Places to visit in Пафос
The historic city of Paphos
The Paphos Archaeological Park is home to the House of Dionysos, the House of Theseus, the House of Aion, and many other remarkable sites. It features numerous mosaics that delve into the world of myths and legends, showcasing stunning scenes and terrifying demons. In this world, gods behave like humans, and humans are not afraid of the gods. The park offers a rich tapestry of art and history, where the stories of gods and legends are beautifully intertwined in exquisite mosaics.
Entrance to the archaeological park. Ticket price 4.5 euros. Parking is free. The ancient city of Paphos goes back to the tales of Troy and it is believed that the founder of the city was the leader of the Arkadians Agapenor. Even before Agapenor, they worshiped the cult of the goddess of fertility, which became the prototype of Aphrodite. According to Greek tradition, Aphrodite was born from the foam of the sea right here in Paphos. Paphos is also famous for the fact that the Roman patrician Cicero ruled Crete here and from here. The Apostle Paul preached on Paphos. In the Middle Ages, the city was captured by Richard the Lionheart during his campaign to Jerusalem. Later they were ruled by the Lusignan dynasty - the founders of the Kingdom of Jerusalem.
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Today, the Byzantine basilica from the 5th century houses a visitor center. Historically known as the "Basilica of the Holy Virgin Mary of Paphos Harbour," it was the patron of sailors and maritime trade, the lifeblood of the city. In the 7th century, it was destroyed during the Muslim invasion of the island and was later ruined again in the 12th century during the Crusades.
The blooming yellow chrysanthemums under the clear blue sky filled the vast open space, creating a timeless atmosphere. Before them lay the ruins of ancient Greek cities, rich with familiar myths from school and nature, as if inspired by divine will, completed these ancient tales.
The House of Aion is named for one of the central figures depicted in its mosaic – the god Aion, symbolizing eternity and embodying justice. The mosaic portrays magnificent scenes illustrating his role as the deity representing justice and eternity, incorporating Greek mythology motifs that are well-known to history and archaeology enthusiasts.
בבית זה, חלק מרצפת הפסיפסים נשמרה בצורה חלקית. הפסיפסים בבית מתארים סצנות מהמיתולוגיה היוונית:
יופייה של קסיופיאה: דמותה של קסיופיאה מופיעה יחד עם נרידים, בתולות ים. לפי המסורת, אמרו שנרידים נראו ביפו, ליד תל אביב.
סיפור "לדה והברבור": פסיפס זה מתאר את לדה, המלכה הספרטנית, שהופתה על ידי זאוס. זאוס, בדמות ברבור, פיתה אותה, ומנישואים אלה נולדו הלן היפה והתאומים דיוסקורי.
התחרות בין מארסיאס לאפולו: התחרות בחליל בין מארסיאס לאפולו מתוארת בפסיפס נוסף. מארסיאס ניגן על החליל של האל אפולו, אך אפולו לא יכול היה להרשות זאת, ובסופו של דבר מארסיאס מת מות קדושים.
הפסיפסים מציגים את האלים היוונים עם מידות אנושיות, מה שממחיש את הקשרים בין העולם האלוהי והעולם האנושי במיתולוגיה היוונית.
In this house, part of the mosaic floor is partially preserved. The mosaics in the house depict scenes from Greek mythology:
The Beauty of Cassiopeia: Cassiopeia appears alongside Nereids, sea nymphs. According to tradition, Nereids were said to be seen in Jaffa, near Tel Aviv.
The Story of "Leda and the Swan": This mosaic depicts Leda, the Spartan queen who Zeus seduced. In the form of a swan, Zeus seduced her, and from this union, Helen of Troy and the Dioscuri twins were born.
The Competition between Marsyas and Apollo: Another mosaic illustrates the musical contest between Marsyas and Apollo. Marsyas played Apollo's flute, but Apollo could not allow this, and ultimately, Marsyas met a martyr's death.
The mosaics portray Greek gods with human qualities, highlighting Greek mythology's interconnectedness between the divine and human worlds.
Pointer mentions that we are now anticipating the visit to the House of Theseus. The house was named after Polish archaeologists who excavated it in 1966 during a tumultuous time in Cyprus. After gaining independence from England, the island was nearly engulfed in a civil war between Greeks and Turks. The Poles named the place "House of Theseus" because the central mosaic depicts the duel between Theseus and the Minotaur.
By the way, the Minotaur - the bull - is one of the symbols of Cyprus. It is believed that the shape of Crete resembles a bull's hide. Even copper ingots produced here were shaped like a bull's hide. The name of the island comes to us from the Latin "cuprum" - copper.
The house belonged to Cyprus's governor and was thought to have been built in the third century AD. It is possible that traditionally, the house of another proconsul of Cyprus stood here in 51 BC. The famous Cicero, who was not spared the upheavals following Caesar's death, had his great speech mocked by the crowd.
The house of Theos was one of the wealthiest in Paphos. Evidence of this lies in its size and architecture. It was destroyed during the Arab invasion and was never restored.
The House of Orpheus is named so because one of the mosaics depicts Orpheus playing the lyre. This house belonged to the noble Roman Titus Gaius Restituta, as evidenced by the mosaic inscription on the floor of one of the rooms.
This small house served as a refuge for archaeological missions. It preserved the spirit of adventure of those days, the passion for discoveries and fame. However, in archaeology, it becomes clear that the glory of the Greek gods, hidden by the earth for centuries, overshadows the work of the researcher. Only Indiana Jones (whose prototype was Sir Flinders Petrie - grandson of Francis Drake buried on Mount Zion in Jerusalem) managed to shed light on the glory of the ancient pyramids.
The House of Dionysus is essentially an exhibition of ancient mosaics, and most impressively, this vast area and the ancient mosaic fields belong to the house of a wealthy Paphos resident from the 3rd century CE. There are two mosaics, where the mythological creatures are placed only in the center of the mosaic floor, while a geometric pattern fills a large area. One of the mosaics appears black and white. It depicts Scylla, a terrifying sea creature. This is the oldest mosaic in Cyprus, dating back to the 3rd century BCE. On the other hand, in a Roman mosaic, Narcissus is admiring himself in the center.
In this room, the entire floor is covered with a depiction of Dionysus' victory. It is one of the largest rooms in the house and appears to have been a dining room or ceremonial hall. Dionysus "won" his campaign to India - a plot inspired by Roman imagination. Nearby images of the Dioscuri brothers - Castor and Pollux - recall the myth of Leda and Zeus from the house of Ion. Everything is connected to the world of gods, legends, and mysteries. The peacock is the most beautiful work in this mosaic, and Dionysus is seated on a chariot drawn by panthers.
One of the corridors of this beautiful house tells the story of Phaedra and Hippolytus. Phaedra was the wife of Theseus, King of Athens. He had a son from his first marriage - Hippolytus. And, oh, the horror, Phaedra fell in love with Hippolytus. But the loyal son rejected his father's wife, and then the scorned woman defamed him to her husband. Theseus, angered at his innocent son - Hippolytus, caused his death by the will of Poseidon. After learning of the tragedy, Phaedra committed suicide. There it is.
Another corridor, another tragic love story. This is the tale of Pyramus and Thisbe. They loved each other and agreed to meet by a mulberry tree. But when Pyramus saw the lioness with the bloodstained scarf, he thought his beloved was no longer alive and stabbed himself with a knife. Thisbe, upon seeing the lifeless body of her lover, stabbed herself with the same knife. Somehow, the stories in these corridors are cruel. There is no escape from them.
Here, around the central atrium (an open courtyard in the center of the villa), are scenes of hunting. No love or tragedy—just hunting. Interestingly, for our world, the hunting scene is a marvel. And then, it becomes commonplace. As for us, there’s the scene with an iPhone.
How refreshing it is to step outside after admiring so many mosaics! The room feels stuffy, with no air conditioning under the wooden canopy. I won’t linger here for too long. And once again, I find myself surrounded by excavations.
Caves and the surrounding areas were used as sanctuaries for gods. Something similar exists in Banias in northern Israel – one of the temples dedicated to the god Pan was built similarly. Greek culture was vast, with its influence spreading across a broad region. During its heyday, it brought its achievements to the Middle East and the Near East peoples, and its traces are still visible today. Perhaps, in a thousand years, they will speak of the culture of Western civilization, which perished under the onslaught of barbarians. Everything flows, everything changes, and all is vanity. And that’s the end of the story.
