#922 Paphos, Cyprus

Known in old as Kouklia, it was the supposed place of Aphrodite's birth. Paphos is on the southern coast of Cyprus, near the western end of the island in the middle of the hub of British (and other) tourists. Including sites of both Old and New Paphos (old and new already existed in the time of Seneca!), it was an important administrative center until the middle ages. The archaeological sites are impressive, and include the Odeon Ampitheatre, three temples built on a rise, the Tombs of the Kings, spectacular mosaics and a castle closer to town.

The Tombs of the Kings, in a beautiful ocean-side location, are reminiscent of Petra and other subterranean cities, wtih huge temples carved out of the solid rock. Many date back to the 4th Century BCE, but no kings were actually buried here (they were so named because they were so impressive). With Doric columns, frescoes, they are a pretty area that has been visited by many over the centuries.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paphos
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kouklia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tombs_of_the_Kings_(Paphos)

Paphos Cyprus

Paphos has been inhabited since the Neolithic period. It was a centre of the cult of Aphrodite and of pre-Hellenic fertility deities. Aphrodite's legendary birthplace was on this island, where her temple was erected by the Myceneans in the 12th century B.C. The remains of villas, palaces, theatres, fortresses and tombs mean that the site is of exceptional architectural and historic value. The mosaics of Nea Paphos are among the most beautiful in the world. Because of their great antiquity, and because they are closely and directly related to the cult and legend of Aphrodite (Venus), who became the ideal of beauty and love, inspiring writers, poets and artists throughout human history, Paphos is of outstanding universal value.

Continent: Europe

Country: Cyprus

Category: Cultural

Criterion: (III)(VI)

Date of Inscription: 1980

The best examples of Nea Paphos

Pre-Hellenic fertility deities were worshipped in Cyprus from Neolithic times. Many of the archaeological remains are of great antiquity, as Paphos has been inhabited since the Neolithic period. The Temple of Aphrodite represents one of the earliest settlements, while the mosaics of Nea Paphos are extremely rare and rank among the best examples in the world. The architectural remains of villas, palaces, theatres, fortresses and rock-hewn peristyle tombs are of outstanding historical value as they are one of the keys of the understanding of ancient architecture.

Inspiring Wall Drawings

Browse Gallery Plus UNESCO Storyline

Aphrodite's Birthplace

Petra tou Romiou, or Aphrodite's Rock, is a rock that marks the site of Aphrodite's birthplace, which was a place of pilgrimage for the entire Hellenic world. Excavations have unearthed the spectacular 3rd- to 5th-century mosaics of the Houses of Dionysus, Orpheus and Aion, and the Villa of Theseus, buried for 16 centuries and yet remarkably intact. The mosaic floors of these noblemen's villas are considered among the finest in the Eastern Mediterranean. They mainly depict scenes from Greek mythology.

Slideshow for this Heritage Site

Browse All UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Cyprus. The original UNESCO inscription Here!!!