Roman Floor Mosaics in Paphos

framed by the ruins of Paphos

In 1962, a farmer ploughing his field near the harbour in Paphos stumbled upon the most amazing treasure.  Not far under the earth’s surface lay entire mosaic floors of a complex of Roman houses dating from the first century AD.   

the tree of life - Paphos

They had remained buried since an earthquake had razed the area in the second century.

The excavations and the findings, including a Roman theatre, were extensive; and resulted in the city setting aside a vast tract of land, along the sea-side, which has now been saved from the developers. Some of the floor mosaics remain outside and you walk around them , and in some cases, on top of them, while others, the more intricate of them, are housed in a large building with cat walks taking you over and along-side these works of art.

outdoor mosaic - Paphos

In some large outdoor areas, there are rough pebble mosaics, which are attractive enough in themselves, but most of the mosaics are formed from tiny pieces of cut stone. For the more intricate designs, glass has been hand-painted to produce the required colours. Undoubtedly, the mosaics which depict scenes and characters from Roman mythology are deemed to be the most outstanding. 

outdoor mosaic - Paphos

However, if I were the Roman lady of the manor, I would prefer to have geometric patterns as the floors of my house rather than scenes of cavorting gods and goddesses and the ever -present, naked Cupid shooting his arrows at one or the other of them.

Cupid at work

 In one beautiful, geometric floor in the House of Dionysius, I spied two interesting motifs, side by each. Back in the first century, it seems that the swastika and the Star of David shared a peaceful co-existence on the floor of a wealthy Roman in Cyprus.  

the ancients had it right - peaceful co-existence

 I have seen the swastika emblem used in India as a peaceful Buddhist motif, but I didn’t know it had travelled to the Mediterranean by the first century. Of course the Star of David must have been known in 100 AD but it is interesting that they are found as mates on this mosaic floor. Now why didn’t Hitler know of this? Perhaps some scholarly study of antiquities might have prevented the genocide of the Second World War. But of course the floor only came to light in the 1960s. When you know the recent history, it does send a shiver down your spine when you see that nearly 2000 years ago, a swastika was portrayed next to a Star of David on the floor of a Roman consul in Cyprus. 

St Paul's pillar and Ayia Kyriaki - Paphos

There are no Christian symbols in these mosaics despite the fact that Paul and Barnabas came to Cyprus in 44 AD and reputedly converted this very same Roman governor to Christianity. The books like to say that Cyprus was the first Christian country because it was ruled by this converted Roman consul.

Of course that didn’t stop other influential people in Cyprus for punishing Paul for trying to convert the populace. There still stands a Roman column near the ruins of an old Christian basilica, replaced by a still-standing Byzantine church. It is called St Paul’s pillar for here Paul was whipped for practicing and preaching his faith.

Zeus helped by Cupid in a seduction attempt

There are also beautiful mosaics in other archaeological sites throughout Cyprus but none are as beautiful as those found in Paphos.