A big citadel wall of the classical period, which defines and protects the north face of a monumental edifice, known as the main palace of the last royal dynasty of ancient Paphos, was discovered during the excavations carried out by the University of Cyprus at Palepaphos, near the Sanctuary of Aphrodite Paphia.
The wall is a complex work of defensive architecture which consists of a three-meters wide main wall and long and narrow cross walls, which are built against the main wall and extend almost to the edge of the cliff.
Its masonry is of superb quality and extends for over 80 meters across the plateau of Hadjiabdoulla and many of its segments are preserved to a height of a meter and a half.
The compartments constructed between cross walls and terrace walls were not just emply spaces but were used for storage and the industrial facilities of the palace. Two large storage vessels were discovered on the site, as well as numerous fragments of local and imported vessels.
The excavations were conducted under the direction of Professor Maria Iakovou and lasted five weeks.The aim of the archaeological project of Palaepaphos, which is run by Ms. Iakovou, is to define the urban web of the capital of the ancient kingdom of Paphos, located on the plateaus around the sanctuary of Aphrodite.
Photo Source: Wikimedia Commons Copyright: Sergey Galyonkin License: CC-BY-SA
Near Palaepaphos (Old Paphos) at the seaside of Petra tou Romiou is the modern mythical birthplace of Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love and beauty, and the founding myth is interwoven with the goddess at every level, so that Old Paphos became the most famous and important place for worshipping Aphrodite in the ancient world.
In Greco-Roman times, Paphos was the island’s capital, and it is well known for the remains of the Roman governor’s palace, where extensive, fine mosaics are a major tourist attraction. Paul the Apostle visited the town during the first century AD.
The town of Paphos is included in the official UNESCO list of cultural and natural treasures of the world’s heritage.
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