Paphos

Enter another world, where idols and temples, graves and goddesses make up the fabric of everyday life.Pafos is where Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love and beauty, is said to have risen from the waves that crash on its shores.

Enter another world, where idols and temples, graves and goddesses make up the fabric of everyday life.Pafos is where Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love and beauty, is said to have risen from the waves that crash on its shores.

Petra tou Romiou, or Aphrodite’s Rock, is a massive chunk of stone that marks the spot. Her birthplace was a place of pilgrimage for the entire Hellenic world. Aphrodite’s presence seems to have drawn other divinities and notable mortals as well. Excavations have unearthed the spectacular 3rd -5th century-mosaics of the Houses of Dionysus, Orpheus, and Aion, and the Villa of Theseus — buried for sixteen centuries and yet remarkably intact. Their grace of line and subtlety of color will surely inspire elevated feelings in those who see them. Also in this region is the Odeon Theater, a stone structure still used as it was in ancient times for outdoor concerts, plays, and games. Small wonder t hen that the whole Past Polis and Latsi, the Baths of Aphrodite provided the ancients with a dramatic setting for outdoor bathing. The Fontana Amorosa, or fountain of love, still bubbles forth nearby. Is it simply water... or Aphrodite’s fabled love potion?

Later periods of history have also left their traces. The Tombs of the Kings, in Kato Pafos, is a monumental honeycomb structure carved into sheer rock whose vaults held the tombs of Ptolemy period nobles. Nearby, the stone pillar where St. Paul, according to tradition, was bound and beaten for preaching Christianity thrusts heavenward. The Chrysorrogiatissa Monastery was founded in the 12th century A.D. and is dedicated to “Our Lady of the Golden Pomegranate.” The neighboring monastery of Agios Neofytos contains some of the world’s finest Byzantine frescoes and icons as well as an interesting Byzantine museum.

Archaeological discoveries in the Pafos region are continual, making it a highlight for those tracing civilization’s roots in Cyprus. For a glimpse of the artifacts and masterworks found in the area, visit the District Archeological Museum.

Returning to the 20th century, enjoy a cool drink, a steaming Cypriot coffee, or a meal of just-caught seafood in one of the tavernas that dot the scenic harborside in the town of Pafos. Hotels for every taste and budget can be found in town and the surrounding area. Use them as your home base for discovering this rich region.