Blog Posts - Paphos Theatre Archaeological Project

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NEA PAPHOS CONFERENCE

19/10/2017

As part of Pafos2017 European Capital of Culture celebrations, the 11-15 October saw the city host the international colloquium Nea Paphos and Western Cyprus: New Archaeological and Historical Perspectives. The conference was the follow up to a successful similar event held in Avignon in 2012.

Presenters and guests got the chance to hear each others' new findings, new research and current issues.

The Paphos Theatre Archaeological Project was well represented with papers from team members Dr Craig Barker, Professor Diana Wood Conroy, Dr Bernadette McCall, Anthoulla Vassiliades and Geoff Stennett. A site tour of the Paphos theatre and the other archaeological features of Fabrika hill was lead by Craig Barker and Claire Balandier.

The conference papers will be published in due course. The program for the colloquium can be found here.

Conference delegates being taken on a site tour on the 15 October.

ARCHAEOLOGY & THE VISUAL ARTS

7/10/2017

The artist-in-residence program of the Paphos Theatre Archaeological Project excavations has always invited visual artists to be inspired by the archaeology of the ancient theatre site.

This theme of using visual arts to present a new perspective on archaeological processes and the concept of excavation and study of materials is at the basis of the exhibition Travellers from Australia: artists in the ancient Pafos theatre which is part of the Pafos2017 European Capital of Culture festival program.

Curated by Emeritus Professor Diana Wood Conroy and Dr Craig Barker, the exhibition features work Angela Brennan, Brogan Bunt, Rowan Conroy, Amanda Dusting, Hannah Gee, Penny Harris, Guy Hazell, Stephen Ingham, Derek Kreckler, Bob Miller, Jacky Redgate, Geoff Stennett, Lawrence Wallen, Diana Wood Conroy and LithodomosVR, all inspired by the excavation of the ancient theatre at Paphos.

The exhibition runs at the Palia Ilektriki in Ktima Pafos between 2-15 October 2017.
Free entry.

SOMA podcast

9/7/2017

SoMA is the Society of Mediterranean Archaeology; a University of Sydney-based organisation which supports and promotes the activities of archaeologists and historians working on ancient cultures across the Mediterranean. The SoMA website covers the variety of activities SoMA engages with.

The SoMA podcast has recently been launched. Hosted by president of SoMA and Paphos Theatre team member Candace Richards, episode one sees a discussion on the Paphos Theatre Archaeological Project with excavation director Dr Craig Barker. Future episodes will see interviews with archaeologists, classicists and scientists who have made the Mediterranean region their work, their life, their passion.

Listen to the SoMA podcast here and enjoy future episodes discussing archaeology from around the Mediterranean!

explore cyprus

8/6/2017

The Archaeology of Cyprus, a guided tour with Helen Nicholson
24 September - 9 October 2017

This sixteen day tour explores the rich cultural heritage of Cyprus that spaces from Neolithic settlements to UNESCO World Heritage listed churches in the Troodos Mountains, and from ancient Phoenician, Greek and Roman sites to more recent medieval and Ottoman monuments and museums.

After two days exploring Larnaca and its environs we travel west to Limassol and Paphos both home to spectacular Greek, Roman, medieval and Ottoman sites, museums and monuments. The tour then leaves the coast and heads inland to the forested Troodos Mountains where picturesque villages and architecture awaits. We then travel to the capital Nicosia and spend six nights. While here there are day trips to Northern Cyprus visiting Salamis, Famagusta and Kyrenia and three days exploring within the Venetian walls of Nicosia itself.

Late summer is a good time to visit Cyprus and the tour has been designed to introduce and explore this fascinating past as well as providing opportunities to discover the vibrant contemporary society that awaits travellers to the island today.

Please contact Alumni Travel on 1300 799 887 or (02) 9290 3856 to book a place on this tour.
Download the detailed itinerary and booking details here.

2017 SEASON ANNOUNCEMENT

3/5/2017

Have you ever wanted to work on an archaeological excavation? Join us for our 2017 season!

The Paphos Theatre Archaeological Project will conduct its eighteenth season of excavations at the site of the theatre on behalf of the Department of Antiquities of Cyprus between 8 October and 5 November 2017. A limited number of student and volunteer positions are available for the four week seasons. This season will see significant work conducted in the area of the Roman road behind the theatre and of a medieval structure.

Learn more about being a student team member or a contributing volunteer team member and formally apply to join the team by following the links. The experience will give you life-long friendships and experiences with archaeological excavation, finds processing and recording techniques as well as the chance to explore the rich heritage of the island nation of Cyprus. Applications are open until 31 May 2017.

PAphos theatre Tea Towels now back in stock!

12/4/2017

After selling out last year, the Paphos Theatre Tea Towel is back in stock and available to purchase. The sales from our tea towels will help fund our 2017 field work.

Pick up your tea towel online with Sydney Uni secure shop
or stop by the Nicholson Museum gift shop and pick up yours in person.

Theatre history podcast

12/4/2017

Project Director Dr Craig Barker recently spoke about ancient theatre and the team's work at Paphos with Michael Lueger for the Theatre History Podcast. They talked about the changing nature of performance in the Hellenistic and Roman world and why the theatre at Paphos is such significant building.

Theatre History Podcast # 28: Digging up Nea Paphos with Dr. Craig Barker can be downloaded now or listened to online here:
http://howlround.com/theatre-history-podcast-28-digging-up-nea-paphos-with-dr-craig-barker

European Cultural Capital 2017

1/2/2017

On 28 January the city of Paphos launched the celebrations for Pafos2017 in spectacular fashion. Paphos, along with Aarhus in Denmark are European Cultural Capitals for 2017.

The year long celebration features a dynamic program of visual arts, theatre, dance, literature and of course, archaeology. Amongst the many international performers including the Berlin Philharmonic, Charlotte Rampling, Vladimir Ashkenazy and Goran Bregovic, is a humble visual arts exhibition from Australia.

Our exhibition 'Travellers from Australia' will open at the Palia Elektriki on the 2 October and run until 15 October.

Curated by Diana Wood Conroy and Craig Barker it is a celebration of two decades of Australian archaeologists and artists making Cyprus their second home. We are thrilled to be involved in this international showcase of art and culture.

Fireworks from the Pafos2017 opening ceremony

More information about Pafos2017 and all of the events throughout the year go to the official website: http://www.pafos2017.eu

360 Degree panorama

23/1/2017

A 360 degree panorama of the site of the ancient theatre of Nea Paphos has been created by project surveyor and team member Guy Hazell. It can be viewed online here:
http://www.arcsurv.com/2016/paphos360/

Press release 2016

3/1/2017

In 2016 our work at the Paphos Theatre included five trenches at the top of Fabrika Hill, and at the base of the theatre along the Roman road. Each one was designed to illuminate more about the theatrical precinct. In December the official Press Release was issued by the Department of Antiquities, and reported on along with the work by our friends from the Polish Mission in the Cyprus Mail.