The Roman Archaeological Park was the site of the ancient Roman village of Pafos. I only saw a small fraction of this very large site, however one of the most impressive parts I did see were the mosaic floors of the “House of Dionysus”. Which was so named because the Roman god of wine was featured in some of the floor motifs. 

All but one of the mosaics are Roman and are colorful with tesserae which shade the mythological figures, plants and animals to show their volume. (A few of the figures are labeled.) One mosaic in particular, which features five figures and four natural scenes in a grid, utilizes three-dimensionality in the depiction of square columns which separate the scenes.

There are also more purely decorative mosaic motifs. Some of which look like quilts or patterned rugs.

The one mosaic that is not Roman, is Hellenistic and the style of construction is quite different from the others. It predates all of the other mosaics and is made of grey and white natural river rock, rather than the cut tesserae.

Chrystyna Banks