Old pathos archaeological park. Entrance to the Archaeological Park of Paphos. Archaeological Park of Paphos in modern times
the most important attraction, Paphos mosaics, ruins of ancient castles, odeon, agora
Archaeological Park of Paphos near the city harbor - open-air museum
(Eng. Kato Pafos Archaeological Park, Greek. Το αρχαιολογικό πάρκο της Κάτω Πάφου) is the most important attraction of the city and part of the world cultural heritage UNESCO. In 1980, the archaeological sites in the park were included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Protected status international organization provided an incentive to maintain archaeological sites, demonstrating the found finds to tourists and lovers of archeology and providing information support.
Attractions of the Archaeological Park
On the territory of the park you can find monuments from prehistoric times to the Middle Ages. But most of The finds date back to the time of the Romans. The most significant archaeological sites are Roman buildings (the House of Dionysus, the House of Theseus, the House of Aeon and the House of Orpheus), where you can see the Paphos mosaics - mosaic floors skillfully lined with colored stone of the 2nd-5th centuries AD. It is believed that in Eastern Mediterranean these are the best finds of mosaic floors that depict scenes from Greek mythology. The ancient buildings, the first of which was discovered by a Cypriot peasant in 1962, belonged to noble citizens. By the name of the house, it is easy to understand which character of ancient myths the building is dedicated to. In the House of Dionysus - the image of the god of winemaking, and in the House of Theseus - the hero of Greek myths Theseus, where he is in a fight with the Minotaur.
Walking through the Archaeological Park of Paphos, you can come across other Roman buildings. This is an ancient theater (odeon) of the 2nd century AD. built from hewn limestone blocks. Here and now you can see musical and theatrical performances. Not far away are the ruins of an ancient hospital (asclepion) and ancient market- agora.
The ruins of the castle "Forty Columns" of the XIII century, which six centuries ago was a Byzantine fortress and protected the approaches to the city from the raids of the Arab conquerors, can be seen on the right side of the main entrance to the archaeological park. Distinctive feature castle is a large number of columns, various fragments of which can be seen among the ruins of a protective structure.
Not without interest are the ruins of the early Christian basilica of Limegnotissa, which was built around the 5th century AD. In the era of early Christianity, it consisted of three naves, separated by marble columns. The floors were covered with colored mosaics. Initially, the building was destroyed in the 7th century by the Arabs, and later the newly rebuilt basilica was destroyed by an earthquake in 1159.
Latest news from the Archaeological Park
In the harbor of Paphos, opposite the entrance to the Archaeological Park, a new attraction has been installed - a clock post. This work by architect Kostas Koutsouftidis has already been dubbed “Paphosian Big Ben” in the local media. The philanthropist Sotiris Hadzhiminas proposed to install the clock a quarter of a century ago, but then the local authorities did not support the idea. It is also planned to install a bench for lovers next to the clock.
Paphos Archaeological Park entrance coordinates: 34° 45" 22"N 32° 24" 30.2"E
What you need to go to Cyprus in Paphos
- Visa must be obtained in advance
- Insurance for those traveling abroad, you can calculate -
- Flights look to Paphos airport (nearest airport, drive 20 min to tourist center) or to Larnaca airport (distance 135 km, drive to Paphos 1 h 30 min) -
- Hotels Paphos and all the information on them (available rooms, prices, reviews) tourists usually watch -
- Apartments at a discount, I usually look for -
- Tours look in Paphos -
- Transfer you do not need to get to the hotel if you are flying on a tour. As a rule, this service is included in the price of the tour. If this is not the case, then order a transfer in advance via the Internet. It is very convenient and cheaper than taking a taxi from the airport. You will be met at the airport and taken directly to the doorstep of the hotel -
- Rent a Car is a very popular way to get around the island. You can rent a car in advance, and when you arrive, you can leave the airport by car. Therefore, if you have rights, then you can see the prices for car rental -
- Excursions from local residents unusual routes see -
- Adapter for Cypriot sockets, which tourists use, you can buy at any store, but see how it looks -
No one can say how many secrets are hidden under the earth and sand, caused by centuries. Usually discoveries and finds are made by chance. This is how a farmer in Cyprus stumbled upon a panel made of mosaics when he was plowing the land. It happened in 1962 near the harbor of Paphos. Thanks to this find and subsequent excavations, the Archaeological Park of Paphos appeared in Cyprus.
What are the excavations about?
It is not surprising that the excavations that began at the site of the found mosaic, gradually, layer by layer, discovered new, interesting traces of civilizations that once lived on this island. The history of Cyprus is very interesting. Once it was owned by the Greeks and Romans. Then history speaks of the belonging of Paphos to the Byzantine, and then the Ottoman empires. The UK also owned the island. Excavations continue to this day. During the construction of objects, there is always some artifact from ancient buildings.
The found ancient mosaic attracted the attention of many scientists and archaeologists. For 20 years, archaeological expeditions from different countries bit by bit they collected a unique coating, made, as it turned out, in the richest villas of the 2nd - 3rd centuries AD. It is striking that the mosaic has not lost its color. In addition to mosaics and ancient buildings, temples, city walls, a bridge, basilicas, stone streets were literally "dug" out of the soil.
Archaeological park
Everything found during the excavations is a large single complex, which is called the Paphos Archaeological Park. Since 1980, the park has been a world cultural heritage and is under the protection of UNESCO. Valuable mosaics found first are in the so-called villas of Dionysus, Aeon, Theseus and Orpheus. They can be visited by tourists.
The names of the villas were derived from the heroes of Greek mythology depicted on the mosaic fields; of course, no one knows the names of the real owners of the villas. Of interest is the amphitheater, well preserved in the layers of soil and the ruins of the Forty Columns castle, which served as a fortress. The forum, the temple of the god-healer Asclepius and the basilicas are open to the public.
Park tours
The historical complex is open to tourists all year round. The entrance fee is about 4-5 euros. Sites still under excavation are closed to the public. There are those who like to wander around the park without a group, sit on the steps of the amphitheater, imagine what happened here many millennia ago. Yes, and more time to see the relics, take photos. It usually takes at least four hours to visit the park.
For organized groups tours of tourists are conducted together with a guide, who, guiding the group through the streets of this archaeological site, tells historical facts and myths associated with one or another artifact of the park. Tours start from the ruins of four villas, which are the most valuable in the Paphos Archaeological Park, and date back to around the 3rd - 5th centuries AD. e. The mosaics found during the excavations of these villas, assembled from small elements, preserved the images of the gods and heroes of Greece and Ancient Rome.
Villa of Dionysus
As a result of the excavations, a picture of a dwelling with destroyed walls, but with a well-preserved mosaic flooring, was revealed to archaeologists. It was assumed that the villa of Dionysus, located in the archaeological museum, occupied an area of about 500 square meters. meters and had forty rooms. Subsequently, it turned out that this villa was built on the foundations of an even more ancient dwelling, which also had a floor mosaic. The building dates back to the 2nd century AD. e. Unfortunately, the Villa of Dionysus and other buildings in Paphos were destroyed by an earthquake that occurred in the 4th century.
Mosaic floor technology
Attention should be paid to the mosaics created at first from a simple stone with a simple geometric pattern in a three-color scale: black, brown, white. Then the mosaics became more complicated. The technology of making mosaic floors has changed. They were laid out according to a special technology on stones with lime. On this "pillow" were placed patterns and paintings made of the smallest pebbles, special glass and marble chips, which were brought to Cyprus. It was a very expensive item. Only very rich people could afford the luxury of a mosaic floor.
Immediately at the entrance to the dwelling, the floor is decorated with one of the ancient mosaics of Cyprus. It depicts Scylla, described in Homer's poem "The Odyssey". Nearby is a pair of dolphins. Geometric pattern in tricolor. By the way, the mosaic was discovered by accident when they began to build a canopy over the main exhibits found by that time.
In the depths of the dwelling of the Archaeological Park of Paphos there are later mosaic floors. Here is a different approach to the color scheme of the laid out mosaics. On one of the mosaics is the image of Narcissus, framed by laid out drawings of the seasons and seasons. In front of visitors, in the form of carpets, hunting scenes, images of animals, bunches of grapes appear on the mosaics. Mosaics on the themes of love stories are very accurately conveyed by the artists of those times.
Villa Theseus
From mythology, we are familiar with the feat of Theseus, who defeated the Minotaur in the labyrinth. The villa named after him is a huge building. During the earthquake, it did not resist, but was rebuilt. However, the villa was destroyed by the Arabs in the 7th century.
In mosaics made before the earthquake, Roman technologies for making mosaic floors are already visible. One of the mosaics of the archaeological park depicts a scene in which Theseus fights the Minotaur. The mosaic dates from the 3rd century AD. e.
Near this mosaic, the guides tell a touching story about not forgetting your promises. And Theseus, having killed the Minotaur, forgot to change the sails on his ship to white, thereby announcing his victory to his father. He sailed home under black sails. And when Theseus' father Aegeus saw the black sails, he realized that his son was dead and his father threw himself off the cliff into the sea, taking his own life. According to this legend, the sea is called Aegea - Aegean.
House of Orpheus
Even before the start of excavations, these ruins of Paphos were already known. Many artifacts have sunk into oblivion, and some of the stone ruins were used to build houses, since in those years no one thought about the historical value of these ruins. The outlines of several rooms have been preserved. Those mosaics that were on the floors date back to the 2nd century AD. e. The drawings are geometric and according to the ancient Greek inscriptions on the mosaic, it was possible to understand that this house belonged to the Roman citizen Titus Gaius Restitutu. However, the house is named, like the previous ones, from the main image on the mosaic. It was Orpheus, playing the lyre, surrounded by forest animals.
Villa Eona
On the other side of the street, there is an equally interesting dwelling in a sheltered room, the excavations of which are still ongoing. But even what is open to the public speaks of his wealth. On the ruined remains of the walls, unique frescoes are visible. The floors are covered with mosaics. But most striking is the coverage of the central part of the dwelling. It depicts the god of justice Eon.
This filigree work is made of the smallest pieces of glass, granite and pebbles. It conveys the volume in the image of faces on mosaic canvases. On other mosaics - images of mythological scenes about Cassiopeia, Apollo and Zeus. The mosaics date back to the 4th century AD. e. It is expected that ongoing excavations will reveal more mosaic floors and wall frescoes.
Forty Columns Castle
The majestic castle of Saranta Kolones was built by the Byzantines in the 7th century on forty basalt columns in the form of a defensive structure. He was destined to be built and destroyed, reborn again and destroyed again.
When the Crusaders captured the fortress in 1191, King Richard the Lionheart not only rebuilt the castle, but also created a good defensive complex around it. A devastating earthquake in 1222 destroyed this fortress. Among the ruins of the once-existing castle of Saranta Kolones, visitors can see wall breaks, ruins of buildings and an arch from the gate leading to the castle.
Other park facilities
Agora or market Square, built of stone slabs in the form of a rectangle. Its construction dates back to the 2nd century AD. e. Like any square in the city, this one in Paphos was a place of meetings and trade for the townspeople. It was destroyed, like all buildings, as a result of an earthquake in the 4th century. The amphitheater was also destroyed during the earthquake. But it was restored: it was literally built from the stone blocks found during the excavation, belonging to the rows of the amphitheater. amphitheater under open sky is currently working. Of the 25 rows that once existed, 11 have been repaired and restored. According to the guides, performances of ancient Greek tragedies are staged here.
The Temple of Asclepius is interesting for visitors. This is a complex of several buildings built in the II century BC. e. These buildings were used for healing people. And the main building of Asklepion is a prototype of the current hospitals. A steep slope leading to the sea, all in stone caves. Once upon a time, stone was taken from them for construction.
And this is also Paphos
What else to see for tourists in this historical city with centuries of history? There is a large ethnographic museum here with a variety of collections, founded by a man who was fond of folk art, history, archeology - Eliades George. The museum exhibits exhibits ranging from the Neolithic to the present day. It can rightfully be called one of the archaeological museums Cyprus.
One of the attractions of Paphos is Byzantine Museum. Bishop Chrysosstomos initiated its creation. The exposition of the museum is icons of the 7th-8th centuries, there are also icons painted in the 12th-14th centuries. All icons are in good condition. The museum exhibits the ceremonial robes of priests. A large collection of church books is also on display at this museum.
There is something to see in Paphos outside the walls of museums. These are burial tombs from the 4th century BC, located near the Paphos harbor. e. until the 3rd century AD. e. There are more than 100 graves in the crypts carved into the rock. There are also burials - in which many interesting artifacts were found. And this is primarily evidence of the life and way of life of the people who lived here.
To see all these attractions, you can purchase tourist package and flight Moscow - Paphos arrive at international Airport Paphos. By the way, if you are drawn to Cyprus to wander through the ruins of ancient cities, it is better to go to the homeland of Aphrodite from November to April. Firstly, it is not hot, and secondly, you will actually enjoy the nature of these fabulous places rather than languish in the heat. Tickets for the Moscow - Paphos plane are almost always available.
In 1962, a farmer, plowing rocky land on a tractor, accidentally stumbled upon a mosaic panel. This happened three hundred meters north of the old harbor of Paphos on a low plateau above the port. The excavations that began here revealed the remains of five Roman villas of the 3rd - 2nd century AD. The villas themselves have not been preserved, but unique floor mosaics have survived. In 1980, the archaeological sites of Kato Paphos were included by UNESCO in the list of world cultural heritage, which was the reason for the creation of the city. archaeological park, which will be the goal of our today's excursion.
Before you and I go on a tour, listen to "important information".
The park is located in an open area and occupies large area, so it will take quite a long time to walk on it. We highly recommend planning a visit either in the morning or in the afternoon. The sun fries mercilessly in the summer, so not only will it be very difficult to walk during the day, but you can also burn out. Take sunscreen, water, a good mood and ... a camera with you.
Those who live in the Paphos area know how to get here, but for the rest we will give GPS coordinates parking lot, which in its western part just rests on the entrance to the park.
34.756279 32.410184 - parking next to the harbor in Paphos
Well, it's time to start! From a parking space or bus stop Let's go to the entrance to the park.
In stories about Cyprus, we often use the services of an "audio guide". Today will be no exception. Let's listen to the introductory part that tells the story of the "origin" of Paphos. Oddly enough, the city of Paphos in Cyprus was located in different time in different places - it happens. Listen to the story for now, and we will give a small remark on this matter.
Palio Paphos (old Paphos - Palio Paphos - Παλιά Πάφος) is a very ancient Paphos, which was located seventeen kilometers from the present. Now this place is the village of Kouklia.
Neo Paphos (new Paphos - Neo Paphos - Νέα Πάφος) - ancient Paphos, located at the place where we arrived today.
Kato Paphos (lower Paphos - Kato Paphos - Κάτω Πάφος) is the coastal part of modern Paphos, "occupied" mainly by tourists.
Pano Paphos (upper Paphos - Pano Paphos - Πάνω Πάφος) − business center city, as well as the place of residence of the Pafovites themselves.
The division into "kato" and "pano" is generally conditional.
Let's first get acquainted with what we have to see today and along the way orient ourselves on the ground. As in Kourion, the names of the villas were given by the names of the heroes of Greek mythology depicted on the mosaics, and not by the names of their owners. Today four villas − Dionysus, Theseus, Orpheus And Eona open for visiting. In addition to them, the ancient amphitheater (Odeon), the Agora (forum) and the ruins of the Forty Columns Castle (Saranda Kolones Castle) are also interesting.
Let's look at their location on the map.
We see that three villas are located closest to the entrance - directly in the direction from the entrance. But for some reason, "organized" tours usually start from the villa of Dionysus, which is located a little to the right. It is easy to distinguish - it is covered with a large canopy. You better decide on the spot where to go first. If you arrived early, then you can first explore open areas, and then move "under the roof". But we'll start with Dionysus.
Residence of Dionysus (Villa of Dionysus)
Can be used as background detailed story O dwelling of Dionysus and we will only give a brief summary.
Let's start the story with the most ancient mosaic, accidentally discovered here already during the construction of a canopy over the main exhibits. It is the oldest and dates back to the 4th century BC, that is, from the pre-Roman times of Cyprus. The mosaic depicts Scylla - a woman, a dog and a fish in one person. This is how Homer described it in his Odyssey. While the audio guide proves to us that Scylla (Skilla - according to the guide) was not always a monster, but at first she was quite a normal girl, we will consider the mosaic.
And now let's start examining more "modern" mosaics dating back to the beginning of our era. Many people know the story of the handsome Narcissus, who did not reciprocate to anyone. Even the nymph Echo could not attract his attention. As a result, the poor thing completely withered away, leaving only her own voice - an echo. Well, Narcissus was rewarded for this from the gods. Seeing somehow his reflection in the water, Narcissus could not take his eyes off his beloved, and died behind this occupation. As a result, the gods nevertheless took pity on him and posthumously turned the guy into a beautiful flower growing near the water - into a narcissus.
Next to Narcissus is another mosaic. The moment we were there, an English speaking tour came along. And their guide was such a big Negro ... well, or maybe an Afro-Cypriot. And so he, bending over the mosaic, asked those present a question - they say what is depicted on it? And everyone started playing the guessing game.
I also tried to guess until someone said four seasons, to which the guide said - right! Even then I thought, what does the Limassol hotel with the same name, fashionable among Russians, have to do with it? But having cut into the translation, I realized that we are talking about the seasons.
Starting from the top left corner, clockwise are summer, spring, autumn and winter. Well, the quest is passed, let's move on. In this house look and look. But we will now show one more photo and move on. And we will give a link to a more complete photo album at the end of the story.
Having seen enough of the mosaics in the house of Dionysus, we will move a little back, but not to the entrance, but a little to the right of it. There is a large space waiting for us there, on which several villas are presented at once: Eona, Theseus And Orpheus.
The first in the course will be the villa of Eon.
She, like Dionysus, is located in a sheltered room. This villa was just opposite the house of the then Roman proconsul. Probably quite noble was his neighbor, on whose territory we have now come. Here, excavations are still ongoing, but this can be judged from the available mosaics. Let's give the floor for explanation to our audio guide. True, the guide believes that we will move first to Orpheus, then Theseus and finally to Aeon ... but we will do exactly the opposite.
For our story, I will simply explain that it is here that filigree mosaics are located - they are made of very small pieces containing a large gamut of color shades, thanks to which the masters managed to achieve volume in the image of faces. Try to consider it when you are there. It is difficult to convey such nuances in the photo, but we will try.
The mosaics date back to the beginning of the 4th century AD. - the period of the spread of Christianity in Cyprus. Now let's look at one more of the mosaics and move on.
Further, as we move forward, we will meet the dwelling of Theseus. It is already on open space. It is assumed that this is where the Roman proconsul lived. It's time to remember that the Apostle Paul managed to convert Proconsul Sergius to the Christian faith in the 45th year. But this villa dates from a later period. Having reached its "outskirts" you can capture one of the most "postcard" views of Cyprus, which we have placed on our main page. Let's show almost the same view, but from a different angle. The plane in the frame reminds us that there is an airport near Paphos.
Yes, we almost forgot about our audio guide!
And now let's come to one of the main mosaics of the villa, on which Theseus is preparing to enter the battle with the Minotaur. Let us briefly recall this legend, described in Wikipedia.
Minotaur (Μῑνώταυρος, bull of Minos) - after Greek tradition, a monster with a human body and a bull's head, descended from the unnatural love of Pasiphae, the wife of King Minos, for the bull sent by Poseidon. According to legend, she seduced the bull by lying down in a wooden cow made for her by Daedalus. (ugh! - my note) Minos hid him in the Knossos labyrinth built by Daedalus, where 7 girls and 7 boys sent from Athens every nine years (or 7 children every year) rushed to devour him.
Theseus, having appeared in Crete among the 14 victims, killed the Minotaur and, with the help of Ariadne (the half-sister of the Minotaur - the daughter of Minos and Pasiphae), who gave him a ball of thread, left the labyrinth.Having accomplished the feat, Theseus fled with Ariadne to the island of Naxos (Dia), where, according to one legend, Ariadne was killed by the arrows of Artemis, taught by Dionysus, for she married Theseus in a sacred grove, according to another, she was abandoned by Theseus and found by Dionysus, who on married her.
But the Cypriot guides prefer another legend, based on the story of Peon of Amaphunte, according to which Theseus left Ariadne in Cyprus, where she died during childbirth, and her grave was in the grove of Ariadne-Aphrodite, which is located just in Amaphunte. Sad story in general. By the way, why did I underline the word, guess? Amaphunta or Amathus is the name of one of the ancient city-states in Cyprus, through the ruins of which you can wander, reaching the eastern outskirts of Limassol. And Peon was from there, so he knows better!
Well, now, finally, we look at the mosaic dedicated to this significant event: Theseus' preparation for the fight with the Minotaur. The circle on the mosaic symbolizes the Labyrinth. Note that this mosaic is the oldest and dates back to the third century AD.
The following legend teaches us that we must not forget about promises, even if you have accomplished many feats.
Leaving for the battle with the Minotaur, Theseus raised black sails on his ship. But he agreed with his father, King Aegeus, that in case of victory he would return back on a ship with white sails. And after killing the Minotaur and saying goodbye to Ariadne, Theseus set off on his way back, forgetting to change the sails. King Aegeus, noticing a ship with black sails, was convinced of the death of his son and committed suicide by throwing himself into the sea. According to legend, that is why the sea was called the Aegean.
A little further away is another mosaic dedicated to the birth of the famous Achilles. Let the audio guide talk about it for now, and we will briefly recall another legend, now about Achilles.
Birth of Achilles:
Here is a short Wikipedia reference about Achilles and the versions about what his mother did to him in childhood.
Heroes were born from the marriages of the Olympian gods with mortals. They were endowed with great strength and superhuman abilities, but did not possess immortality. The heroes were supposed to fulfill the will of the gods on earth, to bring order and justice into people's lives. With the help of their divine parents, they performed all sorts of feats. Heroes were highly revered, legends about them were passed down from generation to generation.
Legends unanimously call Achilles the son of a mortal - Peleus, king of the Myrmidons, his mother, sea goddess Thetis belongs to the host of immortals. The earliest versions of the birth of Achilles mention the furnace of Hephaestus, where Thetis, wanting to deify Achilles (and make him immortal), put her son, holding him by the heel. According to another ancient legend that Homer does not mention, the mother of Achilles, Thetis, wanting to test whether her son was mortal or immortal, wanted to dip the newborn Achilles in boiling water, just as she did with her former children, but Peleus opposed this. Later legends tell that Thetis, wanting to make her son immortal, plunged him into the waters of the Styx or, according to another version, into the fire, so that only the heel by which she held him remained vulnerable; hence the proverb that is still used today - "Achilles' heel" - to denote someone's weak side.
You can see the rest of the mosaics of Theseus' house for yourself or in extreme cases in our photo album, but for now let's move on ... but not far. A little closer to the sea is the villa of Orpheus.
Here you can also find several mosaics.
Saranda Colones castle
Leaving this place of three villas and go out again on the road that led us from the entrance to the park to the dwelling of Dionysus, which we visited in the first place.
We reach a fork. If we go to the left, then we will just get to Dionysus again, and if to the right, then according to the sign, the ruins of the castle of Forty Columns (Saranda colones) are waiting for us. We turn and go. After a little over two hundred meters, the territory on which this castle was located will open, and the remains of which we have to explore today.
The fortress was built in the 7th century by the Byzantines. For the construction of its walls, fragments of earlier ancient structures were used, including basalt columns - hence its name.
In 1191, this castle, like the port fortress, capitulated to Richard the Lionheart. At the beginning of the 13th century, the Crusaders fortified the fortress, but soon it was almost completely destroyed by an earthquake in 1222. Only two graceful openwork arches and powerful cellars have survived, which can be used to judge the original layout of the castle.
The castle had the shape of a square at the base with a side length of 10 meters with square towers in each corner. The main entrance passed through the fifth tower on the east side, which was shaped like a horseshoe. Along the perimeter, the castle was surrounded by walls three meters thick with eight towers, and a moat ran around it, through which it was thrown wooden bridge to enter the fortress. Let's take a look at the plan of the fort and the photo taken from the air to get a better idea of where we will be walking now.
Well, now you can leisurely wander around the castle and look at its hidden corners.
You will see the rest of the photos in our photo album, but for now let's move on.
Odeon and Agora
We return again to the road where we met the sign, and move in the direction where the inscription Odeon points. After two hundred and fifty meters we will approach the edge of the Agora. Actually, this is just a piece of land on which excavations are still underway. We had to withdraw to the edge of the square in order to capture them together.
Agora in those days was called the market square. And even now in Greek the word agora(αγορά) means a place of trade, for example "psaragora" (Ψαραγορά) is nothing but a "fish shop". And now let's come to the Odeon, or, in other words, to the ancient amphitheater.
The Odeon was built in the Hellenistic era from hewn blocks of limestone and rebuilt during the reign of the Roman Emperor Augustus. Modern look he acquired in the III century. IN ancient times they had a roof that protected the spectators from the sun and rain.
Today the amphitheater has been partially restored. Half of the 25 rows of the amphitheater have been restored and a heavily damaged stage has been opened, near which many fragments of the columns that adorned it were found. During the summer months, like Kourion, musical and theatrical performances are regularly staged here in the open air. So you have a chance to visit the Odeon, which acts as a modern theater.
Near the Odeon are the ruins of the Asklepion, built at one time in honor of the god of healing Asclepius.
Well, this is the cognitive part of our tour is almost over. If you have strength left, you can reach the wall that once surrounded the city. We also came up.
You probably noticed that in the last pictures something loomed in your eyes. Yes, this is a Paphos lighthouse. Let's get closer, especially since you can climb a little on it to take a few pictures from the "top tour".
The lighthouse of Paphos is the youngest building in the area. It was built by the British "only" in 1888. The lighthouse helped ships navigate when entering the port of Paphos. This is one of the five lighthouses in Cyprus, but the most famous of them. The lighthouse tower has a height of 20 meters, plus it stands on a hill. Therefore, it turns out that the lantern itself shines at a height of 36 meters above sea level, which makes it very noticeable from the water. The lighthouse continues to perform its functions even today, flashing in the evening with an interval of 20 seconds.
Our walk in the park ends. Well, if it drags on until the evening, then you can watch very beautiful sunsets here! :)
In the house of Orpheus, parts of three mosaics have been preserved. One shows Hercules preparing to jump on a lion, the second shows an Amazon holding the reins of a horse and a double axe, the third shows Orpheus with a lyre in his hands, and wild animals around, fascinated by the music of the ancient Greek hero.
Saranta Kolones Castle "got" more than others. It is practically destroyed to the ground. Only cellars and openwork arches have survived. From them you can judge the layout of the building. The walls were 3 meters thick, with massive towers at the corners. The main gate was in the shape of a horseshoe.
Inside the castle there are military and outbuildings: a bakery, a mill, swimming pools, barracks, a smithy, a bathhouse, a stable, etc. There was even a chapel on the second floor.
From the temple of Asclepius, only columns and small fragments of walls remained.
On the northwestern side of the park, you can see the walls surrounding the city.
Near the entrance is the basilica of Panagia Limeniotissa, or rather its ruins. The temple was built in the 5th century and had three naves. The Arabs plundered it in 653 and turned it into a stable. In the 7th century, the church was restored, but the earthquakes of 1159 and 1222 destroyed the structure. Currently, we can see only the remains of the foundation, columns, floors, lined with mosaics with a geometric pattern.
In the rocks near the lighthouse (almost along the sea) there are caves used for habitation or for stone extraction. The quarries impress with their size and antiquity.
The path from the caves leads to the catacombs of St. Lambrianos. These are corridors, rooms, staircases carved into limestone.
What you need to know when going to Paphos Archaeological Park
It is better to visit a park that is large enough in size either in the morning or in the afternoon.
You will have to walk under the open sky and the scorching sun (in summer), think over shoes and clothes in advance. Don't forget sunscreen: it's not a beach, but it's quite possible to get burned in the sun.
Without a guide or audio guide, an excursion to the park will be boring. Of course, there are descriptions and signs next to each building, but you need to know Greek or English. And if you don't remember the myths Ancient Greece, even more so.
Bring water and a snack.
The Odeon (amphitheater) hosts theatrical and musical performances in the summer. You will have a unique opportunity to visit the ancient theater with modern performances (a tandem of past and present).
At the entrance to the park you can take a free map of the park in Russian. On it you will also find the location of the catacombs and the "Tombs of the Kings" complex.
About a kilometer separates the park from Alykes beach. You can drop by the beach after sightseeing in the park.
The past of Cyprus is bottomless well discoveries, surprises and delight. The island is strewn with unique antiquities, about one of which we told you.
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 small settlement hides 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 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. 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 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. 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, there 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 figures of people, animals and birds, plants and fruits look as close to reality as possible and appear before modern man like 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. Over the years, a large number of valuable artifacts have disappeared, some of the ruins were 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.
The Archaeological Park of Paphos is a huge fenced area with 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 the ancient land of Paphos will reveal all its secrets.
