Why Visit the Tombs of the Kings?
The Tombs of the Kings is one of those attractions where the architecture is as impressive as the history behind it.
Walking down into a huge rock-cut courtyard surrounded by ancient columns gives you a very different experience from visiting a conventional museum or ruined building. The tombs also reveal an important aspect of ancient Paphos that can easily be overlooked: the way wealthy people wanted to be remembered and how their social status was reflected in their burial places.
What are the Tombs of the Kings in Cyprus?
The Tombs of the Kings is one of the most impressive ancient sites in Paphos, consisting of monumental underground tombs carved directly into the rock. Despite its name, the site was not actually used to bury kings. The tombs were built for high-ranking officials and members of the aristocracy during the Hellenistic and Roman periods. Their monumental size, columns and elaborate design gave the necropolis its grand name.
The site forms part of the archaeological heritage of Kato Paphos and is included within the UNESCO World Heritage property of Paphos.
The History of the Tombs of the Kings
The necropolis developed around the time that Nea Paphos was established at the end of the 4th century BC.
Following the abolition of the ancient Cypriot kingdoms, Paphos became an important Hellenistic city under the Ptolemaic dynasty. Wealthy families and senior officials were buried in elaborate rock-cut tombs outside the city.
The largest and most impressive tombs date mainly from the Hellenistic period, although the cemetery continued to be used during the Roman period.
The monumental architecture reflects the wealth and status of the people buried here.
Why Are They Called the Tombs of the Kings?
The name is one of the site’s most interesting details.
There were no kings buried here. By the time these monumental tombs were being constructed, the traditional Cypriot city-kingdoms had already been abolished.
Instead, the tombs belonged to wealthy members of society, including high-ranking officials and aristocratic families. Their impressive architecture led later visitors to associate the site with royalty.
The name has survived and has become one of the most recognisable attraction names in Cyprus.
Rock-Cut Architecture
What makes the Tombs of the Kings so impressive is the way they were constructed.
Rather than simply being underground chambers, several of the tombs were designed to resemble houses for the dead. A stairway, known as a dromos, can lead down into a central courtyard, around which burial chambers are arranged.
Some tombs feature columns and peristyle courtyards inspired by the architecture of the houses of the living.
This design provides an insight into ancient attitudes towards death and the afterlife. The tombs were not simply places to put the dead; they were carefully designed spaces that reflected the status and identity of the people buried within them.
The Greek & Hellenistic Influence
The architecture of the tombs reflects the strong connections between Cyprus and the wider Hellenistic world.
Some of the designs have similarities with tombs discovered in Alexandria, demonstrating the close cultural and commercial relationships between Paphos and the major cities of the eastern Mediterranean during the Hellenistic period.
The influence can be seen particularly in the use of columns, courtyards and architectural layouts inspired by domestic buildings.
Exploring the Tombs
Visitors can walk down into several of the rock-cut complexes and explore their courtyards and chambers.
The scale varies considerably between individual tombs. Some are relatively simple, while others are much more elaborate, with columns, niches and large underground spaces.
The effect is particularly striking when you first descend below ground level and see the monumental courtyard carved from the surrounding limestone.
The open courtyards also create interesting contrasts between bright Mediterranean sunlight above and the shaded chambers below.
The Archaeology of the Site
The necropolis has experienced a complicated history since antiquity.
Over the centuries, the tombs were disturbed, reused and looted, while some of the surrounding rock was also quarried. As a result, the original contents of many tombs have not survived.
Nevertheless, the surviving architecture provides valuable evidence about burial customs, social status and the connections between Paphos and the wider Hellenistic world.
The site is particularly valuable because the tombs preserve architectural ideas that would otherwise be difficult to understand from fragmentary remains.
The Tombs & UNESCO
The Tombs of the Kings forms part of the archaeological heritage of Paphos, which was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1980.
UNESCO’s description of Paphos specifically identifies the rock-hewn necropolis alongside the city’s villas, theatres, fortifications and other archaeological remains as part of the property’s outstanding universal value.
This means the Tombs of the Kings should not be viewed in isolation. It forms part of a much larger archaeological story connecting ancient Paphos with the worship of Aphrodite and the development of the city through the Hellenistic, Roman and later periods.
Where Are the Tombs of the Kings?
The site is located in Kato Paphos, close to the modern town and coastline.
Its location makes it easy to combine with other attractions in the area, particularly Paphos Archaeological Park and the harbour.
If you are interested in ancient history, it is worth visiting both sites because they reveal very different sides of ancient Paphos. The archaeological park focuses heavily on urban life, villas and mosaics, while the Tombs of the Kings provides a fascinating insight into burial customs and the social elite.
Visiting the Tombs of the Kings
The site is open throughout the year, with longer opening hours during the summer season. The official Cyprus tourism information currently lists the site as partially accessible to wheelchair users, although access to the underground areas can be limited. Opening hours and admission prices can change, so visitors should check current information before travelling.
Because much of the site is exposed, it is worth taking water, sun protection and suitable footwear, particularly during the hotter months.
