Tombs of the Kings in Paphos

Description

The Tombs of the Kings is a large necropolis lying about two kilometres west of Paphos harbour in Cyprus. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The underground tombs, many of which date back to the 4th century BC, are carved out of solid rock, and are thought to have been the burial sites of Paphitic aristocrats and high officials up to the third century AD (the name comes from the magnificence of the tombs; no kings were in fact buried here). Some of the tombs feature Doric columns and frescoed walls. Archaeological excavations are still being carried out at the site. The tombs are cut into the native rock, and at times imitated the houses of the living. Found in Cyprus.

Although the tombs have been known and casually explored for centuries, they were first subjected to systematic excavation in the later 1970s and the 1980s under the direction of Dr Sophocles Hadjisavvas, former Director of Antiquities of the Republic of Cyprus.

Dr Hadjisavvas is preparating the finds for publication with assistance from the Australian archaeological mission to Paphos.

Part of the importance of the tombs lies in the Paphian habit of including Rhodian amphorae among the offerings in a burial. Through the manufacturing stamps placed on the handles of these amphorae, it is possible to give them a date and, through them, the other material from the same burial.

Thus, it is hoped to develop a more secure chronology for archaeological material in the Eastern Mediterranean of the Hellenistic and early Roman periods.

Source

Street view

Reviews

18.07.2021 justin

If you're interested in the past then I would definitely recommend you visit here. Go early in the morning as it does get very hot during the day. There is little shelter and no where to get a drink. It really is a fascinating insight into the past. You can lose yourself in your own imagination. We enjoyed our visit here which lasted over 2 hours.
€2.50 per person entry fee.
Kids will love it...would recommend wearing trainers though. Lots of walking and climbing involved...

18.07.2021 Mark

Very interesting place, I had no idea of the scale of the place. Even though the heat and lack of shade was stifling at times (worth considering the time you plan to visit!) should have known better than visit around midday, but you know what they say about mad dogs and English men!
Reasonable info on the various tombs etc, the only minor issue was the lack of direction through the various areas of the site, we ended up taking a rather haphazard route but eventually made our way around, hence only the 4 stars, but I've no doubt in time improvements will be made.

18.07.2021 Donna

Fascinating place, has a desolate beauty to it.
Wear comfy shoes as there is a lot of walking over rocks and in and out of the tombs - some of the steps are pretty steep.
Take plenty of water with you too as you cannot buy any there.
Great value at only €2.50

18.07.2021 Matthew

I'm not going to complain about the temperature as I went in the middle of the day in August. It was hot but that's why I went to Cyprus ?. Very interesting to wander around the ruins but I would agree that they could provide more info. If they built an air conditioned cafe they would be raking it in!

22.06.2018 Dan

Entry here is remarkably cheap, considering the history on show and the picturesque surroundings. The tombs are well kept and we loved that we could get so hands on with things, compared to similar sites we've visited on our travels. That said, there isn't much depth here beyond tombs - the nearby archaeological park offers a broader range of things to see and more detailed/interesting history. But Tombs of the Kings is a great visit for a stroll around near the sea.

16.06.2018 Nigel

Allow 2-3 hours and wear suitable footwear. A really interesting visit. Information literature is available to purchase when you get your tickets. Entrance is €2.5 per person. You are able to wander about the site yourself there is enough information on the boards to help without the booklets. You can wander down into the various burial tombs.

03.06.2018 gary

Another Fantastic historic site in only a small area of cyprus. Easily found and accessible. Relatively flat although some of the tombs are accessed by way of some steep stairs that are a bit dusty. Amazing stonework and a real insight into the past. Easily spend 3-4 hours here walking around. Lots to see. Bring a hat and sun cream as it is toasty! Would come again.

24.05.2018 Susan

Very interesting. Lots of tombs to go into. Not well signed inside. Do make sure you walk about. Otherwise you might miss some. Could do with map in English and other languages to help people get the most out of visit. But still enjoyable.

09.05.2018 Shahid

Not really much to see here, I felt I wasted an afternoon, could have been doing something much more interesting instead. It's just a pile of ruins which don't really resemble anything and the plaque reads "May have been tombs of the kings" so in essence, could be something different altogether. If you have absolutely nothing to do, go and check it out otherwise I'd say give it a miss.

02.05.2018 Ian

Fantastic place to visit. Very interesting and a great walk around the ancient monuments.
Best to go early morning before the sun gets too strong and take lots of water as there's plenty of walking.

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