Markellos Hill

The Markellos Hill (Lofos tou Markellou) was the bulwark of the fortifications of Palaipafos, the ancient capital of the homonymous province in Cyprus and is located on the road to the village Archimandrita, approximately 500 meters from Kouklia. Being ideally suited for enemy surveillance, the location of the hill served for the construction of various defensive works by the ancient residents of the area.

Specifically, a dominant position on the Markellos Hill occupied the northeast gate of Palaipafos (which is associated with the dramatic siege of the city by the Persians during the revolution of Cypriots in 499 BC) and adjacent parts of the ancient city wall along with a rectangular turret. Together with other complex siege and fortification projects that have come to light from archaeologists, today it is possible to recompose the technique of the siege of the ancient residents of Paphos.

Excavations at Markellos Hill showed that the first fortifications were erected during the Archaic period and were made of dried bricks on stones. Later, these fortifications were slowly covered with chiseled stones, creating a wall about 2 meters high and 7 meters thick, while the narrow moat that was also created, further strengthened the fort. The gate, which was framed by two bulky bastions that protruded from the city wall, was itself considered to be a very powerful building complex. During the 4th century, the fronts of the battlements were further strengthened, and three additional observatories were built, serving as warehouses and kitchens for the guard. In addition, in the area were also found a fortification enclosure and a palace of the 6th century, with small rooms and bulky walls, which was the center of administration and the seat of the king of ancient Palaipaphos. The remains of a siege embankment built by the Persian army and covering the entire area outside the walls complete the findings of Markellos Hill. Finally, the archaeological excavation revealed that the gate – the most important defensive work of the prehistoric inhabitants of the area – has had to be violated at some point and ultimately burned by the enemies. The erection of a compound on a large horseshoe-shaped bastion is considered to be one of the last works on the hill.