Ancient and mysterious Cyprus, offering an incredible number of excursion programs, is incredibly popular among curious tourists who dream of getting to know not only amazing nature, but also unusual sights. The colorful city, which was once the capital of a picturesque island, is rightfully considered a treasury of archaeological and architectural monuments that involuntarily conjure up the romance of bygone centuries.
The world's oldest burials
Two kilometers from Paphos is a giant necropolis - an atmospheric place where fantasy is played out. Despite the fact that the royal tombs were looted, and some of the unique artifacts were lost forever, they are of great interest to scientists around the world. Striking in size and bizarre architecture, the memorial, the exact date of discovery of which is unknown, attracted the attention of organized research groups in the 70s of the last century.
Some travelers believe that the Tombs of the Kings are the burial places of kings, but in factIn fact, not blue-blooded people rest in the tombs, but the local nobility and high-ranking elite. And this name was given to the tombs due to the luxurious decor and extremely expensive ritual decorations found by archaeologists. This is one of the oldest sights in the world, which has come down to posterity in relatively good condition.
A bit of history
The royal tombs in Paphos appeared in the 4th century BC, and later the first Christians hid from persecution, leaving images of crosses on the walls. Before our era, Cyprus was part of the great Persian Empire, and after Alexander the Great, who took the title of pharaoh, entered the international arena, a new period in history began for Egypt - the Hellenistic one. All lands from Iran to the Balkans are united into an ancient state called the Macedonian Empire. After the death of the valiant commander, Cyprus, passing from hand to hand, becomes part of Egypt. However, they were buried here according to Greek customs, which is why all the tombs of Alexandria and the islands are similar to each other.
Looted and destroyed
Now some catacombs cannot be dated, because there is nothing in them except stone slabs. The thing is that the royal tombs (Cyprus) were often robbed, and for more than two millennia they have been empty. There are no coins or any inscriptions that could establish the exact time of burial or tell about the deceased. In the Middle Ages, stone was mined on the territory of the necropolis, and many tombs were destroyed. And only two tombs for unknown reasons reach the descendantsintact.
Memorial complex
The necropolis is an extensive underground city, carved out of rock, but some structures rise above the surface of the earth. And if from the outside the memorial complex does not look monumental, then the tourists who descended into the catacombs note the gigantic dimensions of the archaeological masterpiece. Spacious royal tombs, similar to palace halls, are decorated with frescoes, as well as incomprehensible images, and later archaeologists found that these were the family coats of arms of the deceased. Inside the premises you can see high columns, powerful arches, deep wells.
In stone structures, scientists have found jewelry that amaze with amazing beauty. Now they are all in the archaeological museums of Cyprus, and tourists observe only the empty niches of the necropolis.
Fancy underground maze
Each tomb occupies a large area of several hundred meters. All the royal tombs are interconnected by a bizarre network of numerous passages and stone stairs, and careless visitors, entangled in the labyrinths, may find themselves in a well. Some burials exactly copy the houses of local aristocrats.
Equipped with cozy courtyards, they delight with amazing architecture and skillfully executed sculptures. In many catacombs, one can find the so-called ritual chambers, in which offerings were brought for the dead. Such facilitiesfaced with marble-like plaster.
This is a real underground city, in the center of which is the main square. To make it easier for tourists to search the necropolis, all rooms are numbered. A walk through the UNESCO-protected sights will take about two hours. Tourists will be able to get acquainted with only eight tombs, which you can go down to inspect the burial chambers.
What are the main types of royal tombs in the Middle Kingdom?
We althy citizens of Ancient Egypt and Ancient Greece were buried in the tombs, and soon the nobility from Rome rested next to them. Many catacombs, untouched by time, resemble spacious residential buildings with everything you need or even temples, because they were built under the influence of Alexandria, founded by A. Macedonian.
There are several main types of royal tombs in the Middle Kingdom:
- pit-like;
- tombs with an atrium;
- tomb chambers.
Pit-shaped tombs are niches carved into the rocks, where the body of the deceased was placed, and outside, around the hole, an ornament was applied or inscriptions were made. Stone stairs led to the inside of the tombs.
Tombs with an atrium are not in vain called the home of the deceased. Here they built a well for ritual ablutions and laid out an inner courtyard connected to the burial place by a staircase. And the burial tunnels were already departing from it in different directions.
Tomb chambers are a real necropolis,for multiple burials. The main chamber was located in the center, and branches branched off from it, and in each such tunnel there were graves.
Tombs of the Kings, Paphos: how to get there?
The state-protected memorial complex, located on the very outskirts of the city, is the place to visit during your holiday in Paphos. However, it is not necessary to do this as part of an organized tour, because you can come here on your own, saving a lot. Shuttle bus number 615, going to Coral Bay Beach, reaches the bus stop of the same name.
Entrance to the tombs, which receive guests all year round, is paid, and its cost is about two euros.
Tourist Tips
The best time to visit the royal tombs is early in the morning as it gets too hot during the day.
Don't wear high-heeled shoes as sneakers are the best way to roam the caves.
As there are no eateries on site, be sure to bring food and water with you.
In order not to get lost, pay attention to the installed signs with inscriptions and diagrams. In addition, information brochures intended for tourists are sold at the entrance to the museum complex.
The unique building of antiquity, introducing the history of Cyprus, gives everyone the opportunity to touch the culture of our ancestors. And the solid age of the tombs makes this place one of the most interesting in the world. This is a wonderful place where you can spend time descending into the underground catacombs and examining the stones, which are several thousand years old.
