This week we visited Paphos. Our first stop, the picturesque village of Kouklia, overlooking the sea. We drove into the village, passing first the Crusader fortress of Cavocle, which protected the large sugarcane plantations on the coastal plain and where Kouklia gets its name. We then passed the old church of Panagia Odigitria just before entering the picturesque village. We were greeted by friendly and welcoming locals, sitting idly drinking their coffees.
Firstly, at the Palaipafos Museum, we were guided to the TV room where an informative documentary explained the importance of Palaipafos in ancient times. The place has often inspired writers and artists and was a place renowned in the ancient world. In the Sanctuary of Aphrodite you can see intricate mosaics on the floor as well as a giant sacred stone, which symbolises the cult of Aphrodite, the goddess of love, beauty and fertility who has always been connected to the island of Cyprus. Interestingly, her worship was without icons and only incense was burned to worship her. There were also no blood sacrifices in her honour. The place is a UNESCO site.
Also of interest is an example of Gothic architecture, a beautiful and inspiring medieval manor house used for cultural events on the island.
Our next stop was the Tomb of the Kings. The architectural style of many of the tombs here, particularly those in the northern section, reveal the Egyptian influence and were inspired by the Ptolemy tombs in Alexandria.
The tombs have been known and casually explored for centuries. The oldest modern account was written by Richard Pockocke in 1783. Almost a century later in 1870, the first archaeological excavations were conducted by Luigi Palma di Cesnola, the Italian-born American consul to Cyprus.
There is something eerie and mystical about the place. Some of the tombs have been dug very deep into the ground, so it seems as though they didn't want them to be discovered.
Sources: Eyewitness Travel: Cyprus
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