Guide to the Paphos mosaics

72 Pages·1988·37.253 MB·English

by  Daszewski, Wiktor Andrzej, Michaélidès, Dimitri

GUIDE TO THE PAPHOS MOSAICS
Text by
W.A. Daszewski
D. Michaelides
nOAIMlTIKO IAPYMA
SERIES OF GUIDE-BOOKS
PUBLISHED BY THE BANK OF CYPRUS CULTURAL FOUNDATION
IN COLLABORATION WITH
THE DEPARTMENT OF ANTIQUITIES
ISBN 9963-42-010-9
© COPYRIGHT 1988 BANK OF CYPRUS CULTURAL FOUNDATION
CONTENTS
PREFACE
A BRIEF HISTORY OF NEA PAPHOS (DM.) 9
THE HOUSE OF DIONYSOS (D.M.) 11
THE HOUSE OF ORPHEUS (DM.) 46
THE VILLA OF THESEUS (W.A.D.) 52
THE HOUSE OF AION (W.A.D.) 63
BIBLIOGRAPHY 72
Front Cover
Silcnus with panthers, detail from the Triumph of Dionysos;
House of Dionysos.
Credits
Scries Editor: Maria lacovou.
Ground Plans: Department of Antiquities.
Mosaic Photographs: Andreas Malecos (House of Dionysos);
Department of Antiquities (Houses
of Orpheus and Theseus);
Polish Archaeological Mission
(House ofAion).
Colour Separation: D. Hadjistillis, G. Voulgarides, Greece;
Leogravure, Beirut;
GrawoLtd., Nicosia.
Book Design: Maria lacovou.
Printing: Chr. Nicolaou, Nicosia.
PREFACE
In 1987 the Bank of Cyprus Cultural Foundation launched a major publica
tion project for the production of a series of richly illustrated guide-books to
the ancient monuments and archaeological sites of Cyprus. The goal is to
issue one guide per annum in four languages. The text is provided by the
Department of Antiquities and it is based on the official reports of scholars
currently active in the field of Cypriot archaeology. The purpose of this
long-term and ambitious project is dual: on the one hand, it supports and
promotes cultural tourism; on the other, it offers a substantial financial sup
port to the Department of Antiquities, since net proceeds from the sale of the
books are deposited in a special fund for the restoration of ancient monu
ments.
After the tragic events of 1974 which resulted in the occupation by the Tur
kish Army of that part of Cyprus which includes Famagusta and Kyrenia,
Kato Paphos, known in antiquity as Nea Paphos, has grown into an impor
tant tourist centre. Once the capital of Graeco-Roman Cyprus, Nea Paphos
has been included in the World Heritage List of UNESCO.
The text of the Guide to the Paphos Mosaics was written by Dr. W. A. Das-
zewski and Dr. D. Michaelides. Both scholars are directors of excavations at
Nea Paphos and specialists in the study of mosaics'. Ground plans and photo
graphs for the Houses of Orpheus, Theseus and Aion were provided by the
Department of Antiquities. The new photographs for the mosaics of the
House of Dionysos were taken by Andreas Malecos and belong to the photo
graphic archive of the Cultural Foundation.
We expect that with the continuing collaboration of the Department of An
tiquities and the unfailing interest of its Director, the guide-book series of
our Cultural Foundation will make a contribution to the preservation and
presentation of our island's heritage.
Andreas Patsalides
Chairman
Bank of Cyprus
Cultural Foundation
Fig. 1. Plan of Nea Paphos.
A BRIEF HISTORY OF NEA PAPHOS
Although Nea Paphos was destined to play one Soon after the late 4th cent. B.C. when Nea
of (he most important roles in the history of Paphos was founded, Cyprus became part of the
('yprus, relatively little is known about its early kingdom of the Ptolemies, the Graeco-Macedo-
clays. Strabo (late 1st cent. B.C.) and Pausanias nian rulers of Egypt, who had their capital at
(2nd cent. A.D.) preserve a tradition according Alexandria. The Ptolemies placed special impor
lo which the city was founded in the 12th cent. tance on Nea Paphos for a variety of reasons.
1 a f t er the end of the Trojan War, by Of these, the most important was its proximity
Ajyipcnor king of Tegea (Greece). Nowadays, to Alexandria and its good harbour which was
however, this legend is taken to refer not to Nea the most important military outpost of the
Paphos but to Palaepaphos (modern Kouklia) Ptolemies outside Egypt. Nea Paphos was also
which was then a prosperous town and had a situated near the hills that provided the vast quan
world famous sanctuary dedicated to Aphrodite. tities of timber necessary to the Ptolemies for
Nea Paphos instead, appears to have been ship building. Most of the timber must have
founded much later, towards the close of the 4th gone to Egypt; there is, however, evidence
ant. B.C., by Nicocles, the last king of which indicates that very large ships were being
Palaepaphos. built in Paphos itself from local timber. The
town served as the centre of Ptolemaic admini
Nea Paphos is situated on a small promontory
stration on the island (see below, clay sealings
on the SW coast of the island, and occupies a
from Room 6 of the House of Dionysos) and
site on which (according to recent archaeological
soon became the political and economic centre
evidence) there was an earlier settlement that
of the district. Such was its importance that by
had grown around a small, sheltered bay - the
the 2nd cent. B.C. the Ptolemies made it the
future harbour of Nea Paphos. The town oc
capital of the whole of Cyprus. Here resided the
cupies an area of about 950.000 square metres,
strategos, the supreme military commander who
the whole of which is girt by high walls
governed the island in the name of the Ptolemaic
(Fig. 1). Part of the ancient street system has
kings - who themselves often resided at Nea
been investigated in the south-western sector of
Paphos. The town was also one of a small
the town (see below, Villa of Theseus). This
number of centres on the island that enjoyed the
shows that right from the beginning, the town
right to mint coins (see below, the Ptolemaic
was built on an orthogonal plan based on a grid
coin hoard in Room 13 of the House of
of streets cutting each other at right angles and
Dionysos).
forming rectangular insulae (blocks of build
ings). Within this street system, which appears In 58 B.C. Cyprus was annexed by Rome.
to have remained in use (with only minor Paphos remained the capital and continued to
changes) throughout the history of the town, be the centre of all political and administrative
there were well defined areas of commercial life on the island. It was the only Cypriot town
(near the Odeion) and residential (west of the that retained the right to mint coins, and it was
harbour) character. here, of course, that the Roman proconsul re-
sided. As the town grew in importance it ac precedence was given to Salamis. It was re
cumulated a number of titles, such as Augusta named Constantia and soon became the capital
and Claudia Flavia Paphos, which reflect the of the island. Life in Paphos did not cease,
favours conferred upon her by various Roman however, and by the end of the 4th cent. A.D.
Emperors. These reached their peak by the many buildings were rebuilt and richly deco
Severan period when Nea Paphos was named rated. All the same, Nea Paphos never re
"Sebaste Claudia Flavia, the sacred metropolis gained her metropolitan status, even though it
of all the towns in Cyprus". It is, in fact, dur became the see of a bishop (first attested at the
ing the Antonine and Severan periods (second first Ecumenical Council of Nicaea in A.D.
half of 2nd / early 3rd cent. A.D.) that Nea 325). Several splendid churches were erected
Paphos appears to have reached the highest in Paphos during this period, including the
point of its importance and prosperity. This is Early Christian Basilica of Chrysopolitissa,
reflected by the number of buildings, both one of the largest buildings known on the
public and private, which survive from this island.
period, and the opulence of their decoration.
The mid 7th cent. A.D. saw the beginning of a
The tombs of this period too, show an unusual
series of Arab raids that led Cyprus into one of
variety and wealth of grave goods.
the darkest periods of her history. From this
Of the public buildings so far investigated or point on, Paphos suffered a slow but steady
attested in Paphos, mention can be made of an decline. The town was much reduced in size
Agora, a Theatre, an Amphitheatre, an Odeion and nothing of importance appears to have
and an Asklepieion. There were also temples been built for several centuries. Nea Paphos
dedicated to Aphrodite, Artemis, Apollo, was to regain some of her importance in later
Zeus, Leto and probably Dionysos, as well as times. First, during the period following A.D.
cult centres for the worship of rulers - first 965 when the island once more came to form
the Ptolemaic kings and later the Roman em part of the Byzantine Empire; and later, under
perors. By contrast, although, as recorded in Frankish rule, when the Lusignan kings
the Acts of the Apostles, Christianity was in reigned over Cyprus (A.D. 1192 - 1489). Dur
troduced to Nea Paphos as early as the mid 1st ing this period Paphos was adorned with se
cent. A.D. by Sts Paul and Barnabas, there are veral Gothic churches and castles were built
no known Christian cult centres that can be for her defense (the castle of Saranda Colones
dated to before the 4th cent. A.D. and the castle by the harbour).
Nea Paphos was severely damaged by earth The decline, however, set in once more to
quakes on several occasions, most notably in wards the end of the Lusignan period. It con
the late 1st cent. B.C. and the second half of tinued during the Venetian period (A.D. 1489-
the 1st cent. A.D. A series of violent tremors 1570) and worsened under the Ottoman Turks
during the first half of the 4th cent. A.D., that were to rule the island for about 300
however, was especially devastating and badly years. The population had gradually began to
ruined most Cypriot cities including Nea move further inland to the safer and healthier
Paphos. In the rebuilding that followed, politi plateau where the present town of Paphos
cal, strategic and other reasons dictated that (Ktima) now stands. Meanwhile, Nea Paphos
I'liiiliiiucd to diminish in size. Part of its har These contrast the miserable houses of their
bour silled up and the area around it was taken days to the splendid ruins of the past, and al
over by marshes. In fact, the only things that most invariably complain of the unhealthy air
hrhi)', Paphos out of almost total oblivion dur of the place - something to be attributed pro
ing this period are the chronicles of pilgrims bably to the marshes around the harbour.
11 nit visited it on their way to the Holy Land.
D.M.
THE HOUSE OF DIONYSOS
mosaic floors are located in the surrounding
The Discovery
area, it is becoming clear that such rich deco
A chance discovery made more than 25 years ration was not the exception but the norm for
nj'o, lias brought to light what still remains the Paphos during the mid-Roman period. So, as
most spectacular group of mosaics in Cyprus. far as the House of Dionysos is concerned, all
During levelling operations in 1962, at the lo that can be said with certainty is that it was
cality Ktiston, a large number of mosaic frag one of several wealthy houses in one of the
ments and tesserae were found. This led the best quarters of ancient Paphos (Fig. 1).
I )epartment of Antiquities to halt all activity in
The building occupies an area of about 2000
(he area and to carry out first a trial and then a
square metres, of which 556 are covered with
systematic excavation of the site. This was
mosaic floors. As Dionysos (Bacchus), the god
done under the direction of the late K.
of wine, features rather prominently in some of
Nicolaou of the Department of Antiquities and
these mosaics, the building has been named
most of the work was completed between 1962
the House of Dionysos.
and 1965.
The Building
The excavations brought to light a large and
wealthy residence of the Roman period, the
(all room numbers refer to the plan on Fig. 3).
first of its type to be found in Paphos and in
After the completion of the excavation the De
Cyprus as a whole. The size of the building
partment of Antiquities erected a roof over the
and the wealth of its mosaic decoration led to
mosaics to protect them from rain and direct
an initial identification of the owner with some
sunlight. This roof was destroyed during the
high Roman official or even with the Pro
bombing of the area by Turkish airplanes in
consul himself. This identification, however,
1974. The present, more efficient shed was
can now be dismissed for several reasons: the
constructed in 1977. It only covers the area
probable Proconsul's residence (known as the
with mosaic floors, and although the rest of the
Villa of Theseus) has since been discovered
building is not open to the public, some words
and excavated. Moreover, as more and more
on the house as a whole are ~~°csary.