Paphos is an open air museum. Archaeological Park of Paphos: description. Archaeological open-air museum

Archaeological park Paphos (Paphos, Cyprus): detailed description, address and photo. Opportunities for sports and recreation, infrastructure, cafes and restaurants in the park. Reviews of tourists.

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Kato Paphos - coastal zone Paphos, its historical part, where the most attractions are collected. This is a real museum open sky, in which ancient temples, villas, ruins of a fortress and others coexist architectural monuments, many of which are on the list world heritage UNESCO. The structures of this old quarter comes from different eras and cultures, ranging from the 2nd century BC. e. and until the Middle Ages, among them there are representatives of the ancient empires of Rome, Greece, Byzantium, the Ottoman Empire. Ancient Roman villas of the 3rd-5th centuries BC. e. with mosaic floors take pride of place in the rich collection of architectural monuments of ancient Paphos.

Discovery history

As a rule, finds of ancient structures happen during construction or cultivation of the land. The acquisition of the treasures of Kato Paphos also happened thanks to the luck of a simple farmer. A local farmer, while plowing his field near the city harbor, found a fragment of an old mosaic, which turned out to be a decoration of the flooring of an ancient Roman villa. Hundreds of archaeologists immediately rushed here, and soon they dug up a whole ancient city with streets, houses, temples, bridges, a market, a theater and other buildings surrounded by a fortress wall. Although work is still ongoing, the facilities historical complex open to tourists.

Ancient Odeon

Villas

The most valuable part of this architectural collection are the ruins of villas from the 3rd-5th centuries AD. e. These wealthy houses were named after gods and heroes ancient rome(Dionysus, Hercules, Aeon and Theseus) and preserved their mosaic images with scenes from ancient legends. Separate mosaics are assembled from very small elements, which makes them very voluminous and realistic. Local guides fill the tour with ancient Greek and Roman legends, temporarily reviving the images of their characters.

The oldest in this city-museum is the Villa of Dionysus, built in the 4th century BC. e. before the arrival of the Romans in Cyprus. There are many recognizable characters on the floor mosaics: the monster Scylla described by Homer in the Odyssey, the handsome Narcissus admiring his reflection in the water, the 4 seasons and other heroes and deities.

The villa, where the Roman proconsul Theseus supposedly lived, looks like it came off a postcard - several dilapidated columns rise against the blue sky.

The mosaic on the floor of the house tells about the battle of the ancient Greek hero Theseus with the half-bull Minotaur, which took place in a labyrinth, from which the hero was then able to get out with the help of his beloved Ariadne.

Buildings of the ancient city

Nearby are the ruins of several major ancient buildings. The once majestic castle-fortress Saranda Kolones was built by the Byzantines in the 7th century on 40 basalt columns, which is why it was named so. In the 12th century, the Crusaders captured the fortress, but then it was not damaged. It was destroyed by an earthquake that hit the city in the 13th century, after which only the arches and part of the basements remained from the building.

Near the Agora market place is the ancient amphitheater Odeon. Built in the 3rd century AD. e., it was covered, but over time the upper part of the building collapsed. Now the temple of art has been partially restored, it hosts open-air concerts and performances.

The lighthouse of Paphos is much younger than its neighbors - it was built in 1888 by the British and is considered the most famous operating lighthouse in Cyprus. Its searchlight rises above the sea at a height of more than 30 m, and with observation deck good views of the surroundings.

A tour of Kato Paphos takes several hours, so it is best to schedule it in the morning or evening to avoid the heat of the day. A wide-brimmed hat, closed shoes and plenty of water will help you feel comfortable during such a long hike.

Upon entering the area archaeological park issue a map showing all interesting objects. In the pavilion you can watch a documentary and historical film about the course archaeological work, and then go on a photo hunt for the treasures of the ancient world.

Practical information

Address: Paphos, Paphos Archaeological Park. GPS coordinates: 34.756453,32.4072714. Web site .

Opening hours: daily from 8:00 to 17:00 (November-March), from 8:00 to 18:00 (April-May, September-October), 8:00-19:30 (June-August). The cost of a ticket to the museum is 4.5 EUR. Prices on the page are for October 2018.

No one can say how many secrets are hidden under the earth and sand, caused by centuries. Usually discoveries and finds are made by accident. 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 Byzantine, and then 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 villa were derived from the heroes depicted on the mosaic fields. Greek mythology, the names of the real owners of the villas, of course, no one knows. 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, visible unique frescoes. 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 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. The open-air amphitheater is currently open. 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 big one here ethnographical museum with a variety of collections, it was 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 rightly be called one of the archaeological museums of 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 a lot of interesting artifacts. 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.

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 there is nowhere to hide from it in the archaeological park), prepare 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.

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, 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 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 large area very convenient to visit and explore.

Archaeological Park of Paphos.

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.

Archaeological Park of Paphos.

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. And don't forget your hat and water. Official website of the Archaeological Park -

/ 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 the 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 limestone blocks and rebuilt during the reign of the Roman emperor Augustus, and in ancient times it had a roof that protected the audience 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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