The History of Paphos is a fascinating one and is sure to enthral. The past has indeed left its mark on Paphos - seen today in its intriguing ancient architecture and numerous ancient sites dotted around the city.

Paphos is most famous for being the mythical birthplace of Aphrodite, the goddess of love and fertility and this myth prevails to influence the culture of the city today. The city itself was founded by Paphos, the child of Pygmalion. Pygmalion made a statue of a woman that was so beautiful he fell in love with it; Aphrodite took pity on him and brought the statue to life. Pygmalion and the former statue married and had their child Paphos, who went on to dedicate the city to Aphrodite. This is remembered each year in the form of the Paphos Aphrodite Festival, a festival of music which includes various live opera performances. This is an amazing celebration of the history of Paphos which takes place in the August to September period and is a truly unique Paphos holiday experience.

Paphos came under the control of the Romans in 58BC, after which was left behind some truly magnificent architecture, a prime example being the Roman Odeon, which is still in use today for classical performances during the summer months. Situated on the same sight as the Paphos mosaics this location captures and holds the true essence of the history of Paphos.

The city offers many beautiful hotels surrounded by important archaeological sites, allowing you to truly absorb yourself in the history of Paphos.  To find out more about this intriguing region have a look at our other Paphos holiday guides.