Tomb of the kings paphos

If you love exploring old cities and historic towns, a morning at The Tomb of Kings in Paphos is a must while travelling around Cyprus. While everyone else headed to the beach, we hopped on a bus to explore these ancient ruins. This post may contain affiliate links.

The Tombs of the Kings contain a set of well-preserved underground tombs and chambers used by residents of Nea Pafos during the Hellenistic and Roman periods. Influenced by ancient Egyptian tradition, resemble houses for the living and despite the name, the tombs were not actually used by royalty; they earned the title from their grand appearance. Cut into the native rock , the seven excavated tombs are scattered over a wide area; with the burial chambers opening onto a peristyle atrium below ground level, surrounded by Doric pillars and frescoed walls. Other tombs have cavities built into the walls where bodies were stored. The tombs have been known and were explored for centuries.

Tomb of the kings paphos

The Mediterranean island of Cyprus has an incredible history on its shores. The alluring coastal city of Paphos in the southwest is awash with ancient ruins. Not only will you be basking on the Blue Flag beaches in Paphos with miles of shimmering azure ocean at your feet, but you can also embark on a voyage of discovery around its necropolis. You must allow a couple of hours to fully explore the underground necropolis and catacombs. Never underestimate what lies below the earth beneath your feet. Burials continue to take place up to the 3rd-century AD. Firstly, a bit of a spoiler alert as actually there are no Kings buried here. The name comes from the grandeur and majesty of the vast burial ground. The cemetery was used for Paphos Aristocracy and their families, noblemen and local officials. The necropolis was needed for the principal residents of the Nea Paphos further south by the harbour. The incredible prehistoric ruins can be visited nearby Paphos Castle. During and , Markides, the curator of the Cyprus Museum, excavated some of the shaft tombs. However, the first major excavations were carried out from to by Loizos Philippou. Fast forward a couple of decades and excavation of the necropolis commenced again in by the Department of Antiquities. An astonishing eight large tomb complexes were discovered, and work continues today on the site.

North of the centre, on the side of Fabrica Hill, are a couple of enormous underground caverns dating from the early Hellenistic period.

The underground tombs , many of which date back to the 4th century BC, are carved out of solid rock, and are thought to have been the burial sites of Paphitic aristocrats and high officials up to the third century AD the name comes from the magnificence of the tombs; no kings were in fact buried here. The tombs are cut into the native rock , and at times imitated the houses of the living. The tombs have been known and casually explored for centuries. In the first excavations under scientific supervision took place, led by Menelaos Markides, who was the curator of the Cyprus Museum. Systematic excavations took place in the late s and the s under the direction of Dr Sophocles Hadjisavvas, former Director of Antiquities of the Republic of Cyprus. Dr Hadjisavvas is preparing the finds for publication with assistance from the Australian archaeological mission to Paphos.

The monumental underground tombs are carved out of solid rock and date back to the Hellenistic and Roman periods. Rather than kings, it is actually high ranking officials and aristocracy that were buried here, but the size and splendour of the tombs — some decorated with Doric pillars - gave the locality its grand name. Some of the tombs imitate the houses of the living, with the burial chambers opening onto a peristyle atrium. They are similar to tombs found in Alexandria, demonstrating the close relations between the two cities during the Hellenistic period. Tombs of the Kings - Audio Guide. E: [email protected]. Exploring system configuration tools? Tombs of the Kings.

Tomb of the kings paphos

Ah, the Tombs of the Kings! Welcome to the Tombs of the Kings, where the ancient Paphitic elite lay to rest. But sorry, there are no actual kings here! Carved from solid rock in the 4th century BC, these underground wonders boast spooky burial chambers and some seriously fancy features. Think Doric columns and walls decked out with ancient frescoes. People have been poking around these tombs for ages. One cool thing about these tombs is the inclusion of Rhodian amphorae in the burial offerings.

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Central location, 2 min from center Municipality, Makariou etc We will definitely visit them again. Article Talk. The pool area of the Olympic Lagoon Resort, Paphos. This modest tomb complex is the burial site of the seven Machabee brothers, who were martyred around BC. When you initially stroll through the historic site, you are met with the first underground burial chambers. Also, why not subscribe to our YouTube channel and get the latest clips as we post them? We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Cut into the native rock , the seven excavated tombs are scattered over a wide area; with the burial chambers opening onto a peristyle atrium below ground level, surrounded by Doric pillars and frescoed walls. Elysia Park will always be recommended if you ever wanted to stay somewhere that is also reasonably priced. It is reported that much of the information related to the tombs was lost over time. Stay informed. Read Edit View history.

The Mediterranean island of Cyprus has an incredible history on its shores.

Hrysopolitissa Basilica 1. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Ancient Kourion Marios and Savvas in the reception are the nicest people, very patients and friendly and the restaurant in the resort is really good. Hidden categories: Articles with short description Short description is different from Wikidata Articles needing additional references from August All articles needing additional references Coordinates on Wikidata Articles containing Greek-language text Pages with Greek IPA Articles containing Turkish-language text All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from August Articles with unsourced statements from September We visited the Tombs today and found them fascinating. Tomb Of Kings Entrance Price. Privacy Policy Cookie Policy. You must allow a couple of hours to fully explore the underground necropolis and catacombs. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. Related Posts. Thus, it is hoped to develop a more secure chronology for archaeological material in the Eastern Mediterranean of the Hellenistic and early Roman periods. North of the centre, on the side of Fabrica Hill, are a couple of enormous underground caverns dating from the early Hellenistic period.