- Address: Kato Pafos, Tombs of the kings Ave
- Phone: +357 26306217
- Working hours: 8.00 - 17.00 (November - March), 08.00 - 18.00 (April - May, September - October), 08.00 - 19.30 (June - August)
- Entrance fee: € 4.50
If you decide to visit Cyprus , the ancient history of which really attracts fans of artifacts, we recommend to visit the large necropolis located just 2 kilometers to the north-west of the famous harbor of the island of Paphos . Although this memorial complex is known to tourists as "the tombs of kings in Cyprus", historians are not sure that only kings are buried there: after many millennia it is not possible to determine precisely this.
What is worth knowing about the royal tombs of Cyprus?
Most of the underground tombs date back to the 4th century. BC. They are hollowed out right in the rock and, as the researchers suggest, served as a place of rest for both the aristocracy and outstanding officials until the III century. n. e. Most of the tombs are decorated with elements of decor, among which are domed murals and Doric columns. Some graves are made right in the rock and resemble an ordinary house in appearance. On the wall of one of the largest tombs of the kings in Cyprus is a coat of arms with a double-headed eagle that was a symbol of the Ptolemaic dynasty. It is also believed that this landmark in times of Roman rule was an excellent refuge for the early Christians.
Each burial place of the necropolis occupies an area of at least several hundred meters. The territory on which the tombs are located is fenced.
Among the most interesting facts concerning the tombs of the kings of Cyprus, we note the following:
- All the tombs are connected by a complex network of junctions and stairs, so be careful not to accidentally get into the well.
- The burials accurately copy the houses of kings and local nobility, are equipped with their own courtyards and are decorated with colonnades and sculptures. In the center of the complex is a large area.
- The first Christians, who hid here from persecution, left a memory of themselves in the form of wall paintings and crosses.
- Only two tombs remained intact, while the rest suffered significantly from the hands of the vandals.
- One of the graves serves as a chapel, and in the Middle Ages people even lived in some tombs.
- The architecture of the burials is really impressive: some caves seem much higher than local dwellings.
- The entire necropolis at the moment is numbered to make it easier for tourists to find the right place. The most difficult to go through the catacombs are numbers 3, 4 and 8. After entering any of the tombs along a stone staircase surrounded by columns carved out of rocks, you will see niches with buried bodies, along with which are stored cosmetic boxes and jewelry.
- The entrance to the surviving caves looks like a rectangular or bizarre passage or an opening in the rock.
- You can date the burial according to an ordinary clay jug, which is usually marked with the stigma of a pottery workshop.
- In many tombs there are special ceremonial chambers intended for offerings to the deceased in the form of milk, oils, honey, water and wine. The burial chamber is usually faced with a special plaster, in appearance resembling marble.
How to get there?
It is not difficult to get to the royal tombs. They are on the northernmost outskirts of New Paphos in a northeasterly direction from the city walls. Nearby bus number 615 stops. When going on sightseeing, it is worthwhile to take food with you: there are no cafes or snack bars nearby. It is best to visit the burial place in the morning, as it can be too hot in the daytime.
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