Nea Paphos

Νέα Πάφος

Cyprus · Paphos

Ancient cityExcavation ongoingUNESCO · 1980
Approximate period320 BCE — 700 CEHellenistic, Roman and Byzantine periods See on the map ↓

In brief

Nea Paphos is the excavated ancient city component of the Paphos World Heritage site. Known for its residential mosaics, the site is the focus of current research examining the streets and building phases of the agora and the Maloutena quarter.

What was found?

  • 1Mosaics of the Villa of Theseus

    These are floor pavements depicting mythological scenes such as Theseus's struggle with Minotauros. They show the place of Greek myths in Roman-period domestic decoration.

  • 2Mosaics of the House of Aion

    They include mythological scenes such as the birth of Dionysos and the beauty contest between Kassiopeia and the Nereids. They are detailed examples of figural mosaic art.

  • 3Mosaics of the House of Dionysos

    These are pavements featuring grape-harvest and hunting scenes alongside mythological narratives. They show that everyday pursuits and myths were depicted together in domestic decoration.

  • 4Stone-paved street

    It is street paving reached during excavations by the University of Warsaw team. It adds a tangible trace of the city's transport layout.

  • 5Crucibles made from amphorae

    These are metal-melting vessels fashioned from the lower sections of amphorae. According to researchers, they indicate the presence of a small production area where they were found.

What does it point to?

The mosaics of Yeni Baf show the importance given to mythological narratives and skilled craftsmanship in elite residences. The crucibles reveal that the city also sustained small-scale production activities alongside its residences.

What did it teach us?

  1. It documented that Greek mythological narratives decorated the floors of Roman-period residences.
  2. It showed that amphora fragments were reused in metalworking.
  3. It provided evidence of small-scale production around the excavated street.

Images

Birth of Dionysos - House of Aion - Paphos Archaeological Park
George M. Groutas from Dali, Nicosia, Cyprus · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Paphos House of Dionysos 2023-09-22 14-55-22 stitch
Berthold Werner · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Archaeological Park Paphos Cyprus 08
Nikodem Nijaki · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Latest news / selected archive

The results of the 2025 excavations, published in 2026, reported a stone-paved street, metal-smelting crucibles and a previously unknown arrangement of column bases.

Record

Culture
Hellenistic Cyprus; Roman; Byzantine
Team / historical
Ewdoksia Papuci-Władyka; University of Warsaw and Jagiellonian University
Coordinates
34.7600°, 32.4070°

Sources

  1. whc.unesco.org
  2. en.uw.edu.pl
  3. en.wikipedia.org
  4. Kıbrıs Turizm Müsteşarlığı, Visit Cyprus

Nearby excavations


—
—
12.000

From beneath the soil: latest discoveries

  • 2,600-year-old mudbrick structure identified beneath the city of Buto in Egypt

    The walls of a large mudbrick structure identified through satellite and geophysical surveys were confirmed by a trial excavation. According to the researchers, a layer of sand placed beneath the foundations may have helped protect the structure in the waterlogged ground of the Nile Delta.

    Heritage Daily ↗ · Excavation notebook
  • Celtic woman's grave containing jewelry and animal remains found in Germany

    A woman's skeleton, heavy bronze anklets, a sapropelite arm ring, and the remains of a lamb or kid were found in the grave in Bavaria. According to the researchers, placing the animal in the grave as a food offering represents an unusual example of Celtic funerary practices in the region.

    Arkeofili ↗
  • Cupboard containing personal belongings, childhood amulets and coins found in Pompeii

    Grooming items, 38 bronze coins and a necklace made up of at least 24 amulets were found in a cupboard in a house in Pompeii that had remained closed since the eruption in AD 79. The preservation of these objects together provides detailed information about everyday life and personal mementos in Roman times.

    Arkeofili ↗ · Excavation notebook
  • Lead seal of a bishop named Stefan found in Croatia

    Excavations on the islet of Lukovac uncovered a document seal bearing the name Stefan and the title of bishop in Latin. According to the researchers, the seal, tentatively dated to the 6th–7th centuries, offers rare evidence of early church administration in a region with limited written sources.

    Heritage Daily ↗
  • Roman-period sarcophagus of a child buried with toys found in Romania

    A wheeled toy horse, a rooster-shaped rattle, jewelry and organic remains were recovered from a sealed child’s sarcophagus dating back approximately 1,800 years in the ancient city of Tomis. The preservation of wooden coffin fragments and the shroud also offers a rare opportunity to study child burials in Roman times.

    HeritageDaily ↗
  • Roman-period grave found in the seating area of the ancient theater in Gölyazı

    A tile-covered grave dating to the 1st century AD and containing cremated human remains was uncovered in the theater of Apollonia ad Rhyndacum. Why the burial took place in the theater despite the city having a separate cemetery remains unknown; the find raises new questions about the use of public spaces.

    Arkeofili ↗
  • Marble portrait of Antinoos and 13 inscriptions found at Teos

    A marble portrait of Antinoos and 13 inscriptions on reused stone blocks were found around the Temple of Roma and Augustus at Teos. The inscriptions shed light on the city’s political and legal relations, while researchers say the portrait and inscription fragments show that the temple was also connected to the cult of Antinoos.

    Arkeofili ↗ · Excavation notebook
  • New prehistoric settlement identified on the shore of the Dardanelles

    A newly published study presented Yaylatepe Höyük, identified during surface surveys in 2024, and its pottery spanning the end of the Late Chalcolithic to the beginning of the Late Bronze Age for the first time. According to the researcher, the settlement, which has a visual connection with Asartepe on the opposite shore, contributes to understanding prehistoric coastal connections along the strait.

    Arkeoloji Dergisi ↗

    All excavation sites (385)

    Türkiye

    Kazakhstan

    Federated States of Micronesia

    Guatemala

    Honduras

    North Macedonia

    Sri Lanka