Tombs of the Kings

The Tombs of the Kings is an ancient burial ground about two kilometres north-west of Paphos Harbour, on the coast of south-western Cyprus. The necropolis dates from the 4th century BCE and was used until about the 3rd century CE. Its name reflects the grandeur of the monuments rather than any royal burial: the tombs were carved for high officials and aristocrats of Nea Paphos during the Ptolemaic period, when the city served as the seat of the island's governor. The tombs are cut directly into the soft local limestone, and several of them imitate the form of Hellenistic houses, with a central open courtyard surrounded by Doric columns and burial chambers cut into the walls. Tomb 3, among the largest, has a peristyle court with a rock-cut colonnade, while others contain simple loculi, steps and sarcophagus niches. Some chambers were used by later communities, including early Christians who reused the tombs. The site was first recorded by travellers in the 19th century and was excavated in the 20th century by the Cyprus Department of Antiquities. The necropolis was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1980 as part of Paphos. The site has no museum or exhibition rooms, and visitors explore the tombs themselves on marked paths, using English information boards at the principal monuments. Much of the stone has weathered by wind and sea air, and some chambers are closed for safety, while others can be entered by steps. The surrounding landscape of low rock, scrub and the nearby sea gives the site a quiet atmosphere compared with the busy harbour area. Visitors typically walk the short loop in about an hour, taking in the sea views from the western edge.