Paphos (Πάφος)
Seal
District	Paphos
Government
- Mayor	Savvas Vergas
Elevation	72 m (236 ft)
Population (2001 - 2005)
- City	47,530
- Urban	66,364
- Demonym	Paphian
Time zone	EET (UTC+2)
- Summer (DST)	EST (UTC+3)
Post code	8010 - 8049
Website: www.visitpafos.org.cy

Paphos (Paphos is usually written Paphos or Paphus in English, (Ancient Greek: Πάφος; Modern Greek: Πάφος, Páfos; Latin: Paphus, and for a time, Augusta; Turkish: Baf, formerly Baffa) is a coastal city in the southwest of Cyprus and the capital of Paphos District. Cyprus is divided into six Districts (επαρχίες eparchies) whose Capitals share the same name A mayor (from the Latin māior, meaning "greater" is a modern title used in many countries for the highest ranking officer in a municipal government The elevation of a Geographic location is its height above a fixed reference point often the mean sea level. The metre or meter is a unit of Length. It is the basic unit of Length in the Metric system and in the International A foot (plural feet or foot; symbol or abbreviation ft or sometimes &prime – the prime symbol) is a non-SI unit A demonym or gentilic is a word that denotes the members of a People or the inhabitants of a place Eastern European Time ( EET) is one of the names of UTC+2 Time zone, 2 hours ahead of Coordinated Universal Time. UTC+2 corresponds to the following Time zones Eastern European Time Egypt Standard Time Central Africa Time Daylight saving time ( DST European Summer Time is the arrangement in Europe by which clocks are advanced by one hour in Spring to make the most of seasonal daylight UTC+3 is used in the following locations Moscow Time Eastern European Summer Time West Asian Summer Time English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States Greek (el ελληνική γλώσσα or simply el ελληνικά — "Hellenic" is an Indo-European language, spoken today by 15-22 million people mainly Latin ( lingua Latīna, laˈtiːna is an Italic language, historically spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. Turkish ( tr Türkçe IPA) is a language spoken by over 63 million people worldwide making it the most commonly spoken of the Turkic languages. A city is an Urban area with a large Population and a particular Administrative, Legal, or Historical status Cyprus (Κύπρος transliterated: Kýpros,; Kıbrıs officially the Republic of Cyprus (Κυπριακή Δημοκρατία Kypriakī́ Dīmokratía Paphos District is one of the six Districts of Cyprus and it is situated in the western part of Cyprus In Antiquity two locations were called Paphos: Old Paphos^[1] and New Paphos. ^[2] The currently inhabited city is New Paphos.

Paphos is the mythical birthplace of the goddess Aphrodite, of love, sexual intercourse and beauty. See also Mythology Myth is derived from the Greek word μύθος mythos, which simply means 'story' Love is any of a number of Emotions and experiences related to a sense of strong Affection. Sexual intercourse, in its biological sense is the act in which the male reproductive organ (in humans and other higher animals enters the female reproductive tract NOTICE TO WOULD-BE-ROMEOS*************** And the founding myth is interwoven with the goddess at every level. In Greco-Roman times Paphos was the island's capital, and it is famous for the remains of the Roman Governor's palace, where extensive, fine mosaics are a major tourist attraction. The Roman Empire was the post-Republican phase of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial The apostle Paul of Tarsus visited the town during the first century. Paul the apostle (שאול התרסי Šaʾul HaTarsi, meaning " Saul of Tarsus " Σαούλ Saul and Σαῦλος Saulos and The town of Paphos is included in the official UNESCO list of cultural and natural treasures of the world's heritage. A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a site (such as a Forest, Mountain, Lake, Desert, Monument, Building, complex

The Mayor of the Paphos Municipality is Savvas Vergas, a member of Diko party. The Democratic Party ( Greek: Δημοκρατικό Κόμμα Dimokratikó Kómma) is a centrist Political party in Cyprus, founded The town is capital of Paphos District. Paphos District is one of the six Districts of Cyprus and it is situated in the western part of Cyprus Paphos is the birthplace of Marios Joannou Elia, an internationally famous composer and Rauf Denktaş, who was Turkish Cypriot leader for more than 30 years. Rauf Raif Denktaş (in English often spelled Rauf Denktash) (born 27 January 1924) is the founder of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus Turkish Cypriots ( Turkish: Kıbrıs Türkleri or Kıbrıslı Türkler Greek: Τουρκοκύπριοι are the ethnically Turkish inhabitants of the

Contents 1 Founding myth 2 History 2.1 Old Paphos 2.2 Aphrodite at Paphos 2.3 Paul in Paphos 2.4 New Paphos 2.5 Post-Classical history 2.6 Modern Paphos 3 Landmarks 4 Climate 5 Transportation 5.1 Mass Transportation 5.2 Motorways 5.3 Airport 5.4 Port 6 Hospitals and medical centres 7 Sports 8 Twinings 9 References 10 External links

Founding myth

In the founding myth, even the town's name is linked to the goddess, as the eponymous Paphos was the son of Pygmalion^[3] and his ivory cult image of Aphrodite, which was brought to life by the Goddess as "milk-white" Galatea. Pygmalion is a Legendary figure of Cyprus. Though Pygmalion is the Greek version of the Phoenician royal name Pumayyaton, he is most In the practice of Religion, a cult image is a man-made object that is venerated for the Deity, spirit or Daemon that it embodies or represents For the Sicilian Nereid in love with Acis, see Acis and Galatea (mythology For the wife of Lamprus, who prayed to The author of Bibliotheke, the Hellenistic encyclopedia of myth long attributed to Apollodorus, gives the genealogy. The Bibliotheca (in English: Library) in three books provides a grand summary of traditional Greek mythology and heroic Legends ^[4] Pygmalion was so devoted to the cult of Aphrodite that he removed the statue to his palace and kept it on his couch. The daimon of the goddess entered into the cult image, and the living Galatea bore Pygmalion a son Paphos and a daughter Metharme. In the practice of Religion, a cult image is a man-made object that is venerated for the Deity, spirit or Daemon that it embodies or represents For the Sicilian Nereid in love with Acis, see Acis and Galatea (mythology For the wife of Lamprus, who prayed to Cinyras, perhaps the son of Paphus,^[5] but perhaps the successful suitor of Metharme, founded the city under the patronage of Aphrodite and built the great temple to the goddess there. According to Greek mythology, the king Cinyras (in Greek, Κινύρας &ndash Kinuras) of Cyprus was a son of According to another legend preserved by Strabo (xi. Strabo ( Greek: Στράβων 63/64 BC – ca AD 24 was a Greek historian, geographer and philosopher. p. 505), whose text, however, varies, it was founded by the Amazons. The Amazons (in Greek, grc Ἀμαζόνες are a nation of all-female warriors in Classical and Greek mythology, who were possibly historical If mythical time can be related to chronological time, this will have happened in the mid second millennium BC.

History

Paphos*
UNESCO World Heritage Site
State Party	Cyprus
Type	Cultural
Criteria	iii, vi
Reference	79
Region†	Europe and North America
Coordinates	34°46′N 32°25′E / 34.767, 32.417
Inscription history
Inscription	1980  (4th Session)
* Name as inscribed on World Heritage List. † Region as classified by UNESCO.

Archaeologists report that the site of Paphos has been inhabited since the Neolithic period. A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a site (such as a Forest, Mountain, Lake, Desert, Monument, Building, complex As of 2008 there are a total of 878 World Heritage Sites located in 145 "State Parties" Cyprus (Κύπρος transliterated: Kýpros,; Kıbrıs officially the Republic of Cyprus (Κυπριακή Δημοκρατία Kypriakī́ Dīmokratía A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a site (such as a Forest, Mountain, Lake, Desert, Monument, Building, complex This is a list of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Europe. Asia Minor, Cyprus, all of the Aegean Islands, the Canaries A geographic coordinate system enables every location on the Earth to be specified in three coordinates using mainly a spherical coordinate system. A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a site (such as a Forest, Mountain, Lake, Desert, Monument, Building, complex The Neolithic (from Greek νεολιθικός — neolithikos from νέος neos, "new" + λίθος lithos It was a centre of the cult of Aphrodite and of pre-Hellenic fertility deities. Aphrodite's mythical birthplace was on this island, where her temple was erected by the Myceneans in the twelfth century BC. "Lion Gate" redirects here For other uses see Lions' Gate (disambiguation. The remains of villas, palaces, theatres, fortresses and tombs of the Classical, Hellenistic and Roman periods mean that the site is of exceptional architectural and historic value. The mosaics of Nea Paphos are among the most beautiful in the world.

The port of Paphos was rebuilt by Nicocles, the last king of Paphos, at the time of Alexander III of Macedon. Nicocles (in Greek Nικoκλης; ruled 251 BC) was a Tyrant of the ancient Greek City-state of Sicyon in the Alexander the Great ( or, Mégas Aléxandros; July 20 356 BC June 10 or June 11 323 BC also known as Alexander III of Macedon (el Ἀλέξανδρος Γ' Macedon or Macedonia ( Greek grc Μακεδονία grc-Latn Makedonía) was the name of a kingdom centered in the northern-most It became the capital of the island replacing Salamis during the Hellenistic era, under the successors of Alexander III of Macedon – the Ptolemies who favoured a location closer to their capital, Alexandria. Salamis was an ancient City-state on the east coast of Cyprus, at the mouth of the river Pedieos 6 km north of modern Famagusta. This article focuses on the cultural aspects of the Hellenistic age for the historical aspects see Hellenistic period. The Ptolemaic dynasty (sometimes also known as the Lagids, from the name of Ptolemy I's father Lagus) was a Hellenistic Macedonian royal family Alexandria ( Egyptian Arabic: اسكندريه Eskendereyya; Standard Arabic: ar الإسكندرية Al-Iskandariyya; Ἀλεξάνδρεια The theatre dating to the end of the 4th century BC has been under excavation by the University of Sydney since 1995: it was partly excavated from its hillside setting and partly built up with earth embankments. The 4th century BC started the first day of 400 BC and ended the last day of 301 BC. The University of Sydney (informally Sydney Uni or USyd) is the oldest university in Australia Sydney (ˈsɪdniː is the most populous city in Australia, with a Metropolitan area population of approximately 4 Year 1995 ( MCMXCV) was a Common year starting on Sunday. Events of 1995

Old Paphos

Old Paphos, now the site of Kouklia (Turkish: Kukla or Konuklia) (Engel, Kypros, vol. Kouklia is a village of the district of Pafos and lies at a distance of about 16 kilometres from the city of Pafos, Cyprus. i. p. 125) was seated on an eminence,^[6] at the distance of about ten stadia from the sea, on which, however, it had a roadstead. It was not far distant from the promontory of Zephyrium (Strabo xiv. p. 683) and the mouth of the little river Bocarus. ^[7]

Aphrodite at Paphos

The Greeks agreed that Aphrodite had landed at the site of Paphos when she rose from the sea. The Petra Tou Romiou ( Rock of the Greek) or the Rock Of Aphrodite (as known in English is a scenic place located off the old Pafos - Lemesos Transliteration is the practice of Transcribing a Word or text written in one Writing system into another writing system or system of rules for such practice The Greeks ( Greek: Έλληνες) are a Nation and Ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighbouring regions Venus Anadyomene ("Venus Rising From the Sea" was one of the iconic representations of Aphrodite, made famous in a much-admired painting by Apelles, now ^[8] According to Pausanias (i. Pausanias ( Greek:) was a Greek traveller and Geographer of the 2nd century CE, who lived in the times of Hadrian, Antoninus 14), her worship was introduced at Paphos from Syria; but it is much more probable that it was of Phoenician origin. Syria ( سوريّة or) officially the Syrian Arab Republic (Arabic ar الجمهورية العربية السورية Phoenicia ( Phoenician: Phoenician nunsvg|12px|נ]]Phoenician nun Before archaeology commenced it was understood that the cult of Aphrodite had been established before the time of Homer (ca 700 BC), as the grove and altar of Aphrodite at Paphos are mentioned in Odyssey (viii. Homer ( Ancient Greek:, Homēros) is a legendary ancient Greek epic Poet, traditionally said to be the author of the epic poems the The Odyssey ( Greek: Ὀδύσσεια or Odússeia) is one of two major ancient Greek epic poems attributed to Homer. 362). Archaeology has established that Cypriots venerated a fertility goddess before the arrival of the Greeks, in cult that combined Aegean with Eastern mainland aspects. Female figurines and charms found in the immediate vicinity date as far back as the early third millennium. The temenos was well established before the first structures were erected in the Late Bronze Age: "There was unbroken continuity of cult from that time until 391 AD when the Roman Emperor Theodosius I outlawed all pagan religions and the sanctuary fell into the ruins in which we find it today. Temenos ( from the Greek verb "to cut" plural temene is a piece of land cut off and assigned as an official domain especially to kings The term Bronze Age refers to a period in human cultural development when the most advanced Metalworking (at least in systematic and widespread use included techniques for "^[9]

Here the worship of the goddess centred, not for Cyprus alone, but for the whole Aegean world. The Cinyradae, or descendants of Cinyras, Greek by name, but of Phoenician origin, were the chief priests. Their power and authority were very great; but it may be inferred from certain inscriptions that they were controlled by a senate and an assembly of the people. There was also an oracle here. An oracle is a person or agency considered to be a source of wise counsel or prophetic opinion an Infallible authority usually spiritual in nature ^[10] Few cities have ever been so much sung and glorified by the poets. ^[11] The remains of the vast temple of Aphrodite are still discernible, its circumference being marked by huge foundation walls. After its overthrow by an earthquake, it was rebuilt by Vespasian, on whose coins it is represented, as well as on earlier and later ones, and especially in the style on those of Septimius Severus. Titus Flavius Vespasianus, commonly known as Vespasian ( November 17 9 &ndash June 23 79) was a Roman Emperor who Lucius Septimius Severus (or rarely Severus I) ( April 11 145 - February 4 211) was a Roman general and Roman Emperor ^[12] From these representations, and from the existing remains, Hetsch, an architect of Copenhagen, has attempted to restore the building. Copenhagen (ˌkəʊpənˈheɪgən ˌkəʊpənˈhɑːgən ˈkəʊpənˌheɪgən ˈkəʊpənˌhɑːgən kʰøb̥ənˈhɑʊ̯ˀn kʰøb̥m̩ˈhɑʊ̯ˀn is the capital and largest city ^[13]

Paul in Paphos

After landing at Salamis, and proclaiming The Word of God in the synagogues (Acts 13:5), they traveled along the entire southern coast of the island of Cyprus until they reached Paphos (Acts 13:6). Salamis was an ancient City-state on the east coast of Cyprus, at the mouth of the river Pedieos 6 km north of modern Famagusta. There, Sergius Paulus, the Roman proconsul, was converted after Paul of Tarsus rebuked the evil Sorcerer Elymas (Acts 13:6-12). Sergius Paulus was a Proconsul of Cyprus (1st century AD He appears in Acts (136-13 where Paul overcame the attempts of Bar-Jesus Paul the apostle (שאול התרסי Šaʾul HaTarsi, meaning " Saul of Tarsus " Σαούλ Saul and Σαῦλος Saulos and Tarsus ( Greek Ταρσός is a City, and a large district in Mersin Province, Turkey, from the city of Mersin and near (40 Elymas ("Wise" in Arabic is another name for Bar-Jesus ("son of Jesus" a Jewish magician who appears in the New Testament It was at that point that Paul effectively became the leader. He was from then on called Paul, rather than his former name, Saul.

New Paphos

New Paphos (Nea Paphos), the currently inhabited town, was founded on the sea, near the western end of the island, and possessed a good harbour. It lay about sixty stadia, or ca. twelve km northwest of the old city. ^[14] It too had a founding myth: it was said to have been founded by Agapenor, chief of the Arcadians at the siege of Troy (Iliad. Agapenor ( Greek) was in Greek mythology a leader of the Arcadians in the Trojan war. Arcadia or Arkadía ( Greek Αρκαδία is a region of Greece in the Peloponnesus. Troy ( Greek: grc Τροία Troia, also, Ilion; Latin: Trōia, Īlium, Hittite: Wilusa or ii. 609), who, after the capture of that town, was driven by the storm that separated the Greek fleet, onto the coast of Cyprus. (Pausanias viii. Pausanias ( Greek:) was a Greek traveller and Geographer of the 2nd century CE, who lived in the times of Hadrian, Antoninus 5. § 2. ) An Agapenor was mentioned as king of the Paphians in a Greek distich preserved in the Analecta;^[15] and Herodotus (vii. Herodotus of Halicarnassus ( Greek: Hēródotos Halikarnāsseús) was a Greek Historian who lived in the 5th century BC ( 484 BC&ndash 90) alludes to an Arcadian "colony" in Cyprus. Like its ancient namesake, Nea Paphos was also distinguished for the worship of Aphrodite and contained several magnificent temples dedicated to her. Yet the old city seems to have always retained the preeminence in this respect, and Strabo tells that the road leading to it from Nea Paphos was annually crowded with male and female votaries resorting to the more ancient shrine, and coming not only from the latter place itself, but also from the other towns of Cyprus. When Seneca says (N. Q. vi. 26, Epistle 91) that Paphos was nearly destroyed by an earthquake, it is difficult to say to which of the towns he refers. An earthquake is the result of a sudden release of energy in the Earth 's crust that creates Seismic waves Earthquakes are recorded with a Seismometer Dio Cassius (liv. Lucius Cassius Dio Cocceianus ( Greek:) (c 155 or 163/164 to after 229 known in English as Cassius Dio, Dio Cassius, or Dio was 23) relates that it was restored by Augustus, and called "Augusta" in his honour; but though this name has been preserved in inscriptions, it never supplanted the ancient one in popular use. Augustus ( Latin: IMPERATOR·CAESAR·DIVI·FILIVS·AVGVSTVS September 23 63 BC – August 19 AD 14) born Gaius Octavius Thurinus, was

Paphos is mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles (xiii. The Acts of the Apostles is a book of the Bible, which now stands fifth in the New Testament. 6) as having been visited by Paul of Tarsus, when it appears to have been the residence of the Roman governor; it is said that Paul converted the governor, Sergius Paulus, to Christianity. Sergius Paulus was a Proconsul of Cyprus (1st century AD He appears in Acts (136-13 where Paul overcame the attempts of Bar-Jesus Christianity ( Greek Χριστιανισμός from the word Xριστός ( Christ)is a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings Tacitus (Hist. Publius (or Gaius) Cornelius Tacitus (ca 56 &ndash ca 117 was a senator and a Historian of the Roman Empire. ii. 2, 3) records a visit of the youthful Titus to Paphos before he acceded to the empire, who inquired with much curiosity into its history and antiquities. Titus Flavius Vespasianus, commonly known as Titus ( December 30 39 &ndash September 13 81) was a Roman Emperor who (Cf. Suetonius Titus c. Gaius Suetonius Tranquillus, commonly known as Suetonius (ca 69/75 &ndash after 130 was an equestrian and a historian during the Roman Empire. 5. ) Under this name the historian doubtless included the ancient as well as the more modern city: and among other traits of the worship of the temple he records, with something like surprise, that the only image of the goddess was a pyramidal stone – a relic, doubtless of Phoenician origin. There are still considerable ruins of New Paphos a mile or two from the sea; among which are particularly remarkable the remains of three temples which had been erected on artificial eminences. ^[16]

Post-Classical history

Paphos, however, was gradually losing much of its attraction as an administrative centre, especially after the founding of Nicosia. Nicosia, known locally as Lefkosia (Λευκωσία Lefkoşa is the Capital and largest city of Cyprus. The city and its port continued to decline throughout the Middle Ages and Ottoman Rule, as Nicosia, and the port city of Larnaca was gaining in importance. The Medieval history of Cyprus starts with the division of the Roman Empire into an Eastern and Western half Throughout the period of Venetian rule Ottoman Turks raided and attacked the peoples of Cyprus at will Larnaca, ( Greek: Λάρνακα, Turkish: Larnaka) is a City of the Republic of Cyprus situated on the southern coast

The city and district continued to lose population throughout the British colonial period and many of its inhabitants moved to Limassol, Nicosia and overseas. Limassol or Lemesos ( Greek: Λεμεσός, Lemesos; Turkish: Limasol, alt Nicosia, known locally as Lefkosia (Λευκωσία Lefkoşa is the Capital and largest city of Cyprus. The city and district of Paphos remained the most underdeveloped part of the island until 1974. Year 1974 ( MCMLXXIV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the 1974 Gregorian calendar.

After 1974, there was rapid economic activity in all fields but especially tourism and the district's population stopped shrinking and indeed showed some signs of increasing. Tourism is Travel for Recreational or Leisure purposes The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people who "travel The government invested heavily in irrigation dams and water distribution works, road infrastructure and the building of Paphos International Airport – the second international airport in Cyprus – while private initiative concentrated in hotel, apartment and villa construction and the entertainment infrastructure. Paphos International Airport (Διεθνής Αερολιμένας Πάφου is located 16 km (10 miles from the city of Paphos, Cyprus.

Modern Paphos

Today Paphos, with a population of about 47,300 (end of 2001), is a popular sea and a fast developing tourist resort, home to an attractive fishing harbour. Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. It is divided into two major quarters: Ktima, on the sea terrace, is the main residential district, and Kato Pafos, by the sea, is built around the medieval port and contains most of the luxury hotels and the entertainment infrastructure of the city. Apostolou Pavlou Avenue (St. Paul's Ave. ), the busiest road in Paphos, connects the two quarters of the city. It begins near the city centre at Kennedy Sq. and ends outside the Medieval Fort at the harbor. The harbour of Paphos is not so important: the normal shipping goes via the harbour of Limassol. Limassol or Lemesos ( Greek: Λεμεσός, Lemesos; Turkish: Limasol, alt Just as is the marina of Paphos for fishing and other kinds of interest.

Landmarks

At the harbour, there is the Paphos Castle, originally built as a Byzantine fort to protect the harbour and rebuilt by the Lusignans in the thirteenth century, then dismantled in 1570 by the Venetians, who found themselves unable to defend it against the Ottomans, who in their turn restored and strengthened it after they captured the island. The Tombs of the Kings is a large Necropolis lying a little over a mile (two kilometres north-west of Paphos harbour in Cyprus. Paphos Castle is located on the edge of Paphos harbour It was originally built as a Byzantine fort to protect the harbour The Lusignan family originated in the Poitou near Lusignan in western France in the early 10th century. The Most Serene Republic of Venice ((Serenìsima Repùblica Vèneta or Repùblica de Venesia Serenissima Repubblica The Ottoman Empire (1299–1923 ( Old Ottoman Turkish: دولتْ علیّه عثمانیّه Devlet-i Âliye-yi Osmâniyye, Late Ottoman and Modern Turkish Saranta Kolones, Kato Paphos, near the harbour, is a castle built in the first years of the rule of the Lusignans (beginning of the twelfth century) maybe on the site of a previous Byzantine Castle. It was destroyed in the earthquake of 1222.

The legacy from its remarkable history adds up to nothing less than an open museum, so much so that UNESCO simply added the whole town to its World Cultural Heritage List. United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization ( UNESCO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations established on November 16 A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a site (such as a Forest, Mountain, Lake, Desert, Monument, Building, complex This is a list of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Europe. Asia Minor, Cyprus, all of the Aegean Islands, the Canaries Among the treasures unearthed, are the remarkable mosaics in the Houses of Dionysos, Theseus and Aion, beautifully preserved after 16 centuries under the soil. Then there are the mysterious vaults and caves, the Tombs of the Kings, the Pillar to which Saint Paul was allegedly tied and whipped, the ancient Odeon Theatre and other places of interest including the Byzantine Museum and the District Archaeological Museum, with its attractive collection of Cypriot antiquities from the Paphos area, dating from the Neolithic Age to 1700 AD. The Tombs of the Kings is a large Necropolis lying a little over a mile (two kilometres north-west of Paphos harbour in Cyprus. The Neolithic (from Greek νεολιθικός — neolithikos from νέος neos, "new" + λίθος lithos Near Odeon, there are the remains of the ancient city walls, the Roman Agora and a building dedicated to Asclepius, god of medicine. Asclepius (pronounced /æsˈkliːpiːəs/, Greek, transliterated Asklēpiós; Latin Aesculapius) is the god of Medicine

The mosaic floors of these elite villas dating from the third to the fifth century are among the finest in the Eastern Mediterranean. They mainly depict scenes from Greek mythology. Greek mythology is the body of stories belonging to the ancient Greeks concerning their gods and Heroes the nature of the world and the origins and significance

The city contains many catacomb sites dating back to the early Christian period. The first Burial galleries to be referred to as catacombs lie beneath San Sebastiano fuori le mura, in Rome. Early Christianity is commonly defined as the Christianity of the three centuries between the Crucifixion of Jesus ( c The most famous is Saint Solomoni Church, originally a Christian catacomb retaining some of its twelfth century frescoes. A sacred tree at the entrance is believed to cure the ailments of those who hang a personal offering on its branches.

A few miles outside the city, the rock of Aphrodite (Petra tou Romiou, "Stone of the Greek") emerges from the sea. The Petra Tou Romiou ( Rock of the Greek) or the Rock Of Aphrodite (as known in English is a scenic place located off the old Pafos - Lemesos According to legend, Aphrodite rose from the waves in this strikingly beautiful spot. The Greek name, Petra tou Romiou is associated with the legendary frontier-guard of Byzantine times, Digenis Acritas, who kept the marauding Saracens at bay. Digenis Acritis (Διγενῆς Ἀκρίτης) known in Folksongs as Διγενῆς Ἀκρίτας ( is the most famous of the Acritic Songs. Saracen was a term used by Europeans in the Middle Ages for Fatimids at first then later for all who professed the religion of Islam. It is said in one such fight he heaved a large rock (Petra), at his enemy. The site has recently seen development of Aphrodite Hills, a multi-award winning resort in Cyprus. The resort features a five-star deluxe InterContinental Resort Hotel, an 18-hole standard championship golf course, competition tennis courts, fitness facilities, holiday villas, apartments and townhouses for sale and rent, and the Retreat Spa. Aphrodite Hills recently appeared in the highly prestigious Forbes Magazine commissioned top five resorts list where it was voted the world's most desirable new resort due the high standard of living and rocketing property prices associated with the project since its inception.

Near Petra tou Romiou, there is Palaepaphos, Old Paphos, one of the most celebrated places of pilgrimage of the ancient Greek world, and once an ancient city kingdom of Cyprus. Here are the ruins of the famous Temple of Aphrodite, the most ancient remains, go back to the 12th century BC. The temple was one of the most important places of cult and pilgrimage of the ancient world, till the 3rd-4th century A. The 3rd century is the period from 201 to 300 in accordance with the Julian calendar in the Christian / Common Era. As a means of recording the passage of Time, the 4th century (per the Julian calendar and Anno Domini / Common era) was that Century D. The Museum, housed in the Lusignan Manor, is small but impressive with many finds from the area.

Yeroskipou with its remarkable five-domed Byzantine church of Ayia Paraskevi, and its Folk Art Museum is a town in Paphos metropolitan area known for many years now for its special delight `loukoumi'. Geroskipou (Γεροσκήπου alternate spelling Yeroskipou) is a coastal town east of Paphos. Geroskipou (Γεροσκήπου alternate spelling Yeroskipou) is a coastal town east of Paphos. A metropolitan area is a large population center consisting of a large Metropolis and its adjacent zone of influence or of more than one closely adjoining neighboring central Turkish Delight, lokum, or loukoum is a confection made from Starch and Sugar.

North-east of Paphos lies Ayios Neophytos Monastery, famous for its `Encleistra', Enclosure, carved out of the mountain by the hermit himself, which boasts some of the finest Byzantine frescoes of the 12th and 15th centuries. Near by too is the painted village church of Emba (Empa).

Four kilometres north of Paphos is the village of Lemba (Lempa), which has become home to numerous artists, many of whom have open studio shops, the sculpture known as the Great Wall of Lempa, by the Cypriot artist Stass Paraskos and the Cyprus College of Art. Stass Paraskos (born 1933 is an Artist from Cyprus, although much of his life was spent teaching and working in England. The Cyprus College of Art was founded in 1969 by the Cypriot painter Stass Paraskos, and is the oldest art college on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus.

Just off the coast of Paphos is the wreck of M/V Demetrios II which ran aground on 23 March 1998 in heavy seas, during a voyage from Greece to Syria with a cargo of timber. The M/V Demetrios II, is a cargo ship built in 1964 by JJ Sietas KG, at their shipbuilding yard in Hamburg-Neuenfelder Germany. Events 1174 - Jocelin, Abbot of Melrose, is elected Bishop of Glasgow. Year 1998 ( MCMXCVIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar)

Climate

Paphos enjoys a typical Mediterranean climate, with the greatest amounts of precipitation mainly occurring from mid-November to March. A Mediterranean climate is one that resembles the Climate of the lands in the Mediterranean Basin, which includes over half of the area with this climate type world-wide In Meteorology, precipitation (also known as one class of hydrometeors, which are atmospheric water phenomena is any product of the condensation of atmospheric It practically never rains in the summer, but especially in July and August humidity measurments can go up to 85%, and locking all the citizens in their cool air-conditioned homes.

Snowfalls occur rarely, approximately every 10 years, though these do not normally lead to significant if any disruptions at all. Surprisingly enough though , snowfalls occur by the hills of Tsada some 6km North almost annually. Tsada also known as "Chada" is a relatively big village 8km North of Paphos city center Last significant snow fall in the city center occurred in Winter 2001.

Generally speaking all seasons of the year are considered ideal for sightseeing and indeed for all kinds of outdoor activities. Summers can be sometimes hot and wet at times . Heat waves are relatively common and mostly happen during the months of July and August, when hot air masses come to Cyprus from the Sahara dessert. The Sahara (الصحراء الكبرى aṣ-ṣaḥrā´ al-kubra, "The Great Desert" is the world's largest hot Desert and the world's second largest It is only on such days that temperature maxima shoot over 35°C.

Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Avg high °C (°F)	16. 9 (62. 4)	16. 7 (62. 0)	18. 0 (64. 4)	21. 2 (70. 1)	24. 1 (75. 3)	27. 7 (81. 8)	29. 7 (85. 4)	30. 3 (86. 5)	28. 7 (83. 6)	26. 7 (80. 0)	22. 3 (72. 1)	18. 6 (65. 4)	23. 4 (74. 1)
Avg low °C (°F)	7. 5 (45. 5)	7. 0 (44. 6)	8. 0 (46. 4)	10. 7 (51. 2)	14. 0 (57. 2)	17. 5 (63. 5)	20. 0 (68. 0)	20. 6 (69. 0)	18. 4 (65. 1)	16. 2 (61. 1)	12. 2 (53. 9)	9. 3 (48. 7)	13. 5 (56. 3)
Rainfall (mm)	67. 7	55. 9	40. 3	15. 8	6. 8	0. 9	0. 4	0. 0	5. 2	22. 0	74. 1	86. 8	375. 7
Source: Cyprus Meteorological Service, [1] Data taken at Paphos International Airport

Transportation

Paphos used to be the only traffic-free town in Cyprus. Paphos International Airport (Διεθνής Αερολιμένας Πάφου is located 16 km (10 miles from the city of Paphos, Cyprus. The A6 highway (locally referred to as the Limassol - Paphos highway Greek νέος δρόμος Λεμεσού - Πάφου marked the ending of an ambitious government project to link all the However, things changed after the urbanisation and rise of the population in less than 10 years. The problem is mainly in the town centre, where the roads of a small colonial village cannot do what they are made to do anymore. The problems mainly exist because some planned road links remain on paper. These include:

• 2nd part of the Northern Beltway
• Western Beltway
• Airport road
• Paphos - Coral bay road Upgrade. Coral Bay (also known to locals as "Maa" is a popular tourist area 6km North of the city of Paphos.

Mass Transportation

Public transport in Paphos is currently served only by buses. The bus company operating in the city is called Astika Leoforia Pafou -Paphos Urban Buses- (ALEPA Ltd. ). Bus routes and timetable can be found here:[2]

Motorways

Main article: Roads and Motorways in Cyprus

Paphos did not have a motorway link until 2001. Since the arrival of the first motor cars on the island in 1907 Cyprus has developed one of the most modern road networks in Europe. It is now accessed through the A6 which connects Paphos with Limassol. The A6 highway (locally referred to as the Limassol - Paphos highway Greek νέος δρόμος Λεμεσού - Πάφου marked the ending of an ambitious government project to link all the Limassol or Lemesos ( Greek: Λεμεσός, Lemesos; Turkish: Limasol, alt It is expected that by 2013 the new A7 towards Polis will be completed so that the suburbs will get a traffic breath. 2013 ( MMXIII) will be a Common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. The A7 is a planned Motorway to link the city of Paphos with Polis, a small town in the north west of the island Polis (or Polis Chrysochous, in Greek: Πόλις Χρυσοχούς is a small town at the north-west end of the island of Cyprus, at the centre of Chrysochous [3]

Airport

Main article: Paphos International Airport

Since 1982, air traffic of Paphos is served by Paphos International Airport located 10 km southeast of the city, near Timi. Paphos International Airport (Διεθνής Αερολιμένας Πάφου is located 16 km (10 miles from the city of Paphos, Cyprus. Year 1982 ( MCMLXXXII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link displays the 1982 Gregorian calendar) It serves approximately half a million people every year. Currently a new terminal is under construction opposite the current one planned to be completed by 2008. [4].

Port

The port (or limanaki λιμανάκι - small port) today serves as a small Marina and a fisherman shelter and has a capacity of 300 boats. For other uses of this word see Marina (disambiguation. A marina is a sheltered Harbor where Boats and Yachts It is probably the top tourist destination of the city with plenty of restaurants and cafés. The castle's square hosts Aphrodite festival every September since 1998. Year 1998 ( MCMXCVIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar) Cargo and cruise ships use the Limassol Port 60 km away. Limassol New Port Although a title held by Famagusta Port for centuries Limassol Port has now become the principal seaport in Cyprus. A marina is planned to be constructed 10 km north, next to Coral Bay in Kissonerga. Coral Bay (also known to locals as "Maa" is a popular tourist area 6km North of the city of Paphos. Kissonerga is a small village in South West Cyprus, about 10 miles north of Paphos. The new Marina will serve up to 1000 boats. [5]

Hospitals and medical centres

Main article: Paphos general hospital

Paphos has only one general hospital, located at Anavargos, 3 km northeast of the city centre. Paphos General Hospital is the Paphos district's main medical centre It was built to replace the old hospital, which was an old dangerous building that was demolished shortly after being abandoned. Now it is a modern medical centre. Thoughts are made to be turned into a university hospital, when Neapolis University will open. There are also several private clinics spread all over the urban area.

Sports

Paphos has a long history into sports, with several football, basketball, volleyball teams. The Pafian gymnastic club is called Korivos, and it owns (via the Cyprus Athletic Organisation) the local stadium which is called Pafiako and the arena for volley and basket venues called Aphroditi. The home stadium of AEP Paphos, is Pafiako Stadium which is a multi-use stadium in Paphos. A basket is a container which is traditionally constructed from stiff fibres often made of Willow. The most successful team of Paphos is the volley ball club, Pafiakos, who have been Champions of Cyprus three times (the last in 2006). Volleyball is an Olympic team sport in which two teams of 6 active players (5 normal players and one 'libero' are separated by a net that is usually four feet Dionysos, a volley ball team from Stroumpi (a village of Paphos), plays in the First Division as well. Stroumpi is a small village in the heart of Paphos District and exactly in the middle of the distance between Paphos and Polis. Both teams use the indoor Aphrodite arena. The football club in Paphos is called AEP Paphos. Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a Team sport played between two teams of eleven players and is widely considered AEP Paphos ( Greek: Αθλητική Ένωση Πάφος; Athletic Union Paphos is a Cypriot football club based in Paphos. The team was founded in 2000 and is currently in the Cypriot First Division. The Cypriot Championship First Division ( Greek: Πρωτάθλημα Α' Κατηγορίας is the top tier football league competition in Cyprus The team plays in Pafiako Stadium, while they train in other grounds located in Yeroskipou. The home stadium of AEP Paphos, is Pafiako Stadium which is a multi-use stadium in Paphos. Geroskipou (Γεροσκήπου alternate spelling Yeroskipou) is a coastal town east of Paphos. In 2006 the second Commonwealth Tenpin Bowling Championships were held in Paphos. Following the introduction of Tenpin Bowling in the programme of the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur, the Commonwealth Tenpin Bowling Federation was formed

Probably the most successful Paphian athlete of recent times was Stylianos Kyriakides (1910 – 1987) (Greek: Στυλιανός Κυριακίδης), a marathon runner. Born in Statos, Paphos, he won the 1946 Boston Marathon. According to a newspaper report, he was running with John Kelley near the end, when an old man shouted from the crowd, "For Greece, for your children!" inspiring him to pull away and win the race.

Twinings

• Kalamaria, Greece
• Preveza, Greece
• Lamia, Greece
• Corfu, Greece (1992)
• Mytilene, Greece
• Anzio, Italy

References

• This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography by William Smith (1856). The public domain is a range of abstract materials &ndash commonly referred to as Intellectual property &ndash which are not owned or controlled by anyone The Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography, first published in 1854, was the last of a series of classical dictionaries edited by the English scholar Sir William Smith (1813 &ndash 1893 English Lexicographer, was born at Enfield in 1813 of Nonconformist parents

External links

• Official Cyprus Government Web Site - Towns and Population
• http://www.ashmol.ox.ac.uk/ash/amps/cyprus/AncCyp-Aph-02.html Ancient Cyprus in the Ashmolean Museum]
• The University of Sydney Archaeological excavations of the Paphos Theatre Site
•   "Paphos". Catholic Encyclopedia. The Catholic Encyclopedia, also referred to today as the Old Catholic Encyclopedia, is an English-language Encyclopedia published by The Encyclopedia (1913). New York: Robert Appleton Company.  

---

© 2009 citizendia.org; parts available under the terms of GNU Free Documentation License, from http://en.wikipedia.org
Dapyx Software network: MP3 Explorer | Ebook Manager | Zenithic