Restoration of auxiliary buildings at historic lighthouse completed in Paphos
Restoration work on the auxiliary buildings of the historic lighthouse in Paphos, Cyprus, has been completed, the surrounding area has been landscaped, and access paths have been laid. This was reported by Cyprus’s Department of Antiquities, Cyprus Mail writes.
Finds from the Roman period
During the work, a cistern, a pebble floor and a channel were excavated. According to specialists, these objects may have been components of an ancient water resource management system from the early Roman period, dating to the 1st–2nd centuries CE.
The 20-metre-high lighthouse was built in 1888 during the British administration of the island. For decades, it served as an important navigational landmark and continues to perform this function.
Lighthouse keepers and its significance
According to Theofanu Markou of the Cyprus Ports Authority at Paphos port, before the establishment of the British administration, ships were warned of dangers along the coast by fires lit at strategic locations. The construction of the lighthouse was an important step toward an organised system of maritime signals on the island.
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The lighthouse was maintained by keepers who lived with their families in the auxiliary buildings and were responsible for maintaining the light and equipment. The last keeper’s family left the lighthouse in 1982 due to technological development and automation.
Senior archaeologist at the Department of Antiquities Efstathios Raptou called the lighthouse iconic and Cyprus’s most recognisable lighthouse. It is located within the archaeological site of Kato Paphos. The structure itself has undergone modernisation and is not an ancient monument; however, according to the archaeologist, it is part of a unique coexistence of different historical periods.
The lighthouse is also an important landmark of Paphos and an integral part of the neighbouring archaeological site.
