The upcoming Nea Paphos Colloquium will be held in Poland to mark the 60th anniversary of archaeological research conducted by the Polish Centre of Mediterranean Archaeology (PCMA UW) in Paphos (1965–2025). This milestone celebrates the longstanding Polish contribution, representing the longest-running foreign archaeological project on the island of Cyprus, which has led to the establishment of the PCMA UW Research Centre in Cyprus.
Polish research in Nea Paphos began in 1965, initiated by the Polish Centre of Mediterranean Archaeology led by Prof. Kazimierz Michałowski commencing six decades of excavations in the area known as Maloutena, the residential part of the city, with the famous Villa of Theseus. The second Polish expedition, operating on behalf of the Institute of Archaeology of the Jagiellonian University, began its research in 2011 in the Agora, the administrative and commercial centre of the city. Both expeditions were merged in 2019 under the name: “MAP Maloutena and Agora – Archaeological Project in Paphos, Cyprus”. Currently, the joint expedition of the University of Warsaw and Jagiellonian University in Krakow conducts a research project in consortium with the Warsaw University of Technology, with collaboration of the University of Hamburg, Wroclaw University of Technology, and the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw.
The Nea Paphos Colloquium IV: “From Past to Present – Reflections on six decades of Excavations in Paphos” will feature the latest findings and scholarly insights across several key topics. Areas of focus will include the history of research in Nea Paphos, particularly highlighting developments since the 1960s, as well as studies in architecture, urbanism, and material culture. Further topics encompass the city’s water supply, economy, funerary practices, and demography, along with its connections to the hinterland and Palaepaphos. The chronological scope of the conference will span from the pre-foundation period through to the Middle Ages. The languages of the conference will be English, Greek, and French.
The Nea Paphos Colloquium will take place from Tuesday, 20 May, through Friday, 23 May 2025. The first two days, 20 and 21 May, will be held in Warsaw, followed by sessions in Krakow on 22 and 23 May.
The Nea Paphos Colloquium IV is co-organized by the Polish Centre of Mediterranean Archaeology, University of Warsaw, the Institute of Archaeology, Jagiellonian University, the Department of Antiquities of Cyprus, Avignon Université, and Histoire et Sources des Mondes Antiques – HiSoMA (ENS de Lyon).
Scientific Committee:
C. Balandier, E. Papuci-Władyka, E. Raptou, M. Seifert, J. Bodzek, Ł. Miszk, M. Kajzer, U. Wicenciak-Núñez, P. Lech, A. Brzozowska-Jawornicka, A. Kubicka-Sowińska, W. Ostrowski
Honorary Scientific Committee:
D. Michaelides, A. Obłuski, G. Georgiou, V. Chankowski, J. Młynarczyk, H. Meyza, M. Rekowska
Organising Committee:
E. Papuci-Władyka, C. Balandier, S. Raptou, Ł. Miszk, M. Kajzer, U. Wicenciak- Núñez, P. Lech, A. Brzozowska-Jawornicka, A. Kubicka-Sowińska, W. Ostrowski, K. Niziołek, M. Michalik
The event is funded by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Poland for the task: “Internationalization of the results of research conducted by archaeological research centers of the University of Warsaw” as well as by the Faculty of History of the Jagiellonian University Initiative of Excellence.