Bible Encyclopedia: Paphos

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International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

PAPHOS

pa'-fos:

1. Site:

The name of two towns, Old (Palaia Paphos, or Palaipaphos) and New Paphos Nea Paphos), situated at the southwestern extremity of Cyprus. Considerable confusion is caused by the use of the single name Paphos in ancient writers to denote now one, now the other, of these cities. That referred to in Acts 13:6, 13 is strictly called New Paphos (modern Baffa), and lay on the coast about a mile South of the modern Ktima and some 10 miles Northwest of the old city. The latter (modern Kouklia) is situated on an eminence more than a mile from the sea, on the left bank of the Diarrizo, probably the ancient Bocarus.

2. History of Old Paphos:

It was founded by Cinyras, the father of Adonis, or, according to another legend, by Aerias, and formed the capital of the most important kingdom in Cyprus except that of Salamis. Its territory embraced a considerable portion of Western Cyprus, extending northward to that of Soli, southward to that of Curium and eastward to the range of Troodus. Among its last kings was Nicocles, who ruled shortly after the death of Alexander the Great. In 310 B.C. Nicocreon of Salamis, who had been set over the whole of Cyprus by Ptolemy I of Egypt, was forced to put an end to his life at Paphos for plotting with Antigonus (Diodorus xx. 21, who wrongly gives the name as Nicocles; see Athenische Mitteilungen, XXII, 203;), and from that time Paphos remained under Egyptian rule until the Roman annexation of Cyprus in 58 B.C. The growth of New Paphos brought with it the decline of the old city, which was also ruined by successive earthquakes. Yet its temple still retained much of its old fame, and in 69 A.D. Titus, the future emperor of Rome, turned aside on his journey to Jerusalem, which he was to capture in the following year, to visit the sacred shrine and to inquire of the priests into the fortune which awaited him (Tacitus History ii.2-4; Suetonius Titus 5).

3. History of New Paphos:

New Paphos, originally the seaport of the old town, was founded, according to tradition, by Agapenor of Arcadia (Iliad ii0.609; Pausan. viii.5, 2). Its possession of a good harbor secured its prosperity, and it had several rich temples. According to Dio Cassius (liv.23) it was restored by Augustus in 15 B.C. after a destructive earthquake and received the name Augusta (Greek Sebaste). Under the Roman Empire it was the administrative capital of the island and the seat of the governor. The extant remains all date from this period and include those of public buildings, private houses, city walls and the moles of the harbor.

4. The Temple and Cult:

But the chief glory of Paphos and the source of its fame was the local cult, of which the kings and their descendants remained hereditary priests down to the Roman seizure of Cyprus. The goddess, identified with the Greek Aphrodite, who was said to have risen from the sea at Paphos, was in reality a Nature-goddess, closely resembling the Babylonian Ishtar and the Phoenician Astarte, a native deity of Asia Minor and the Aegean Islands. Her cult can be traced back at Paphos to Homeric times (Odyssey viii.362) and was repeatedly celebrated by Greek and Latin poets (Aeschylus Suppl. 555; Aristoph. Lys. 833; Virgil Aen. i0.415; Horace Odes i.19 and 30; iii0.26; Statius Silvae i.2, 101, etc.). The goddess was represented, not by a statue in human form, but by a white conical stone (Max. Tyr. viii0.8; Tacitus History ii0.3; Servius Ad Aen. i.724), of which models were on sale for the benefit of pilgrims (Athenaeus xv.18); her worship was sensuous in character and she is referred to by Athanasius as the deification of lust (Contra Genres 9). Excavation has brought to light at Old Paphos a complex of buildings belonging to Roman times and consisting of an open court with chambers or colonnades on three sides and an entrance on the East only, the whole forming a quadrilateral enclosure with sides about 210 ft. long. In this court may have stood the altar, or altars, of incense (Homer speaks of a single altar, Virgil of "a hundred altars warm with Sabean frankincense"); no blood might be shed thereon, and although it stood in the open it was "wet by no rain" (Tacitus, loc. cit.; Pliny, NH, ii.210). On the south side are the ruins of another building, possibly an earlier temple, now almost destroyed save for the western wall (Journal of Hellenic Studies, IX, 193-224). But the fact that no remains or inscriptions have been found here earlier than the Roman occupation of Cyprus militates against the view that the sanctuary stood at this spot from prehistoric times. Its site may be sought at Xylino, a short distance to the North of Kouklia (D.G. Hogarth, Times, August 5, 1910), or possibly on the plateau of Rhantidi, some 3 miles Southeast of the village, where numerous inscriptions in the old Cyprian syllabic script were found in the summer of 1910 (M. Ohnefalsch-Richter, Times, July 29, 1910).

5. The Apostles' Visit:

After visiting Salamis and passing through the whole island, about 100 miles in length, Barnabas, Paul and Mark reached Paphos, the residence of the Roman proconsul, Sergius Paulus (for the title see CYPRUS). Here too they would doubtless begin by preaching in the synagogue, but the governor-who is probably the same Paulus whose name appears as proconsul in an inscription of Soli (D.G. Hogarth, Devia Cypria, 114)-hearing of their mission, sent for them and questioned them on the subject of their preaching. A Jew named Bar-Jesus or Elymas, who, as a Magian or soothsayer, "was with the proconsul," presumably as a member of his suite, used all his powers of persuasion to prevent his patron from giving his adherence to the new faith, and was met by Paul (it is at this point that the name is first introduced) with a scathing denunciation and a sentence of temporary loss of sight. The blindness which at once fell on him produced a deep impression on the mind of the proconsul, who professed his faith in the apostolic teaching. From Paphos, Paul and his companions sailed in a northwesterly direction to Perga in Pamphylia (Acts 13:6-13).

Paul did not revisit Paphos, but we may feel confident that Barnabas and Mark would return there on their 2nd missionary journey (Acts 15:39). Of the later history of the Paphian church we know little. Tychicus, Paul's companion, is said to have been marryred there, and Jerome tells us that Hilarion sought in the neighborhood of the decayed and almost deserted town the quiet and retirement which he craved (Vita Hilar. 42). The Acta Barnabae speak of a certain Rhodon, who was attached to the temple service at Old Paphos, as having accepted the Christian faith.

LITERATURE.

Besides the works already referred to, see Journal of Hellenic Studies, IX, 175-92 (citation of passages from ancient authors relating to Old Paphos, together with a list of medieval and modern authorities), 225-271 (inscriptions and tombs), and the bibliography appended to article CYPRUS.

Marcus N. Tod

Greek

3974. Paphos -- Paphos, a city in Cyprus
... 3973, 3974. Paphos. 3975 . Paphos, a city in Cyprus. Part of Speech: Noun,
Feminine Transliteration: Paphos Phonetic Spelling: (paf ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3974.htm - 6k

919. Bariesous -- "son of Joshua," Bar-Jesus, a false prophet
... Phonetic Spelling: (bar-ee-ay-sooce') Short Definition: Bar-Jesus Definition:
Bar-Jesus, the name of the magician and false prophet at Paphos in Cyprus; he is ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/919.htm - 6k

1681. Elumas -- Elymas, a magician
... Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: Elumas Phonetic Spelling: (el-oo'-mas)
Short Definition: Elymas Definition: Elymas, the name of the sorcerer at Paphos ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1681.htm - 6k

Library

His Missionary Travels
... After going through the length of the island, from east to west, evangelizing, they
arrived at Paphos, its chief town, and there the problems they had come out ...
/.../stalker/the life of st paul/chapter vi his missionary travels.htm

Drawing Nearer to the Storm
... How much had passed since that day at Paphos (which they might have sighted from
the deck)! He had left Paphos with Barnabas and John Mark"where were they? ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture the acts/drawing nearer to the storm.htm

First Missionary Journey Scripture
... Col.4:10). +Paul Comes to the Front+ when his company leave Paphos and
ever after he has the first place (Acts 13:13). Here also ...
/.../sell/bible studies in the life of paul/study iii first missionary journey.htm

To the Regions Beyond
... the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews; and they had also John to their
minister.6. And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture the acts/to the regions beyond.htm

Acts XIII
... (6) "And having passed through the whole island as far as Paphos, they found a ... (13)
"Now those about Paul set sail from Paphos, and went to Perga of Pamphylia. ...
/.../mcgarvey/a commentary on acts of the apostles/acts xiii.htm

The Acts of Barnabus.
... And having crossed the mountain called Chionodes, [2150] we came to Old Paphos,
and there found Rhodon, a temple servant, who also, having himself believed ...
//christianbookshelf.org/unknown/the acts of barnabus/the acts of barnabus.htm

Acts xiii. 4, 5
... xi.19), and so here they betook them to the synagogues. "And when they had gone
through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on acts and romans/homily xxviii acts xiii 4.htm

Picture of a Pauline Church
... was like inside. In Paphos or Iconium, in Thessalonica or Beroea or Corinth,
how did things go on after Paul left? What were the ...
/.../stalker/the life of st paul/chapter viii picture of a.htm

The Kingdom Conquering the World
... 1. Seleucia " " " " " 2. Salamis " " " " " 3. Paphos " " "
" " 4. Perga " " " " " 5. Antioch ...
/.../palmer/a birds-eye view of the bible/ix the kingdom conquering the.htm

The Gospel According to St. Mark
... At any rate, the Greek can be so interpreted. After crossing from Paphos to the
mainland of Asia Minor, the missionaries arrived at Perga. Here St. ...
/.../pullan/the books of the new testament/chapter iv the gospel according.htm

Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary

Paphos

which boils, or is very hot

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Paphos

(boiling , or hot), a town at the west end of Cyprus, connected by a react with Salamis at the east end. It was founded B.C. 1184 (during the period of the judges in Israel). Paul and Barnabas travelled, on their first missionary expedition, "through the isle" from the latter place to the former, (Acts 13:6) The great characteristic of Paphos was the worship of Aphrodite or Venus, who was fabled to have here risen from the sea. Her temple, however, was at "Old Paphos" now called Kuklia . The harbor and the chief town were at "New Paphos," ten miles to the northwest. The place is still called Baffa .

ATS Bible Dictionary

Paphos

A maritime city on the western extremity of the isle of Cyprus. It had a tolerable harbor, and was the station of a Roman proconsul.

About sixty furlongs from the city was the celebrated temple of Venus, who was hence often called the "Paphian goddess." The infamous rites in honor of this goddess continued to be practiced hundreds of years after Paul and Barnabas introduced the gospel here, though their labors were blessed with some fruits, Acts 13:6-13. See ELYMAS.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

The capital of the island of Cyprus, and therefore the residence of the Roman governor. It was visited by Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary tour (Acts 13:6). It is new Paphos which is here meant. It lay on the west coast of the island, about 8 miles north of old Paphos. Its modern name is Baffa.

Thesaurus

Paphos (2 Occurrences)
... It was visited by Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary tour (Acts 13:6).
It is new Paphos which is here meant. ... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. PAPHOS. ...
/p/paphos.htm - 14k

Bar-jesus (1 Occurrence)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Son of Joshua, the patronymic of Elymas the sorcerer
(Acts 13:6), who met Paul and Barnabas at Paphos. ...
/b/bar-jesus.htm - 9k

Barjesus (1 Occurrence)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Son of Joshua, the patronymic of Elymas the sorcerer
(Acts 13:6), who met Paul and Barnabas at Paphos. ...
/b/barjesus.htm - 9k

Cyprus (12 Occurrences)
... Phoenician influences too were at work, and the Phoenician settlements-Citium,
Amathus, Paphos and others-go back to a very early date. ...
/c/cyprus.htm - 27k

Pamphylia (6 Occurrences)
... Paul and his company, loosing from Paphos, sailed north-west and came to Perga,
the capital of Pamphylia (Acts 13:13, 14), a province about the middle of the ...
/p/pamphylia.htm - 12k

Kittim (8 Occurrences)
... Naturally they brought with them their religion, the worship of the moon-goddess
Atargatis (Derceto) being introduced at Paphos, and the Phoenician Baal at ...
/k/kittim.htm - 15k

Loosed (41 Occurrences)
... Acts 13:13 Now when Paul and his company loosed from Paphos, they came to Perga
in Pamphylia: and John departing from them returned to Jerusalem. (KJV WBS). ...
/l/loosed.htm - 19k

Length (135 Occurrences)
... Acts 13:6 When they had gone through the whole length of the island as far as Paphos,
they there met with a Jewish magician and false prophet, Bar-Jesus by name ...
/l/length.htm - 37k

Wonder-worker (9 Occurrences)
... Acts 13:6 And when they had gone through all the island to Paphos, they came across
a certain wonder-worker and false prophet, a Jew whose name was Bar-Jesus ...
/w/wonder-worker.htm - 9k

Isle (15 Occurrences)
... Acts 13:6 And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain
sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Barjesus: (KJV WBS). ...
/i/isle.htm - 15k

Bible Concordance

Paphos (2 Occurrences)

Acts 13:6 When they had gone through the island to Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Bar Jesus,
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Acts 13:13 Now Paul and his company set sail from Paphos, and came to Perga in Pamphylia. John departed from them and returned to Jerusalem.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Subtopics

Paphos

Paphos: Paul Blinds a Sorcerer In

Related Terms

Bar-jesus (1 Occurrence)

Barjesus (1 Occurrence)

Cyprus (12 Occurrences)

Pamphylia (6 Occurrences)

Kittim (8 Occurrences)

Loosed (41 Occurrences)

Length (135 Occurrences)

Wonder-worker (9 Occurrences)