Restoration completed at Paphos lighthouse auxiliary buildings

Paphos, Cyprus. Restoration work on the auxiliary buildings of the Paphos lighthouse, including landscaping and new access paths, has been completed, the antiquities department said on Monday.

The works uncovered a cistern, a pebbled floor and a canal believed to have formed part of an early Roman water management system dating from the first to second century AD.

Archaeological findings

The excavated features were found during work around the lighthouse, which stands within the archaeological site of Kato Paphos.

Senior archaeological officer at the antiquities department Efstathios Raptou described the lighthouse as emblematic and the largest recognisable lighthouse in Cyprus. Although the building has been modernised and is not itself an ancient monument, he said it forms part of a unique coexistence of different historical periods.

Maritime role

Built in 1888 during the British administration, the 20-metre lighthouse has served as a navigation reference point for decades and continues to operate.

Cyprus Ports Authority officer at Paphos port Theofanou Markou told the Cyprus News Agency that, before the British administration, ships were warned of coastal dangers through fires lit at strategic locations. The construction of the lighthouse marked a step towards organised maritime signalling on the island.

Keepers and landmark status

Lighthouse keepers and their families lived in the auxiliary buildings and maintained the light and equipment for several decades. The last family retired in 1982 following technological developments and automation.

The lighthouse continues to serve navigation while also functioning as a landmark of Paphos and an integral part of the adjacent archaeological site.