Tomb of the Kings

The Tombs of the Kings is a large necropolis lying about two kilometers north of Paphos harbor in Cyprus. In 1980, it was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site along with Paphos and Kouklia.

The underground tombs, many of which date back to the 4th century BC, are carved out of solid rock, and are thought to have been the burial sites of Paphitic aristocrats and high officials up to the third century AD. The name of the tombs comes from the magnificence of the tombs; no kings were in fact buried here. Some of the tombs feature Doric columns and frescoes walls. Archaeological excavations are still being carried out at the site. The tombs are cut into the native rock, and at times imitated the houses of the living.