The Late Roman Insula in Nea Paphos in the Light of New Research

• Main Author: Julia Mikocka
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Athens Institute for Education and Research 2018-04-01
• Series: Athens Journal of History
• Online Access: https://www.athensjournals.gr/history/2018-4-2-4-Mikocka.pdf

This paper deal with the House of Aion and the North-Eastern House which occupy part of a late Roman insula in Nea Paphos in Cyprus. The relative chronology of the buildings, the range, the spatial arrangement of both buildings, and the functions of the House of Aion are discussed. The research is based on the analysis of documentation and excavation reports on the work carried out in the House of Aion and the North-Eastern House between 1982 and 2008 and on the new observation of the arrangement of the walls, floors, mosaics, paintings, and the architectural decoration, as a result of fieldwork during 2014 – 2016. Research indicates that this was the longest existing insula in this part of the town. In this area, unusual features, not seen before in other buildings from the area of Nea Paphos, may be observed. My research fills in the gap in knowledge on Nea Paphos during the late Roman period. Studies of the House of Aion and the North-Eastern House will provide information concerning not only the architecture but also the social, administrative and economical changes that took place in Nea Paphos during the late Roman period. The study of these buildings will supplement our current knowledge of residential architecture and buildings performing public functions. To date, only limited number of information on insulas with residential and public buildings from Cyprus has been published.