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History of Paphos Agora Project

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Before Paphos Agora Project

Polish archaeological research in Paphosa is ongoing since 1965. They are carried out under the aegis of the Center of Mediterranean Archeology of the University of Warsaw. Archaeologists from the Jagiellonian University also contributed to it.

The website of the Archaeological Mission in Kato Paphos on the Web page of the Center of Mediterranean Archeology of the University of Warsaw

The website of the Archaeological Mission of Kato Paphos on the Web page of the Department of Antiquities of Cyprus 

 

1965

The first Polish archaeological excavations in Paphos were started by Prof. K. Michałowski.

1968

Prof. J. A. Ostrowski was the first archaeologist  from Krakow who took part in the excavations.

1984

Prof. E. Papuci-Władyka is coming to Cyprus for the first time and becomes a permanent member of the Polish mission headed by Prof. W. A. Daszewski. During the research on Maloutena, she was responsible for supervising the excavation works in the so-called The Hellenistic House and the Early Roman House, and above all for the research on the Hellenistic pottery.

1993

Since 1993, students from the Jagiellonian University have been participating in excavations in the villa district of Maloutena.

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Paphos Agora Project

After completiton of the excavation of the Jagiellonian University in Koszary (2008) and Accra (2010) on the Black Sea, Prof. E. Papuci-Władyka starts new excavations on the poorly recognized at that time Agora of the ancient city of Nea Paphos.

Excavation licence

Prof. E. Papuci-Władyka obtains a research license from the Department of Antiquities of the Republic of Cyprus in Nicosia - the beginning of the Paphos Agora Project.

First geophysical surveys

The first geophysical research with the electrofusion method on the Agora.

The first stuck of a shovel!

The first excavation season begins in July! Trench I in the center of Agora and Trench II in the Eastern Portico are opened.

The first grant

Prof. E. Papuci-Władyka receives the first  research grant Opus (no. 2011/01 / B / HS 3/01282) of the National Science Center for 2011-2014 - Paphos (Cyprus) Agora of Hellenistic and Roman city. Research of the Jagiellonian University

2nd excavation season

During the 2nd season of excavation works, research was continued on Trench I and Trench II, where the number of discovered rooms in the Eastern Portico of Agora exceeds 10.

Agoranomos weight

During the second excavation season, a weight was found with the inscribed name of agoranomos Seleucus, a high official managing Agora.
This discovery confirms the existence of an agora in the examined place.

PAP in the NCN promotional spot

The Paphos Agora Project was selected as the only project from the field of humanities for the clip promoting the activities of the National Science Center, Poland (the clip can be viewed >>here).

3rd excavation season

At the turn of August and September, the third excavation season began on Agora in Nea Paphos. Work continued on Trench I and Trench II, as well as on the new Trench III in front of the Southern Portico.

Artifacts from the water well postpone the date of the Agora's creation

In one of the rooms of the Eastern Portico, a water well is found. The artifacts found inside allow's to shift the Agora's erection to the 2nd century BCE

The site is visited by the Ambassador of the Republic of Poland in Nicosia, P. Dobrowolski

During the excavation, the Ambassador of the Republic of Poland in Nicosia, P. Dobrowolski, visits the site. The project receives the patronage of the Embassy. You can watch the TV report from the meeting >>here.

The exhibition "Under the care of Aphrodite" in Krakow's Planty Park

From May to June in Planty Park in Krakow, you could see the first open-air exhibition of PAP - "Under the care of Aphrodite. Cracow archaeologists discover the market of Paphos, the capital of the Greek-Roman Cyprus" (its description can be found>>here)

4th excavation season

Another excavation season took place at the turn of August and September. The works were carried out mainly in Trench I and Trench III

A stoa or a temple and a warehouse from the Hellenistic period

The results from Trench I and Trench III allow an interpretation of the buildings found inside the Agora.
Building B, located in front of the Southern Portico, was a warehouse built at the beginning of the city's functioning, i.e. around 300 BC.
Building A, located in the center, was built in the 2nd century BC. and, judging by the character of its foundations, it was public building a stoa or a temple.

 

AGH and UJK join forces with Paphos Agora Project

Beginning of cooperation with surveyors from the AGH University of Science and Technology in Kraków and geoarchaeologists from Jan Kochanowski University in Kielce.

Grant Maestro of the National Science Center for Prof. E. Papuci-Władyka

Prof. E. Papuci-Władyka receives a grant from the National Science Center MAESTRO (No. 2014/14 / A / HS 3/00283) for the years 2014 - 2020. It allows for the development of the project with a wide the use of non-invasive methods.

New logo

A new project logo designed by Zerkaj Studio,
Warsaw. 

50 years of Polish excavations in Cyprus

The exhibition "Nea Paphos 50 years of Polish Excavations 1965-2015" is organized in Nicosia, presenting the results of the research of the University of Warsaw on Malouten and PAP on the Agora.
You will find a description of the exhibition >> here

5th excavation season

The 5th excavation season lasted from mid-August to early October. The research was carried out in Trench I, Trench II and Trench III.

Ambassador of the Republic of Poland B. Tuge-Erecińska visits Agora

During the excavations, the site was visited by the Ambassador of the Republic of Poland in Nicosia, B. Tuge-Erecińska.

The University of Hamburg and the Warsaw University of Technology join forces with Paphos Agora Project

Paphos Agora Project begins cooperation with archaeologists from the University of Hamburg and surveyors from the Warsaw University of Technology.

5 years of PAPHOS AGORA PROJECT

Prof. E. Papuci-Władyka receives the statuette of E. Wójcik-Konstantinovska on the occasion of its 5th anniversary.

"In the heart of the ancient city"

As part of the 5th anniversary of Paphos Agora Project, an international conference and exhibition of photographs by Robert Słaboński "In the heart of the ancient city" is held in Krakow.

You can read the description of these events >> >here

You can read the conference proceedings >> here

The Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw and the Intercollegiate Institute of Conservation and Restoration of Works of Art are joining forces with Paphos Agora Project

Beginning of cooperation with the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw and the Intercollegiate Institute of Conservation and Restoration of Works of Art.

Study campaign

In the spring, a study campaign took place, during which part of the team worked in Paphos to develop material that had been found so far for the publication.

Mayor of Paphos with the President of Krakow

Official meeting and conversation between the Mayor of Paphos and the Mayor of Krakow.

The Mayor of Paphos at the Rector of the Jagiellonian University

Official meeting and conversation between the Mayor of Paphos and the Rector of the Jagiellonian University.

The exhibition "In the Heart of the Ancient City" travels to Katowice

In August, the exhibition "In the heart of the ancient city" travels to the Silesian Museum in Katowice.

6th excavation season

The 6th excavation season lasted from mid-August to early October. Work continued on Trench II and Trench IV. A new Trench V was also opened, located in close proximity to Trench I, in search of the corner of the so-called Building A, which, however, has not been found. The building turned out to be much larger than expected, as shown by the results from a small Trench VI located a few meters to the east.

Dean on the site

During the excavations, the site is visited by the Dean of the Faculty of History of the Jagiellonian University, Prof. Jan Święch.

Ancient Surgeon's Cabinet

During the 6th season of the excavation, the so-called The Surgery of the Paphos Surgeon was found, inside which a perfectly preserved artifact deposit is found, including a set of surgical instruments.

The surgeon's purse dates the end of the Agora's Eastern Portico

The treasure of coins found inside the so-called Surgery of the Paphos Surgeon allows to date the destruction and the end of use of the Eastern Portico of Agora to the 20s of the 2nd century AD.

"In search of lost worlds"

In January, the "In Search of Lost Worlds" exhibition opens at the Old Factory Museum in Bielsko Biała, presenting the results of the Jagiellonian University's excavations in Agora in Paphos, Cyprus and in Sand Canyon in Colorado, USA.

Paphos 2017 - European Capital of Culture

In January, at the invitation of the Mayor of Paphos, P. Phedonos, a delegation from the Jagiellonian University - Dean of the Faculty of History, prof. J. Święch, Vice-Dean of the Faculty of History, prof. S. Sroka and prof. E. Papuci-Władyka takes part in the opening ceremony of the European Capital of Culture Paphos 2017.

The exhibition "In the heart of the ancient city" travels to Poznań

In May, the exhibition "In the heart of the ancient city" travels to the Archaeological Museum in Poznań.

Study campaign and going beyond Agora

Another study campaign devoted to the development of the discovered artifacts took place in the spring. In 2017, it was combined with the first excavations outside Agora. In line with the assumptions of the Maestro grant, consisting in the search for economic infrastructure and its relationship with Agora, two Survey Excavations I and II were opened in the area of the beach north of the city, where the remains of the second port were expected.

16th Bari Expedition in Paphos

In August, Paphos is visited by the XVI BARI expedition organized by the "Dahlta" Scientific Club of Surveyors operating at the Faculty of Mining Surveying and Environmental Engineering of AGH.

7th excavation campaign

The 7th excavation campaign lasted from mid-August to early October. Work continued inside the Agora in Trench II and IV. The survey research was concentrated in the northern part of the city. Work was carried out on the Trial Trench I and II, where late Roman tombs were found. Trial Trench III was opened in the area of the so-called the moat. Thanks to the evidence from geophysical research, the IV Trial Trench was opened in the place where a lime kiln was found.

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"In the heart of the ancient city" travels to Paphos

As part of the Paphos 2017 celebration, the exhibition of Robert Słaboński's photography "In the heart of the ancient city" with Hubert Chudzio's film about PAP is being opened in the Archaeological Park in Paphos. The opening ceremony was graced by the presence of the Ambassador of the Republic of Poland in Nicosia - B. Tuge -Erecińska, representative of the Ministry of Transport, Communication and Public Works of Cyprus - A. Kofterou, Ph. Phedonos - Mayor of Paphos, M. Solomidou-Ieronymidou - director of the Department of Antiquities of Cyprus and a delegation of the Jagiellonian University in the persons of the Vice-Rector of the Jagiellonian University, A. Edigarian, Dean of the Faculty of History, J. Święch and Vice-Dean of the Faculty of History, S. Sroka.

Mystery of the City of Aphrodite

During the Paphos 2017 celebration in the port of Paphos, a multimedia performance prepared by J. Konstantinovski Puntos is performed.

You can watch  report from the performence >> here

Pafos2017 Statue for the Mayor of Paphos

As part of the Paphos 2017 celebration, prof. E. Papuci-Władyka presents the Mayor of Paphos with Ph. Phedonos with a statuette made by E. Wójcik-Konstantinovska.

Pafos2017 statuette for the Rector of the Jagiellonian University

As part of the Pafos2017 celebration, prof. E. Papuci-Władyka presents the Rector of the Jagiellonian University, prof. W. Nowak a statuette made by E. Wójcik-Konstantinovska.

Digital forms of archaeological documentation

Presentation of the results of vessel documentation using FocusSphere and the Romer laser measuring arm in the SOLARIS building - the first Polish synchrotron built in Cracow.

Spring campaign

Once again, in the spring, part of the PAP team went to Cyprus to conduct the necessary studies on the found artifacts.

 

8th excavation campaign

The 8th excavation campaign takes place from mid-August to early October. In Agora, work continues on Trench II. In the northern part of the city, works in the so-called the moat - the Survey Trench III. Further on, the lime kiln was exposed in the Trench IV. New excavations are also being opened in the immediate vicinity of Agora. Sounding Trench V located near the south-east and Sounding Trench VI near the north-eastern corner of the square.

In search of the Agora size

The results of geophysical investigations verified by excavations confirm that the Agora was surrounded by a double portico to the east and possibly a triple portico to the south, which meant it was much larger than originally thought.

The site is visited by the Ambassador of the Republic of Poland in Nicosia, I. Lichnerowicz-Augustyn

During the excavations, the site is visited by the Ambassador of the Republic of Poland I. Lichnerowicz-Augustyn.

"The mystery of the city of Aphrodite" in the Auditorium of Collegium Novum

In November, in the representative Auditorium of the Jagiellonian University, Collegium Novum in Krakow, the premiere gala of the book Paphos - The Mystery of the City of Aphrodite, Archaeological heritage versus new technologies took place.
It is available >> here

The exhibition "In the Heart of the Ancient City" travels to Nicosia

In November, the exhibition "In the heart of the ancient city" opens at the Ethnographical Museum in Nicosia (The Hadjigeorgakis Kornesios Mansion) under the auspices of the Minister of Transport, Communication and Works of the Republic of Cyprus, V. Anastassiadou. The event was honored by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland, S. Szynkowski vel Sęk, Ambassador of the Republic of Poland in Nicosia, I. Lichnerowicz-Augustyn and Director of the Department of Antiquities of the Republic of Cyprus, M. Solomidou-Ieronymidou.

The Polish Archaeological Institute in Athens is established

In April, Poland joins the elite group of scientific institutions operating in Greece. The Polish School of Archeology in Athens is established under the auspices of the Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań. Its vice-director is prof. E. Papuci-Władyka.

Check PAIA Institute web page >> here

 

9th excavation season

The 9th excavation season takes place from mid-August to the end of September. Works continued at the Trial Trench V, where a canal is found that marks the street parallel to the Eastern Portico. Two new Trial Trenches VII and VIII are also opened to capture the streets flanking the Northern Portico. Apart from the remains of the aforementioned road. A surprise at the Survey Trench VII was the discovery of a necropoleis with skeletal graves oriented on the north-south axis. Small works were also carried out on Trench II.

Cypriot premiere gala

In September, the book Paphos - the mystery of the city of Aphrodite Archaeological heritage and new technologies - had its premiere in Cyprus. The ceremony was held at the "Attikon" Cultural Center in Paphos.

 

Prof. E. Papuci-Władyka, head of the UW mission in Paphos

In September, Prof. E. Papuci-Władyka becomes the head of the Polish Archaeological Mission in the villa district of Maloutena on behalf of the Center of Mediterranean Archeology of the University of Warsaw.

The first scientific monograph of the Paphos Agora Project

The first scientific monograph of the project on research in 2011-2015 is published in spring.
Paphos Agora Project (PAP) vol. 1. Interdisciplinary Research of the Jagiellonian University in Nea Paphos UNESCO World Heritage Site (2011-2015) - First Results.

The last Maestro campaign

The last study campaign under the Maestro grant takes place in August and September.

 

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MA-P

In 2020. under the leadership of Prof. E. Papuci-Władyki scientist from three Polish universities: the Jagiellonian University, the Center of Mediterranean Archeology of the University of Warsaw and the Warsaw University of Technology create scientifi consortium. Its main goal is to continue studies on ancient Nea Paphos, based on the archeological sites studied so far by Poles: the villa district of Maloutena and Agora.

  

Grant Opus

Scientific consortium of the Jagiellonian University, Centre of the Mediteranean studies of the University of Warsaw and the Warsaw Unversity of Technology, led by Prof. E. Papuci-Władyka receives the NCN OPUS 18 grant no.2019 / 35 / B / HS3 / 02296 for the research entitled: MA-P Malouten and Agora in the Paphos urban plan: Modeling the urban landscape of the capital of Hellenistic and Roman Cyprus.

Find out more about the new project here

The first MA-P excavation season

Despite the difficult conditions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, a small group of researchers from Krakow and Warsaw are starting research under the NCN OPUS 18 grant. This year, the excavation season took place in October. In Agora, work continued on the Sound Trench VI, and a new Trial Trench IX was opened on the outer line of the Southern Portico. Excavations have also started in the residential area of Maloutenie. Trial Trenches I and II were opened in the area of the western border of the plot (insula), on which the Villa of Theseus is located.

Study campaign

In early spring, despite the difficult conditions associated with the Covid-19 pandemic, a small group of researchers from Krakow and Warsaw launch a study campaign ...