The Grand Tour
Paphos
(via the port of Limassol)
Cyprus has always been considered a strategic site in
the Mediterranean because it lies perfectly situated among the three continents
of the Mediterranean - Africa, Asia, and Europe. Beyond that, in ancient times
Cyprus was a great source of copper (in fact the name for copper was
derived from the Island's name) and its forests provided abundant wood for
smelting that copper and for making ships - important stuff during the bronze
age. Of course, over the last several millenia Cyprus has
been occupied by the usual cast of characters, including: Egypt, followed
by the Greeks, the Assyrians, the Persians, the Romans and the Byzantine
Emperor, the crusaders, the Venetians, the Genoese, and the Ottoman
Empire. In the late 19th Century the island was ceded to the British, and
finally in 1960 the Cyprus gained its independence. However, about 40% of the
Island is occupied by the Turkish forces who moved into the north in 1974
when Greece, then under a dictator, tried to annex Cyprus.
As with most of the Greek Islands, the coast of Cyprus
is dotted with small towns and harbors. Perhaps the most important and
interesting of them is Paphos and its small harbour, the historic capitol of
Cyprus. The coastal road leading to Paphos from the east is reminiscent of
California's Highway 1 near the south end of Big Sur and is marked with several
important historic sites, including a temple for Apollo and a
temple for
Aphrodite. In fact, according to Greek Myth, Aphrodite was born from the foam of
the sea on a specific (an now clearly marked for tourists to find) rocky
point along this stretch of coast. And, Paphos was the center of Cypriot
worship of Aphrodite. Those who know their Greek mythology will recall that
Aphrodite took pity on Pygmalion when he sculpted the most beautiful woman he
could imagine and fell in love with the statue (Galatea) and brought the statue
to life. Paphos was the son of Pygmalion and Galatea and tradition has it that
it was he who founded the city.
St. Paul visited Paphos early in the 1st Century A.D.
and tradition has it that he was flogged with 39 lashes while tied to a marble column in
Paphos. Tradition has it that the column still stands in
the Roman ruins near the church of Ayia Kyiaki Chrysosphiliotissa.
Of course, given the strategic location of Paphos, the Crusades set
up
operations there building a Medieval Castle on the
point of land at the harbour entrance. Today, the harbour
and the Castle provide a beautiful vista for the many cafes which have sprung
up along the water front. Near the harbour lie Roman ruins discovered
in 1964 while a farmer was digging a posthole. The payoff, an amphora containing
2,484 silver Roman coins. Not bad wages for digging one posthole. The floors of
the buildings within the ruins are covered with some
of the most impressive Roman
mosaics found anywhere. The quality and quantity of these mosaics
are, in part, the reasons the whole area has been designated a World
Heritage Site. The Roman ruins, 
ancient tombs and catacombs, museums, and the
picturesque harbour and castle of Paphos make visiting this beautiful coastal
Cypriot town well worth seeing.
e-mail
the Flagler Museum
For more information, please visit the following
websites.
temple for
Aphrodite. In fact, according to Greek Myth, Aphrodite was born from the foam of
the sea on a specific (an now clearly marked for tourists to find) rocky
point along this stretch of coast. And, Paphos was the center of Cypriot
worship of Aphrodite. Those who know their Greek mythology will recall that
Aphrodite took pity on Pygmalion when he sculpted the most beautiful woman he
could imagine and fell in love with the statue (Galatea) and brought the statue
to life. Paphos was the son of Pygmalion and Galatea and tradition has it that
it was he who founded the city.
