• Cyprus is an island in the eastern
Mediterranean Sea, where East
meets the West. It was established
as an independent republic in 1960.
• It is the third largest island in the
Mediterranean, with an area of
9,251 square kilometers.
• The strategic location of the island,
at the intersection of three
continents, has been a cause of
misfortune for the last 4000 years,
turning it into an object of desire
for many conquerors.
Cyprus gained independence from the
colonial rule of the British Empire in
1960.
It is a multicultural society, populated
by Greek and Turkish Cypriots.
Nicosia is the capital of the island. It is
located at the centre of the island and
is the main commercial market of
Cyprus.
In 1974, Turkey invaded our island and
illegally occupied the 36% of its
territory. The people of Cyprus still long
for a settlement that will enable Greek
and Turkish Cypriots to live peacefully,
as they had done for centuries in the
past, and enjoy together the benefits of
EU membership.
The island of Cyprus enjoys a reputation
as a first class holiday destination,
with year-round sunshine, blue skies and warm sea waters.
Cyprus´ unique natural environment and climate,
as well as its history and civilisation which span centuries
back, attract more and more visitors year after year….
Pafos, our home town, is situated
in the southwest of Cyprus. It has
approximately 30 000 inhabitants,
most of which are Greek Cypriots.
It is a well developed tourist
destination, visited by thousands
of tourists every year. A
international civil airport
accommodates the city.
Over the last 20 years, a vibrant
immigrant community of eastern
Europeans has been formed in
Pafos, so our schools are attended
by many children of diverse
culture and legacy.
Having a beautiful small
port, guarded by its
historic castle, Pafos is one
of the most picturesque
towns in Cyprus. The
entire area of the lower
town has been inscribed on
the UNESCO’s
World Heritage List.
Paphos area
Our school was
build in 2007.
It is located at the
town’s north
entrance, just five
minutes from the
town centre.
In our school there are 202 pupils aged between 6-12 years
old. Most of them are Greek Cypriot, however, about 20%
of the total number come from other countries such as
Georgia(20),
Romania(8),
Ukraine(4),
Russia
(2),
Bulgaria(2), Italy (1), Syria (1) and Armenia (1). There are
12 classes, with 13-21 students each.
Our teaching staff is consisted of the headmaster, 2 depute
headteachers, 17 classroom teachers and a music teacher.
Moreover, there are two special education teachers who visit
our school for a certain number of days and assist pupils
facing various learning difficulties.
We are very pleased to be part of the Lifelong
Learning Programme-Comenius and we are
looking forward for the best possible cooperation
and for the best possible results.
Our city was founded 3000 years ago,
by Greek settlers who came to our
island from the Peloponnese.
The settlers brought their Greek language and
culture to Cyprus. They worshiped the 12 Gods of
Olympus and built many temples and shrines to
honour them. One of their goddesses and her
worship soon prevailed: Aphrodite (Venus), the
goddess of beauty, who was in fact… a Cypriot!
Ancient Greek mythology alleged that Aphrodite
had been born in Cyprus, near Paphos.
The Birth of Venus
(in Italian: Nascita di Venere)
is a painting by the Italian
renaissance artist Sandro Botticelli.
It depicts the goddess Aphrodite,
having emerged from the sea near Paphos ,
as a full grown woman.
The painting is nowadays held in Firenze.
The birthplace of Aphrodite
Once a year, pilgrims from Greece
and Rome visited our city to
participate in the festivities that took
place at Aphrodite’s temple.
The ancient sanctuary of Aphrodite
Once a year, pilgrims from Greece
and Rome visited our city to
participate in the festivities that took
place at Aphrodite’s temple.
They also visited her sacred gardens and baths.
This is where, according to another legend, the
Goddess used to meet with Adonis, a local mortal
man, a hunter of wild boars, that she had fallen in
love with!
Adonis and Aphrodite at the
Sacred Gardens of Paphos
In 58 BC the Romans seized our island.
Under Roman rule, Paphos became the
capital city and prospered.
The Pretorium, the Roman Proconsul’s residence, is located near
the port of our city. Beautiful mosaics decorate all the floors of
the villa’s main building. The god of wine Dionysus (Bacchus)
is the major figure in many of these mosaics who «narrate»
ancient Greek legends and myths.
In 58 BC the Romans seized our island.
Under Roman rule, Paphos became the
capital city and prospered.
In 47AD, St. Paul came to Paphos to preach
Christianity to the local Greek population.
He was arrested by the Romans, tied to a
marble pillar and received 39 lashes on his
back as punishment.
The byzantine church of St. Kyriaki and
the pillars where st. Paul was penalized.
Afterwards, he was brought before Lucius Sergius
Paulus, the Proconsul of Cyprus under emperor
Claudius. According to the Acts of the Apostles, St.
Paul was successful in converting the Proconsul to
Christianity when he miraculously casted blindness
upon his prosecutor, the mage Elymas.
In 2010 AD, his holiness Pope Benedict XVI
visited Paphos and prayed at the place of
St. Paul’s torture.
In the 7th century, AD the Eastern Roman
(Byzantine) Empire was in war with the
Arabs. In order to protect Cyprus, the
emperor Heraclius built new forts and sent
well trained soldiers to guard the island.
These were called Akrites (Border
Guards).
Ruins of the Byzantine castle «40 Kolones»,
on a small hill by the city port.
There are numerous folk songs that praise the
Akrites on their courage and deeds. Most of
these songs narrate the feats of the heroic
Digenis Akritas. These folk songs always
attribute super-natural powers and traits to the
favorite protector of the people and greatly
exaggerate on his accomplishments.
A smaller fort guarded the port entrance.
It was rebuild in the 17th century.
In the 7th century, AD the Eastern Roman
(Byzantine) Empire was in war with the
Arabs. In order to protect Cyprus, the
emperor Heraclius built new forts and sent
well trained soldiers to guard the island.
These were called Akrites (Border
Guards).
According to one of the legends, Digenis
Akritas had singlehandedly scared away a
band of Arab Saracen pirates. The scared
pirates fled to their ships, waiting on a coast
near Paphos. Digenis stood on the top of
Troodos mountain, grabbed a massive rock
with his hand and threw it against them,
crashing and sinking their pirate ships…
Ruins of the Byzantine castle «40 Kolones»,
on a small hill by the city port.
«Petra tou Romiou» / «The rock of the Roman»
is the rock Digenis threw against the pirates.
During the Crusades, Cyprus became a
strong and prosperous Christian Kingdom
of the Near East, ruled by the Frankish
(French) family De Lusignan.
Medieval map of the fortifications of Nicosia
The capital was moved to Nicosia, while
Famagusta became the second most important
city, being the commercial port of the island.
St. Nicholas cathedral in Famagusta
King Peter I de Lusignan (1328 AD - 1369 AD)
was a fair ruler! As a king, he was loved by the
people of his realm and respected by his fellow
European kings. He was also a great warrior
feared by his enemies.
The castle of the Templar Knights in Limassol
He loved the most famous sweet wine of Cyprus
called «Commandaria». This was produced by
the Templar Knights who owned vineyards in
Limassol and in Paphos. It is still produced
today!
Sweet red grape wine «Commandaria»
King Peter I de Lusignan (1328 AD - 1369 AD)
was a fair ruler! As a king, he was loved by the
people of his realm and respected by his fellow
European kings. He was also a great warrior
feared by his enemies.
He loved the most famous sweet wine of Cyprus
called «Commandaria». This was produced by
the Templar Knights who owned vineyards in
Limassol and in Paphos. It is still produced
today!
«The feast of the five kings» is a painting by Albert
Chevallier Tyler. It depicts Peter I of Cyprus, feasting
with the kings of England, Scotland, France and
Denmark. They are all drinking Commandaria.
The painting is nowadays held in London.
The castle of the Templar Knights in Limassol
King Peter got married to Doña Eleanor D’
Aragon, a Spanish princess from Barcelona.
She became Queen of Cyprus and gave the king
three children.
The Chateau De Covocle in Kouklia, Paphos was
the summer residence of the Lousignan kings.
But the king fell in love with a young noblewoman Peter and Joanna used to meet here!
whose name was Joanna L’ Allemagne. Joanna was
already married to a knight and lived in a rich feud
near Paphos, called Hulu.
According to the legend, the queen heard of the king’s affair. So,
when the king left Cyprus on a trip to France, Eleanor had
Joanna arrested, tortured and imprisoned…
The troubadours sympathised with Joanna, who suffered so much in the
hands of the evil queen. They spread the story with their singing of the
«Legend of Arodafnousa», a song sang by folk artists even today!
The Queen