Kouklia - Palaipaphos Site and Museum
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Palaiopaphos or Old Paphos was a celebrated pilgrimage center of the ancient Greek world.
The main site lies on a flat area on top of a hill. The city was probably built by the Arcadian king Agapenor, who stopped here on his way back from Troy. The first settlement was in 1500 B.C. and grew into an important city. It drew the focus of the Persian attack in 498 B.C. when the Paphians were defeated.
It was known as a sanctuary of Aphrodite. After emerging from the sea at Petra Tou Romiou she was brought here and a temple established which attracted a large number of pilgrims. The area flourished until about 321 B.C. when the site at Nea Paphos emerged between the two cities and Palea Paphos lost its supremacy, although it remained important for its sanctuary.
During the Christian period the city declined further. In the 13th century the Lusignans built a castle (Chateau de Covocle) here, from where they controlled extensive sugar plantations.
The main site lies on a flat area on top of a hill. The city was probably built by the Arcadian king Agapenor, who stopped here on his way back from Troy. The first settlement was in 1500 B.C. and grew into an important city. It drew the focus of the Persian attack in 498 B.C. when the Paphians were defeated.
It was known as a sanctuary of Aphrodite. After emerging from the sea at Petra Tou Romiou she was brought here and a temple established which attracted a large number of pilgrims. The area flourished until about 321 B.C. when the site at Nea Paphos emerged between the two cities and Palea Paphos lost its supremacy, although it remained important for its sanctuary.
During the Christian period the city declined further. In the 13th century the Lusignans built a castle (Chateau de Covocle) here, from where they controlled extensive sugar plantations.
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Address:
Sanctuary of Aphrodite / Palaipaphos Museum, Koúklia , Cyprus
Hours:
9am-4pm
Always closed on: New Year's Day (January 1), Christmas - Christian (December 25), Greek Orthodox Easter
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