History of Paphos

Being the mythical birthplace of the goddess Aphrodite placed Paphos on the map of the ancient world, and its important strategic position between European Mediterranean countries and the Middle East has seen its sovereignty change hands among some of the greatest powers of medieval and modern times. While politically, Paphos and Cyprus as a whole has sometimes suffered a great deal, the legacy of its turbulent history is now the magnet for attracting hordes of tourists every year.

Ancient times

There is evidence of habitation at Paphos dating back to Neolithic times, and most importantly, it was the centre of the popular and influential Aphrodite cult. The Temple of Aphrodite was among the most magnificent of its times, and was constructed by the Myceneans in the 12th century BC. Paphos grew in prominence through pre-Christian times and it enjoyed a certain amount of patronage by Alexander the Great.

Greco-Roman era

Under Greek civilisation, Paphos continued to enjoy its independence and amassed huge wealth. This relatively tranquil and prosperous time was to be short lived once the Romans became the main power throughout the Mediterranean, and Paphos came under their control in 58 BC.

The Romans helped themselves to the city’s riches, but they also left an impressive architectural legacy including a network of roads linking all the main cities and towns on the island. Christianity came to Paphos very early and successfully, with Saint Paul converting the governor in 46 AD. The relative peace and security of the Greco-Roman era gradually eroded with the fall of the Roman Empire and events like the Jewish Rebellion of 117 AD.

Medieval period

As the Roman Empire waned, Arab marauders often sacked Paphos until the Byzantines managed to free Cyprus from these periodic sieges by forcing the Arabs from Asia Minor. Under the Byzantines, the capital of Cyprus was transferred from Paphos to Salamis. For around 700 years Paphos was controlled by the Byzantines until the administration of Cyprus was taken over by Richard the Lion Heart and the knights of the Third Crusade in 1191.

After the Crusaders left Cyprus a year later, the Byzantine House of Lusignan ruled Cyprus until 1489, after which the Venetians (1489 to 1571), Turks (1571 to 1878) and British (1878 to 1960) all took their turns of rule. Paphos continually declined over this entire period and by 1974, it was little more than a coastal village.

Modern Paphos

Rebellions carried out over four years finally gained Cyprus independence from Britain in 1960 and the country was recognised and allowed to join the League of Nations, though deep ethnic divisions and tensions remained between the Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots.

The power vacuum left by the British withdrawal left Cyprus vulnerable to internal and external strife, and the pro-Greece Cypriot government and its Greek allies were powerless to repel the sudden invasion of the eastern half of the island by Turkey in 1974.

Ironically, Paphos was to benefit greatly from the invasion, as the two formerly popular resorts of Kyrenia and Famagusta were now under Turkish control, forcing the Cyprus government to invest heavily in transforming Paphos into a viable tourist destination as well as a seat of government and business centre. That they succeeded is evident from the popularity of the city and its resorts with holidaymakers all over Europe and beyond.