The history

Capital of Cyprus
Paphos was chosen as the capital of Cyprus under the Ptolemies during the Hellenistic period. It continued to be the capital during the Roman period. During the Flavian period, it was known as Augusta Flavia Claudia.
In AD 45 St. Paul and St. Barnabas came to Paphos, and the Roman pro-consul Sergius Paulus embraced Christianity. During the 4th c. AD, Paphos was destroyed by earthquakes. It ceased to be the capital of the island, and was replaced by Constantia, the first Christian capital of Cyprus, which was built on the ruins of ancient Salamis.
During this period the island suffered repeatedly from Arab raids, especially in the 7th c. It was at this time that the castle was built.
Many of the inhabitants moved their homes inland and created the settlement of Ktima. When Nikephoros Doukas put an end to the Arab raids in AD 965, life returned to Paphos, and in the following centuries the city flourished and prospered.
In the Frankish period, it became the seat of a Catholic bishop, and under the Venetians its harbour continued to play an important role in the economy of Cyprus.

A tour of Paphos
Paphos is divided into two parts: Pano Paphos, built on a hill, which is also known as Ktima, and Kato Paphos with its picturesque harbour. Visitors who take the road leading up to Pano Paphos cannot fail to be impressed by the general cleanliness and order.
Pano Paphos usually welcomes visitors with lots of flowers, whatever the season of the year. On either side of Griva Diyeni Avenue is the Municipal Library, and in front of it the Ionic "28 October" column, commemorating the Greek resistance to the Italians and the heroic epic of 1940. On the same street stand the impressive neoclassical buildings of schools like the Dimitrion primary school, the entrance to the Lakoveion Stadium, the Nikolaidion High School, and the High School of Makarios III.

Tombs of the Kings
The tombs, which are also known as Palaiokastra, lie to the north-west of ancient Paphos. The site is an ancient cemetery with hundreds of subterranean burial chambers cut into the rock. The cemetery dates from the 3rd c. BC (the Ptolemaic period). The tombs are those of private individuals, not kings: the name Royal Tombs derives from their very fine architecture. Crosses and wall paintings in some of them indicate that in Early Christian times they probably offered refuge to persecuted Christians.
The most impressive are those adorned with open peristyle courtyards with Doric columns, which are reached by steps cut into the rock and leading down to them. The entire rock face is divided into tombs of various sizes, that are cut in it.

Catacombs of Ayia Solomoni
These are cut into the rock. During the Hellenistic period and the 1st c. BC they were used as a tomb or a refuge, but were later converted into a Christian church, dedicated to St. Salomone and her seven sons. According to tradition, Salomone was pursued by Roman soldiers and took refuge in this cave, where she was buried along with her seven sons.
The catacombs are also known as the "cave of the seven sleepers ". Badly damaged wall paintings in the right part of the cave date from the 9th-12th c. BC. The attention of visitors is also attracted by kerchiefs and pieces of cloth tied to the tree at the entrance to the catacombs. It is said that anyone who fastens a piece of his or her clothing to the branches of the tree is cured of chronic illness.

The Mosaics of Paphos
The finest mosaics discovered so far in Cyprus are located in Paphos at the House of Dionysos, the House of Theseus, the House of Aion, and the House of Orpheus. There are also some fine Roman buildings in this area, such as the Odeion, Agora and Asklepieion of Paphos.