THE EVOLUTION OF THE RELIGIOUS TOPOGRAPHY OF PAPHOS UNDER THE REIGN OF NIKOKLES
THE EVOLUTION OF THE RELIGIOUS TOPOGRAPHY OF PAPHOS UNDER THE REIGN OF NIKOKLES

Author(s): Yannick Vernet
Subject(s): Archaeology
Published by: Wydawnictwa Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego
Keywords: Cyprus; Paphos; Nikokles; ancient religion; divinities; religious policy; religious topography
Summary/Abstract: Nikokles, the last Paphian king, marked the history of Cyprus beyond the kingdom of Paphos. During his reign, ca. 325/321–311/309 BC, he tried to take advantage of the troubled political context in the Mediterranean area resulting from so-called Wars of the Diadochi. Paphos saw a lot of transformations and innovations under Nikokles who was a very active sovereign. This is especially illustrated by how religion was deeply linked to secular power. The religious activity of the last Paphian king is particularly visible through the inscriptions which form the main source of this paper. The cult evolution as well as the sacred topography of the kingdom of Paphos are analysed in order to show how crucial they were for the ideological and political plan of Nikokles. The study of this religious policy leads us to the question of the real ambition of the king and his possible role in the foundation of the future Nea Paphos.

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