No one can say how many secrets are hidden under the ground 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 discovery and subsequent excavations, the Archaeological Park of Paphos appeared in Cyprus.
What the excavations tell 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, some artifact from ancient buildings is sure to be found.
The found ancient mosaic attracted the attention of many scientists andarchaeologists. For 20 years, archaeological expeditions from different countries have been collecting bit by bit 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. Tourists can visit them.
The names of the villas were given by 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 basilica 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.hours.
For organized groups of tourists, excursions are conducted with a guide who, guiding the group through the streets of this open-air archaeological museum, tells the 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 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 structures in Paphos were destroyed by an earthquake in the 4th century.
Mosaic Floor Technology
You should pay attention to the mosaics created initially from a simple stone with a simple geometric pattern in three colors: 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 from the smallestpebbles, 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 erect a canopy over the main exhibits found by that time.
In the depths of the dwelling of the Archaeological Park of Paphos, 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 theme 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 the 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 guides tella 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 excavations began, 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.
Eona Villa
On the other side of the street is located in a sheltered room no less interesting dwelling, the excavation of which is still ongoing. But even what is open to the public speaks of his we alth. 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 from the smallestpieces 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. The ongoing excavations are expected to reveal more mosaic floors and wall frescoes.
Forty Column Castle
The majestic castle of Saranta Kolones was built by the Byzantines in the 7th century on forty bas alt columns in the form of a defensive structure. It was destined to be built and destroyed, reborn 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. From 25 rows onceexisting, repaired and restored 11. According to the guides, performances of ancient Greek tragedies are staged here.
Interesting for visitors Temple of Asclepius. 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 can tourists see in this historic city with a century 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 rightly be called one of the archaeological museums of Cyprus.
One of the attractions of Paphos is the 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 Byzantine style of 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 - this is a necropolis, in which a lot ofinteresting artifacts. And this is, first of all, evidence of the life and life of the people who lived here.
To see all these sights, you can purchase a tourist voucher and fly Moscow - Paphos to Paphos International Airport. 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, and not languish in the heat. Flight tickets Moscow - Paphos are almost always available.
