Cyprus Before and After

Paphos and Paphos District Monuments, Places and People

Around the “Archaeological Park”

From the camera lens of Paphos’ great historical photographer, Spyros Kharitou, we have this intriguing photograph, most likely taken sometime between 1935-1940. The excact location seems to be the building now called “Saranta Kolones.” Some comments about the identification of the two gentlemen seen in the photo: The person on the right is undoubtedly, Mr Loizos Philippou, a well-known figure in Paphos society in the 1930s-40s. This same exact photo appears in Philippou’s own book “Paphos,” an early guidebook to western Cyprus first published in 1936. The person on the left, however, is more uncertain. Provisional suggestions are: Mr Rupert Gunnis, author of the book “Historical Cyprus” (Philippou was Gunnis’ local escort during research for that book) or possibly none other than A.H.S. (“Peter”) Megaw, who was the second Director of the Dept of Antiquities, Cyprus (until 1960) and evenutally an excavator of the Saranta Kolones site illustrated in the photo. (Note: I would like to thank Mr Giannis Violaris for the identification of Loizos Philippou and for suggesting Dr Megaw as the other man.)

From the camera lens of Paphos’ great historical photographer, Spyros Kharitou. The stone building with buttresses is now the “Visitor’s Centre” of the modern Paphos Archaeological Park. Remarkably, several sections of the land inside the “Park” still resemble the undisturbed, rubble-filled fields shown in this photograh.

Aerial Photo (RAF) of the area we now call the “Paphos Archaeological Park” before any modern excavations, i.e. before the mid ’60s. Also visible is the undeveloped harbour area and the “village” of Kato Paphos.

The Pharos (“Lighthouse”) of Paphos

Khrysopolitissa: Diachroniki Ayia Kyriaki

 

Early Phases of Tourism Develepment in Kato Paphos

The church of Theoskepasti, before encroachment by concrete touristic buildings.

 

From Left to Right: the Basilica Gardens Complex with the Pharos in background, the Panayia Theoskepasti Church and the Dionysos Hotel. Note the dirt track that led from the hotel to the coastline.

 

Long view of Kato Paphos, from the vantage point of Fabrika Hill, showing the Panayia Theoskepatsti church and the old SODAP factory at far left.

 

Ta Kato Pervolia

The area called “Kato Pervolia” in Spyros Kharitou’s early photo of the southwestern corner of Cyprus before the inventions of: cement mixers, reinforced concrete, asphalt roads, multi-story apartment blocks, shopping malls and McDonalds, etc.

Ayios Antionios – Now on “Bar Street”

Amongst all the modern bars, disco-pubs and crappy fast-food restaurants of “Bar Street” in Kato Paphos, if you don’t pay attention you might never notice this landmark church. Photo: Spyros Kharitou.

“Ktima” a.k.a. Pano Paphos or Upper Paphos

The old buildings representing the former administrative section of “Ktima.” Photo: Sypros Kharitou.

We call it Fettas Corner today…

Scene of a Paphos Landmark.

Ta Kouklia – Site of the “original” Paphos

Welcome to the Paphos District!

This old sign still stands today (photo was taken in February, 2020). Kudos to anybody who knows the exact location!

After you passed the District Sign (above), this was the first thing you would see as you drove towards Paphos on the first version of an asphalt road.

Believe it or not: some small sections of the old asphalted road in front of Petra tou Rhomiou still exist. This photo was taken in May, 202.

The Monastery of Ayios Savvas tis Karonos – Dhiarizos Valley

 

Vretcha – “The Mukhtar’s House”

October 1990.

August 2019

Time does not stand still…but stones do:

This is the same building, a traditional dry-stone masonry shepherd’s hut on the plataeu of “Lipati”…the photos show it still in use during the early 1990s, but totally abandoned in 2021.

Going…Going…Gone!

Best Sandy Beach in the West of Cyprus: Lara North

Lara-North: The Lara Turtle Conservation Project during one of its early stages when the conservation team, led by project founder, Dr Andreas Demetropoulos, used to sleep on site in tents.

Lara Promintory as it appears on the 1882 map from H.H. Kitchener.

Lara-North: One of the best, and only, natural sandy beaches on Cyprus’ rocky western coastline.

Waterfall of the Mavrokolymvos, now “Adonis Baths”

1990-91: When it was more virgin and and the entry fee was the sweat on your brow to walk there…

Ayios Yiorgios tis Peyias

 

 

Old Paphos Hall of Fame

Let’s hear if for the Mukhtars! Photo: Sypros Kharitou.

A priestly gathering. Photo: Sypros Kharitou.

Ktimatologoi Paphou: No unnecessary delays or any slow-tracking bull for your Kotchani (“Title Deed”) from these guys!

Photo: Sypros Kharitou

Note the Union Flag in the back centre: Sign of the times… Photo: Spyros Kharitou

A real Wow Moment in Ktima Industrial Area some years ago.

Karnavali: Party-time in Paphos

 

 

 

The Dhimarkhos Paphou (“Mayor of Paphos”), Mr Ch. Galatopoulos and Town Council. (Note: In April 2020, I posted this photo in a FB Group and the grandson of the Mayor in photo turned up in the group saying he himself lives in Lemesos, but remembered his grandfather as leader of Paphos during the years listed above.

Note: There has recently been a very interesting article published in the Cyprus Mail by Bejay Browne about Dhimarkhos Christodoulos  Galatopoulos:

https://cyprus-mail.com/2020/12/08/treasure-trove-archive-of-former-three-term-mayor-donated-to-paphos/

 

He looks like a really nice guy…and a great Dhimarkhos.

Mr Nikos Antoniades and wife. Photo: Spyros Kharitou

Paphos Buildings in the aftermath of the big Seismos (“Earthquake”) of 1953

Leonidas of Avagas: He had nails on the soles of his boots…

 

Note: Many, but not all, of the Black-and-White photos appearing above, particularly those that deal with People and Places in and around Paphos decades ago, come from this fantastic treasure of a book, entitled “Paphos 1924-1984: From within the Lens of Spyros Kharitou”

 

 

 

Top