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This is a view from one of the main Tombs of the Tombs of Kings archaeological site photo by Seainme –

Top 10 Remarkable Facts about Tombs of the Kings (Paphos)

Cyprus, an island in the Mediterranean, has a fascinating past. Ancient ruins are everywhere in the enticing beach city of Paphos in the southwest.

Visitors can go on a discovery tour of Paphos’ necropolis in addition to relaxing on the Blue Flag beaches and having kilometres of beautiful azure water at their feet.

Every year, countless tourists from all over the world travel to Cyprus for vacations, whether it’s to enjoy the island’s vibrant nightlife or its numerous beautiful beaches. However, anyone staying in Paphos might want to think about visiting one of the many magnificent historic sites nearby, including the Tombs of the Kings.

The Tombs of the Kings is a sizable necropolis in Cyprus that is located about two kilometres north of Paphos harbour. The imposing underground tombs were constructed during the Hellenistic and Roman eras out of solid rock.

Here are the top 10 remarkable facts about Tombs of the Kings(Paphos).

1. The tombs date back to the 4th century BC

Tombs of the kings. Paphos. photo by Inga Tomane –

Spread along the southwestern coast of Cyprus, the sprawling Tombs of the Kings are eight excavated tombs dating back to the 4th century BC. Around 100 Ptolemaic aristocrats are estimated to have been buried there, along with a substantial trove of jewels and personal effects, long since pillaged by grave robbers.

2. The official name of the tombs is Kato Paphos Necropolis

The Tombs of the Kings is an archaeological place and series of underground tombs in Paphos. The official name is Kato Paphos Necropolis (Tafoi ton Vasileon).

3. The area contains a variety of tombs

Tombs of the kings. Paphos. photo by Inga Tomane –

There are various types of tombs in the area: simple carved in the rock, chamber tombs that are made up of a path and one or two chamber tombs and tombs with a patio.

These are the most impressive tombs and are made up of a large underground yard and are held up by limestone Doric columns. The chambers are carved on the side where the pathways are. A wooden ladder has also been added for easier access.

Evidence is also present that brings the conclusion that these tombs had iconographies on them with the standard of the Macedonia tombs, which is where the Ptolemais were from.

4. The Tombs of the Kings do not have any royalty buried there

Photo by Church of the King on

Strangely, the title “Kings” refers primarily to the splendour of the tombs; historians contend that no kings were interred here. The moniker just serves to emphasize the “grandeur and colossal features of these monuments.

Despite being called the “Tomb of the Kings,” there is no proof that any kings or queens were interred here. Antiquarians gave the location its name based on how spectacular the tombs were, and it quickly gained popularity.

According to a study, Paphos was home to some 100 Ptolemaic nobilities in the third century B.C., but their final resting places weren’t preserved for very long.

5. Tombs of the Kings feature Doric columns, frescoes

Tombs of the Kings, ancient necropolis in Paphos, Cyprus. photo by Nikodem Nijaki –

Some of the tombs have frescoed walls and Doric columns that are carved into the bedrock. The tombs, which date as far back as 300 BC, were in use throughout the Hellenistic and even Roman ages. The graves are carved out of local sandstone and occasionally resembled modern homes.

According to historians, their design was greatly influenced by ancient Egyptian custom, which stipulated that the deceased’s graves should resemble the homes they formerly occupied.

There are still archaeological excavations being carried out at the Tombs of the King’s site the ongoing excavations of the Church of Paleoekklisia which depicts Byzantine frescoes have been discovered.

6. Tombs of the Kings were once used as hideouts by Christians

Tombs of the Kings, Paphos, Cyprus. photo by Bukvoed –

In 58 BC, the Romans invaded Cyprus. Later, many early Christians travelled to Cyprus, and many of them gathered in Paphos. They were known to hide in the tombs during the horrifying early Roman persecutions as well as celebrating their liturgies there covertly.

In his Gospel, the Apostle Luke records that many early Christians went to Cyprus to escape persecutions that were still occurring elsewhere.

7. Amphorae in tombs help date historical events in the Eastern Mediterranean

The Paphian custom of putting Rhodian amphorae among the offerings in a funeral contributes to the tombs’ significance. It is feasible to date these amphorae and, through them, the other items discovered in the same grave, thanks to the manufacture stamps applied to their handles.

As a result, a more reliable chronology for the archaeological material from the Hellenistic and early Roman periods in the Eastern Mediterranean has been developed as a result of this method.

8. The Tombs of the Kings present a stunning impression of this seaside  

Tombs of the Kings, Paphos, Cyprus. photo by Bukvoed –

Paphos, which is on Cyprus’s coast, is a lovely place to go sightseeing. The Tombs of the Kings are a fascinating historical monument to see and a wonderful addition to any traveller’s itinerary in Cyprus.

Any tourist will get an incredible image of this seaside destination after seeing the Tombs, which are carved into the cliffs above the sea. Except for a few holidays, the site is accessible to the public all year long, thus regardless of when a visitor is travelling to Cyprus, they can add it as a stop.

9. The tombs form part of Paphos’s UNESCO World Heritage Site

In 1980, the tombs were designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site along with Paphos and Kouklia. The Tombs of the Kings, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, contains a set of well-preserved underground tombs and chambers used by residents of Nea Pafos during the Hellenistic and Roman periods, from the 3rd century BC to the 3rd century AD.

A very vast territory is fenced, where you can see the remains of underground burial chambers, the ruins and even whole complexes of the former tombs, partially or completely carved into the rock formations.

10. The tombs have been known and casually explored for centuries

For generations, people have been aware of and idly examined the tombs. Richard Pockocke provided the earliest modern account in 1783. The first archaeological digs were carried out by Luigi Palma di Cesnola, the American consul to Cyprus who was of Italian descent, over a century later, in 1870.

The initial excavations were conducted in 1915 under the direction of Menelaos Markides, the curator of the Cyprus Museum, and were overseen by scientists.

Under the leadership of Dr Sophocles Hadjisavvas, the former Director of Antiquities for the Republic of Cyprus, systematic excavations were conducted in the late 1970s and the 1980s.

The seven tombs that have been excavated so far are dispersed over a large area; the most magnificent is the third tomb, which, as noted in Lonely Planet’s account of the tombs, has an open atrium below ground level, encircled by columns.

Other graves resemble the catacombs of Rome, where bodies were formerly housed in niches carved into the walls.