Villa of Theseus at Nea Paphos (Cyprus). Fourth–Early Fifth Century Numismatic Evidence for Architectural Transformations and Seismic Events

Abstract

This paper presents coins unearthed in three separate places at the Villa of Theseus at Nea Paphos (Cyprus). With just a few exceptions they date to the fourth–early fifth centuries AD. Even though only some specimens are precisely identifiable, they deserve presentation since they may suggest termini post quem for the reconstructions and enlargement of the Villa of Theseus. At the same time, the numismatic evidence helps to support the hypothesis that more than one earthquake occurred in the late Roman period at Nea Paphos and caused the destruction of its residences in the whole or in part of the area.

Keywords

• late Roman Cyprus
• Nea Paphos
• Villa of Theseus
• North-western House
• coins
• earthquakes