The Tombs of the Kings is a huge necropolis or 'city of the dead' with hundreds of underground rock-hewn tombs spread over a very large area. It was used for 600 years from 300BC and crosses and murals indicate it may have once been a Christian site. Some burial chambers are well preserved, others have been totally destroyed. The tombs were not for kings but for the city's most prosperous citizens at a time when Pafos was the capital of the island and a populous metropolis with many elaborate buildings and fortifications.
Many of the impressive tombs have a peristyle courtyard that resembles the layout of tombs in Egypt, though the architectural style is purely Greek. Recent evidence suggests almost all the tombs were plastered and covered in frescoes. Unfortunately the site has been totally looted of its treasures and it wasn't until 1977 that Cyprus realised their importance and began a systematic excavation.
The undergound tombs are spread over a wide area on a rocky ledge overlooking the sea. You will need to buy a small pamphet guide on the way in to find all the tombs
This is the first rock cut chamber tomb on the way in. It is one of several small outlying tombs. The interior was originally plastered and painted. There are much more impressive finds ahead
You pass more above-ground tombs with door-like entrances in the rocks as you follow the path. The smaller burial holes, or 'loculi', hewn into the rock inside were burial chambers for children
The main site is spread over a huge area with several enclosures making up the necropolis. The best ones are Nos 2,3,5 and 6 and are entered down flights of stone steps or 'dromos'
Impressive doric columns are seen in the best tombs such as here, looking down into tomb No 3. The columns form an open square courtyard with several burial chambers leading off it
Very much like the Egyptians, they built cities for the dead that resembled those of the living. Some of the rooms are not burial chambers, but are believed to have had ritualistic uses
Underground 'streets', like the tomb chambers were carved out of solid rock. The walls were once covered in plaster and painted in bright colours
One of the main tombs is entered down a flight of 12 steps carved into the rock. Well preserved doric columns give the tombs a simple grandeur
Chambers containg several tombs or 'loculi' are separated by walls indicating family areas. Some loculi are carved in walls, others are shafts in the floor. The smaller ones were for children
Intricate carving around some doorways indicate some chambers were for ritual use. A single gold ring and one gold earing have been found in recent excavations. The rest has been looted.