The city of Paphos is famous for being the birthplace of the ancient Greek goddess Aphrodite. Many of its attractions are associated with ancient Greek history and myths.
Asklepion
Asklepion is one of the most striking and interesting excavations in the archaeological park of Paphos. Asklepion is dedicated to the ancient Greek god of healing and medicine Asclepius. This temple, located near Paphos, has its own story that Asclepius was the son of a mortal woman and Apollo, but his mother was killed for treason, and he was raised as a centaur and studied medicine. He reached such heights in it that he could raise the dead. The Temple of Asklepion was not only his home, but also a hospital where priestesses treated people.
Excavations were carried out at the beginning of the 21st century and now you can already see how majestic and beautiful this temple was during the time of Ancient Greece.
Tombs of the kings
The tombs of the kings are not just tombs, they are huge burials going deep into the rocks, each of which takes several hundred meters. This underground necropolis was built in the third century BC, the tombs were once decorated with frescoes and paintings, which speaks of their greatness. The tombs are connected by narrow passages, staircases and wells, which are quite dangerous to pass. Some tombs look like palaces with colonnades and intricate entrances that kings lived in.
Unfortunately, the tombs were plundered, and they began to excavate and improve them only in the 70s. The most interesting tombs are hidden in the depths of the caves, in the dungeons. There, the walls are painted by Christians who fled from persecution and wrote messages on the walls.
Catacombs of Saint Solome
The catacombs are many underground passages dug and carved into the rocks by Christians in the first century AD. In those days, Christians were persecuted and executed for their faith. Through these catacombs, Christians fled from their pursuers and left messages for those who were saving. The Catacombs of Saint Solome are also called the Cave of the Seven Sleepers. Saint Solome, mother of seven sons, died over the bodies of her sons executed for the Christian faith.
In front of the entrance to the catacombs, a pistachio tree grows, guarding the entrance. According to legend, the one who hangs his personal item on him will be cured of his illnesses in a year.
Saranta Kolones Castle
Saranta Kolones Castle, or Forty Columns Castle, is a fortress built in the 7th century AD to protect the city and port of Paphos from Arab raids. It got its name from 40 granite columns brought from the Agora and supporting the vault of the fortress. Despite all the inaccessibility of the building, the fortress was taken and destroyed by Arab raids. After that, it was destroyed and rebuilt several times, until 1220, when an earthquake finally destroyed it. After him, the fortress was no longer rebuilt.
