Paphos Mosaics: Ancient Art Underfoot

The Paphos Mosaics are considered among the finest in the Eastern Mediterranean, located within the Kato Paphos Archaeological Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1980. These mosaics were accidentally discovered in 1962 by a farmer ploughing his field. The remains of four Roman villas, known as the House of Dionysos, Theseus, Aion, and Orpheus, showcase remarkably well-preserved mosaics from the 2nd to 5th centuries AD.The House of Dionysos features 556 square meters of floor mosaics depicting mythological, vintage, and hunting scenes. A Hellenistic pebble mosaic at the entrance portrays the mythical sea-monster Scylla. The House of Theseus is named after its mosaic of the Ancient Greek hero Theseus battling the Minotaur, and also includes mosaics of Poseidon and Amphitrite, and Achilles' first bath. The House of Aion boasts the most spectacular mosaic, with five panels depicting the birth of Dionysos, Leda and the Swan, the beauty contest between Cassiopeia and the Nereids, Apollon and Marsyas, and the Triumph of Dionysos. The House of Orpheus features mosaics of Orpheus among beasts, Hercules and the Lion of Nemea, and an Amazon with her horse.Beyond the mosaics, the park includes other monuments from prehistoric times to the Middle Ages, such as the Asklepieion, Odeon, Agora, Saranta Kolones Castle, and Limeniotissa ruins. Shelters protect the mosaics, and information panels offer insights into the depicted scenes.