church services. Not far from them, also underground, catacombs were carved in stone, bearing the name of St. Lambrianos, used by the first Christians to protect themselves from persecution.

Archaeological Park of Paphos huge area, surrounded by a fence, having two entrances and several exits. Excavations are constantly being carried out on the territory, expeditions from different countries are working. There is no doubt that the number of exhibits in the park will increase and ancient land Paphos will reveal all its secrets.

Photo album

/ Archaeological Park of Kato Paphos

Archaeological Park of Kato Paphos

(Greek Κάτω Πάφος Αρχαιολογικό Πάρκο; English Kato Paphos Archaeological Park)

UNESCO site

Opening hours: daily, in winter time(from September 16th to April 15th) from 08.30 to 17.00, in summer time(from April 16th to September 15th) from 08.30 to 19.30.

How to get there: Kato Paphos stretched along coastline Paphos and built around the medieval port. Paphos Castle and the snow-white lighthouse will serve as landmarks. The main thing is not to miss the entrance and ticket offices, otherwise you will go far along the coast.

The Archaeological Park of Kato Paphos is an open-air archaeological museum near the harbor of Kato Paphos. There are always a lot of tourists here, and the purpose of such a close study is the local antique mosaics, perfectly preserved over the centuries.

The most famous mosaics are located in the so-called Villa of Dionysus, the ruins of the ancient mansion of a wealthy Paphos citizen dating back to Roman times. At the time of its existence, the mansion consisted of several floors and covered an area of ​​​​about 2,000 square meters. Naturally, this aristocrat was not called Dionysus, this place got its name because of one of the most beautiful mosaics discovered here, called "The Triumph of Dionysus".

Scheme of Kato Paphos

The most ancient mosaics of the Villa of Dionysus had a simple geometric pattern and were made of white, black and brown pebbles. Cut stones were used for later mosaics. The floor of the atrium is decorated with mosaics with hunting scenes. These plots came to Cyprus from the north; this may explain the presence of images of animals that have never been seen on the island. The mosaic hallmarks of the atrium are framed with ornamental belts.

The floor of the tablinum room - one of the largest in the house - is decorated with a rich mosaic carpet. From three sides central part The mosaics are bordered by a wide mosaic ribbon with an ornamental pattern in the form of grape stalks. In one of the corridors, a mosaic illustrates the myth of Phaedra and Hippolyte. Phaedra, wife of the Athenian king Theseus, fell in love with her husband's son from her first marriage, Hippolytus. In one of the rooms, the mosaic conveys the moment of the abduction of Ganymede by Zeus, who turned into an eagle. On the mosaic, Zeus appears as a huge eagle abducting a naked Ganymede.

The mosaic that gave its name to the entire villa is known as the "Triumph of Dionysus" - the god of winemaking is depicted on it sitting on a chariot drawn by two leopards. The mosaic also depicts other characters: such as the forest god Pan, Satyr, who is considered the retinue of Dionysus, and also the god of the rivers Silenus. It is also interesting to look at the mosaic of the Hellenistic era, called "Scylla", made of black and white pebbles. Scylla in ancient Greek mythology was a terrible sea monster and is depicted here with the heads of dogs and the tails of a dragon. Today, the mosaics are under a specially designed roof that protects them from bad weather and the hot Cypriot sun.

In addition to the most beautiful mosaics in the villa of Dionysus, during the excavations, many ancient objects were found, dating back both to the period of the Roman Empire and to the Hellenistic period. Coins, jewelry, kitchen utensils, dishes and some other household items were found, representing the most valuable historical artifacts.

On the territory of the archaeological park of Kato Paphos there are several more ruined villas of the rich nobility of the island, such as the villa of Theseus, the villa of Orpheus and the villa of Eon. The floor mosaics date back to the 3rd - 5th centuries AD. The names of the characters in the paintings are given on the Greek inscriptions placed next to the images. The most famous of the mosaics, dated to the 3rd century AD, depicts the duel between Theseus and the Minotaur.

In addition to numerous mosaics in Kato Paphos, the ruins of more impressive structures have been preserved. For example, the ruins of Saranta Kolones, a Byzantine fortress founded in the 7th century to protect the city and harbor of Paphos from Arab raids. The name of the fortress is associated with the many granite columns that dominated its appearance. The outer castle consisted of fortress walls three meters thick with four massive round towers in the corners, and the main fortress gates were located on the eastern side and had the shape of a horseshoe. In 1191, this fortress, like the port fortress, capitulated to Richard the Lionheart.

After the complete destruction of the fortress, the Crusaders did not rebuild Saranta Kolones. Instead, a new citadel was erected in the western part of the harbor, preserved in a rebuilt form to this day under the name of Paphos Castle.

It is very interesting to look at the Agora. Agora in those days was called market Square. Its construction dates back to the first half of the 2nd century AD.

You should definitely visit the Odeon. The Odeon was built in the Hellenistic era from hewn blocks of limestone and rebuilt during the reign of the Roman emperor Augustus, and in ancient times it had a roof that protected the spectators from the sun and rain. Modern look he acquired in the 3rd century AD.

Today, the Odeon has been partially restored. Half of the amphitheater has been restored and a heavily damaged stage has been opened, where now, in the summer months, musical and theatrical performances are regularly held in the open air.

There is a lighthouse next to the Odeon. The lighthouse of Paphos is the youngest building in the area. It was built by the British "only" in 1888.

If you are interested not only in the blue expanse of the sea and impeccable hotel service in Cyprus, but you are also interested in the history, culture and architecture of this island, then Kato Paphos is exactly what you need! The turbulent history of Cyprus and its stunning antique mosaics will not leave anyone indifferent.

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Tours to Cyprus – specials of the day

Why go. If you've been to Pompeii or climbed the Acropolis, the Paphos Archaeological Park may seem unpretentious to you. But on the scale of Cyprus, this is the most important attraction, demonstrating the close, centuries-old cultural ties of the island with mainland Greece. The buildings and mosaics of the ancient era invariably evoke tourists big interest.

If anyone did not know, in Cyprus there is a left-hand traffic. Those. if you rent a car, you need to be on the alert all the time and try not to drive out of habit into the right lane, which is opposite on the island. If you still dare to rent a car, then for an excursion to the archaeological park of Paphos, parking is suitable, which occupies a vast space near the Kato bus station.

How to get. Access is open year-round, with the exception of a few religious holidays. IN high season, from mid-April to mid-September, the museum is open from 8:30 to 19:30, the rest of the time the staff locks the gates at 17:00. Entrance is paid, the ticket costs 4.50 euros. You can save money by buying complex ticket, allowing you to visit all the valuable sights of the island within one, three or seven days without additional costs. As we have seen, a weekly ticket is optimal. It costs 25 euros and if you visit only 6 museums, then all the following ones will be a nice bonus.

What to do. Take water, friends, a good mood and an umbrella with you (an umbrella is a must, during the day the Cypriot sun fries mercilessly, and hide from it in archaeological park nowhere), get ready for a few hours of walking and start the tour. From the very first steps, the Archaeological Park of Paphos sets people up for a meeting with the beautiful: the walls of the ticket offices are decorated with mosaics with scenes typical of the ancient era.

Nutrition. As I said, before going to the park you need to stock up on water. Food is not necessary, in the heat there is not much desire. You can eat near the entrance to the park, on the waterfront, where there are several restaurants specializing in Cypriot cuisine.

On one of the hot August days of our stay in Cyprus, it was decided to explore Paphos.
The city is divided into upper (Pano Paphos) and lower (Kato Paphos) parts. In the upper part there are administrative buildings, schools, markets, and in the lower part, which stretches along the sea, all the main attractions are concentrated - the ruins of ancient castles, catacombs, a lighthouse and central embankment cities with shops, bars and other tourist luxuries.

According to the ancient Greeks, Paphos was the birthplace of the goddess of love Aphrodite (Petra tou Romiou), the city has many ruins left over from the Roman era, the Apostle Paul preached on the island... Paphos was cultural capital ancient Cyprus.
After lying on the beach in the morning, we moved to the cultural heritage of Cyprus in the heat! It was about three minutes walk from our hotel to the entrance to the Archaeological Park of Paphos.


Of course, the first thing I especially wanted to see and photograph was the lighthouse, which had beckoned me all the previous two days.
In the direction of this, we moved)

On the way we visited the Odeon - an amphitheater, which was built under the Romans in the 2nd century. n. e. and in those days it represented a more impressive structure than it is now: it had 25 spectator rows, and not 12, as it is now, after reconstruction. The Odeon now hosts festivals and theatrical performances during the summer months.






If you look facing into the auditorium of the amphitheater, then to the left are the ruins of Asklepion, where the inhabitants of ancient Paphos were treated and the god of medicine Asclepius was worshiped.


There were not many wandering through the ruins ..





The heat was merciless, grasshoppers and cicadas chirped, quick-witted lizards scattered everywhere.

Having examined the ruins of Asklepion, after sitting in the shade of one saving tree, we moved directly to the lighthouse ..
Along the paths came across such brightness)






We examined the buildings, apparently necessary for the lighthouse keeper .. everything was closed and a lock was embedded in the doors - we could not get into the lighthouse itself.


Here such a cactus grew there - it seems that an alcoholic drink is made from its fruits.


View of Paphos beach.


Then, in small dashes, they moved towards the main beauties - the houses of Dionysus and the House of Theseus.
These are two large villas from the 3rd century AD, notable for their beautiful mosaics with scenes from ancient mythology, geometric patterns, hunting and grape harvest scenes. All mosaics and villa ruins are included in the list world heritage UNESCO.




"Mosaic of the highest class also includes the floor paintings of the House of Theseus, which got its name from the mosaic depicting Theseus, Ariadne and the Minotaur, which has been perfectly preserved to this day. On the mosaic in the center of the round labyrinth is Theseus, at his feet is the Minotaur, over which a sharp sword is raised , on the right - the island of Crete, on the left - Ariadne, below - a labyrinth, which, like Crete, is personified. The names of all the actors are written in capital Greek letters. Today, this mosaic, in terms of the manner of execution and richness of colors, is considered the best of all discovered so far in Cyprus. "
Here she is.


My Favorite Columns!




In the 7th century, when Arab raids on Cyprus became more frequent, a powerful Byzantine fortress was built to protect Paphos, called Saranta Kolones - "Forty Columns". It is located on an elevated stretch of coastline, a few hundred meters east of the Villa of Dionysus, and was once connected to the port by a narrow road. It was destroyed during an earthquake and has not been rebuilt since.






Here is such a "Komodo monitor lizard" we met there))


Subsequently, the role of the fort began to be played by the so punished Paphos Castle, located in the Paphos harbor.
During the British occupation of the island, it served as a salt warehouse. In 1935, the castle was declared one of the main attractions of Paphos.
IN last years the castle serves as an object for the annual festival, held in September. This medieval fort is used as a stage in an ancient Greek theater where the actors change their clothes before the performance. Theatrical stages and rows of seats for spectators were built on the shore. Real ancient fort and sunset sky above sea ​​waves- a good decoration for theatrical productions. When we were there, Puccini's "La Boheme" was given for just three days.
In the center behind the rows, it is almost invisible (from the side of the embankment).

1962 is the time of the sensational discovery of the remains of Roman villas on the island and the start of large-scale archaeological excavations. A farmer from a small local village located just 300 meters from the old harbor of Paphos, while plowing his land with a tractor, accidentally discovered an ancient mosaic. The subsequent work, which lasted 20 years, with the participation of archaeological expeditions from different countries, discovered four sites with a unique mosaic floor covering.

Archaeological Park of Paphos.

As it was found out, these sites turned out to be the only thing left of the richest villas of the II-III centuries of the first millennium AD. The mosaic has been remarkably preserved in many places, without losing its brightness and variety of colors. In the following years, not only ancient residential buildings were discovered, but also temples, a theater, city walls, streets, basilicas, a stone bridge, as well as a fortress from the Middle Ages. Sensational discoveries continue to this day.

Archaeological Park of Paphos in modern times.

Since 1980, the Archaeological Park has been the most important part of the world cultural heritage, which is under the protection of UNESCO. The name "park" and not "museum" very accurately reflects the essence: all objects, being in the open air in their almost original form (some have awnings). The park forms a single complex on a large territory, very convenient for visiting and exploring.

Archaeological Park of Paphos.

Looking around each building, walking along the ancient streets or sitting on the stone bench of the amphitheater, a modern person enjoys a unique opportunity to touch antiquity or the times of the Crusaders and feel like an ancient Greek, Roman or knight. The Archaeological Park of Paphos is open all year round and the entrance fee is only a few euros. The most valuable mosaics are in the very villas that were opened by the farmer in 1962. This is the house of Dionysus, Aeon, Theseus, Orpheus.

Archaeological Park of Paphos.

The medieval fortress Saranta Kolones is located in the southern part of the park. On its vast territory, the agora (forum), odeon (amphitheatre), the temple of Asclepius, basilicas and other buildings are also open for inspection. It will take several hours to carefully examine everything and take photos. And don't forget your hat and water. Official website of the Archaeological Park -