Ancient CyprusAncient Cyprus

Antiquities official · Excavator · Scholar · Cataloguer

Demetrios Michaelides

fl. 1978–2019 · Cyprus

Archaeological Officer for Paphos from 1982 to 1992, he directed the excavation of the House of Heracles and House of Orpheus at Nea Paphos, then taught archaeology at the University of Cyprus.

Biography

Demetrios Michaelides directed the Department of Antiquities excavations at the Kato Paphos house where the Orpheus mosaic came to light in 1984 and 1985. He was Archaeological Officer for the Paphos District from 1982 to 199211.

He studied in London, taking a BA at the Courtauld Institute in 1969 and an MA at the Institute of Archaeology in 1971; his PhD followed there in 1981. He lectured part-time at Perugia in 1975-77, was Assistant Director of the British School at Rome in 1978, and returned there as Cultural Adviser and Assistant Librarian in 1981-8211.

The House of Heracles and Orpheus

Michaelides ran a short campaign from 27 September to 15 October 1982 at Maloutena in Kato Paphos, west of the House of Theseus, where a mosaic had been found earlier. The building was called the House of Heracles after the hero shown in the floor1. Maier and Karageorghis say the excavation began in 1982 after a preliminary investigation by Kyriakos Nicolaou9, and Symons dates Nicolaou's discovery of the house to 19786.

Campaigns followed every year to 19872,3,4,5. By 1984 about 466 square metres had been exposed, with painted wall plaster. The house proved to be Hellenistic in origin and was abandoned about the middle of the 2nd century AD, probably after earthquake damage6. The Orpheus mosaic was found in 1984-85, and the house took the name House of Orpheus8. Papuci-Wladyka's history of research on Nea Paphos calls Michaelides its discoverer13. He wrote "A new Orpheus mosaic in Cyprus" (1986)15.

The mosaic stayed where it lay. In 1988-89 the Getty Conservation Institute ran a project to conserve it in situ. In August 1988 Paolo Mora and other conservators inspected the floor and planned the lifting with Michaelides, who supervised the trench along the west side of the mosaic and gave archaeological guidance10. The project's report, edited by N. P. Stanley Price, credits him with securing the Department's full collaboration10.

Defences, tombs and rescue work

The Hellenistic defences of Nea Paphos near the Northwest Gate were excavated in the same years: rock-cut walls up to 7.15 m, a ditch, a ramp and two towers, with work reported from 1984 through 19863,4,6.

Symons credits him with directing much of the rescue work in Kato Paphos, and lists Roman tombs in 1981, tombs at Glyky Nero, the Paphos Beach Hotel and Hassandijk in 1983, and a burial that contained surgical instruments6. He published the surgeon's tomb as "A Roman Surgeon's Tomb from Nea Paphos" in the Department's report for 198414. In 1986 he led the excavation of 121 tombs, 5 pits and a well in the district; two archaic tombs, from Mesoyi and Kissonerga, went to the Paphos Museum (MP 2883 and MP 2880)4. In 1987 he excavated two sites behind the Customs House, where public conveniences were to be built5. In June 1988 he excavated a small Middle Cypriot chamber tomb found during building work at Mesoyi, with two adult burials and five vessels7.

Books and the University

His Cypriot Mosaics appeared in 1987 from the Department of Antiquities, with a second edition in 1992. With Wiktor Andrzej Daszewski he wrote the Guide to the Paphos Mosaics and Mosaic Floors in Cyprus (1988)10,11. He contributed chapter I of Vassos Karageorghis's Tombs at Palaepaphos (1990)11.

In 1992 he left the Department of Antiquities for the University of Cyprus11. A 2006 issue of CAARI News describes him as Professor of Archaeology and Director of the Archaeological Research Unit there12.

Life and work

  1. 1981–1987
    Directed Department of Antiquities rescue excavations in Kato Paphos and Paphos district ahead of tourist building (Roman tombs, the surgeon's tomb near the Paphos Beach Hotel found 1983; in 1986, 121 tombs, 5 pits and a well in the district, including archaic tombs at Mesoyi and Kissonerga; in 1987 two sites for public conveniences behind the Customs House).

    PaphosSymons 1986-1987Karageorghis 1987Karageorghis 1988

  2. September–October 1982
    For the Department of Antiquities directed a short campaign (27 Sept-15 Oct) at Kato Paphos at the spot of an earlier mosaic find west of the 'House of Theseus', at Maloutena; the building was named the House of Heracles after the hero shown in the mosaic. Maier and Karageorghis say the excavation began in 1982 after a preliminary investigation by K. Nicolaou, and AR says Nicolaou found the house in 1978.

    Nea PaphosKarageorghis 1983Maier & Karageorghis 1984Symons 1986-1987

  3. 1982–1986
    Led clearing of the Hellenistic defences of Nea Paphos near the Northwest Gate (rock-cut walls up to 7.15 m, ditch, ramp, two towers), continuing through 1986.

    Nea PaphosSymons 1986-1987Karageorghis 1985Karageorghis 1987

  4. 1983–1987
    Directed the second to sixth campaigns at the House of Heracles/Orpheus (third campaign 1984: area cleared to about 466 sq m, painted wall plaster); the Orpheus mosaic was found in 1984-85. By the 1980s reports the site changes name to House of Orpheus. Results: Hellenistic origin, abandoned about the mid-2nd c. AD, probably after earthquake damage.

    Nea PaphosKarageorghis 1984Karageorghis 1985Karageorghis 1987Karageorghis 1988Symons 1986-1987Hermary 1986

  5. 1987–1988
    Published Cypriot Mosaics (Picture Book 7, 1987; 2nd ed. 1992) and, with W. A. Daszewski, the Guide to the Paphos Mosaics and Mosaic Floors in Cyprus (both 1988).

    NicosiaMichaelides et al.Price 1991

  6. June 1988
    Excavated a small Middle Cypriot chamber tomb found in building work at Mesoyi (two adult burials, five vessels, a spindle-whorl or bead).

    MesoyiSteel 1997-1998

  7. 1988–1989
    Archaeological guide and site officer for the Getty Conservation Institute mosaic conservation project on the Orpheus mosaic: in August 1988 he and Paolo Mora planned the lifting; he supervised the trench along the west side of the mosaic; GCI credits him with ensuring the Department's full collaboration.

    Nea PaphosPrice 1991

  8. 1992
    Left the Department of Antiquities for the University of Cyprus.

    NicosiaMichaelides et al.

In the field

28 records

Where they worked in the field

  • Ground above 200, 500, 1,000 m

Sites

  1. 1Nea Paphos
  2. 2Palaepaphos (Kouklia)
Modern coastline (OpenStreetMap) and relief (Copernicus DEM). Tap or hover a site for what the sources record there.

dans le bassin portuaire, dans la zone aujourd'hui comblée à l'est du port actuel

1980–1981

eastern necropolis of Nea Paphos

1980

  • Excavated · 1980Demetrios Michaelides conducted salvage excavations in the eastern necropolis of Nea Paphos.

    Lawall & Lund 2013, p. 102

Nea Paphos

1982

  • Excavated · 1982D. Michaelides undertook the systematic excavation of the House of Orpheus.

    Daszewski & Michaelides 1988, p. 46

  • Directed excavations · 1982D. Michaelides directed the systematic excavation of the House of Orpheus, which began in 1982.

    Ioannides 1992, p. 323

  • Excavated withD. Michaelides and S. Demesticha undertook a rescue excavation at Nea Paphos.

    Excavated with Stella DemestichaTwo ceramic kilns and associated remainsKeane 2024, p. 169

  • ExcavatedD. Michaelides uncovered a large mosaic panel depicting Orpheus playing the lyre surrounded by animals.

    un grand panneau représentant Orphée jouant de la lyre entouré d'animauxCassimatis 1985, p. 71

  • ExcavatedDimitris Michaflidis excavated a mosaic of Orpheus among the animals at Nea-Paphos.

    Hermary 1986, p. 31

  • ExcavatedDemetrios Michaelides excavated a Hadra hydria cremation during explorations of the Nea Paphos necropolis.

    Michaelides et al. 2009, p. 237

Palaepaphos (Kouklia)

1982–1985

fortifications de Nea Paphos

1986

  • Directed excavations · 1986D. Michaelides directed the Service des Antiquités' excavation in the fortifications sector at Nea Paphos.

    Karageorghis 1987, p. 689

Kato Paphos et district de Paphos

1987

près du Yialias

2000

ruines de l'église de l'Archange Michel

2000

  • Excavated · 2000D. Michaelides opened a sounding at the ruins of the church of the Archangel Michael and reached medieval levels.

    niveaux médiévaux du XIVe s.Lécuyer 2004, p. 15

Geroskipou-Agioi Pente

2003–2006

‘Ayioi Pente’ of Yeroskipou

Agioi Pente, Yeroskipou

  • ExcavatedMichaelides lifted the mosaic and investigated the tomb beneath it.

    Tomb beneath the southern mosaicStewart et al. 2014, p. 8

district de Paphos

  • Directed excavationsD. Michaelides directed the Service des Antiquités' excavation of 121 tombs, five pits, and a well in the Paphos district.

    121 tombes, cinq fosses et un puitsKarageorghis 1987, p. 725

Kato Paphos

Mazotos

  • Connected withStella Démesticha and D. Michaelides co-directed the archaeological investigation of the site.

    Connected with Stella DemestichaArchaeological investigation of the Mazotos shipwreck siteDemesticha 2009, p. 387

outskirts of Late Antique Paphos

  • ExcavatedDemetrios Michaelides excavated an amphora kiln on the outskirts of Late Antique Paphos.

    Late Roman 1 and Late Roman 13 amphora kilnMichaelides et al. 2012, p. 135

Potamia-Agios Sozoménos

Yeroskipou

  • ExcavatedMichaelides and his team excavated and studied the remains at Agioi Pente.

    Early Christian remains at Agioi PenteStewart et al. 2014, p. 2

Connections

31 people
Stella DemestichaVassos KarageorghisVassiliki KassianidouN. P. Stanley PriceGiorgos PapantoniouJ. Nicolas ColdstreamWiktor Andrzej DaszewskiMaria Dikomitou-EliadouJolanta MłynarczykLoria MarkidesMaria G. ParaniAnne-Marie Guimier-SorbetsFosterIlona Julia JesnickK. KanadaM. DomuradOlivier MassonKyriakos NicolaouPaolo MoraClaire BalandierAnthi KaldeliNolwenn LécuyerGilles GrivaudJan KosinkaGiorgio CapriottiLorenza D'AlessandroNeville AgnewDimitrios ChrysopoulosEduardo PortaPamela ArmstrongNeoptolemos DemetriouDemetrios Michaelides
FieldworkScholarshipColleagues

Fieldwork & employment

Scholarship

Show 1 more

Colleagues & contacts

Show 6 more

Recording and study

18 records
Published3

  • 1984Demetrios Michaelides published a report on medical instruments found in a rock-cut chamber tomb at Nea Paphos.

    medical instrumentation found in a rock-cut chamber tomb at Nea PaphosMichaelides 2014, p. 130

  • D. Michaelides published a discussion of the terracotta from the House of Orpheus.

    No. PHH 54House of Orpheus, Nea PaphosIoannides 1992, p. 323

  • Demetrios MICHAELIDES published a paper on the boat-shaped lamp from Paphos.

    No. PHH 380Nea PaphosMichaelidès 2009, p. 197

Studied4

  • Michaelides studied the bronze mirror from a tomb at Nea Paphos.

    A bronze mirrorNo. P.M. 2536/88Bolger & Serwint 2002, p. 351

  • Demetrios Michaelides studied surgical instruments found in a family tomb at Paphos.

    Surgical instruments from a Roman surgeon’s tombMichaelides 2014

  • Demetrios Michaelidès examined the iconography of Aphrodite and Eros figurines from the House of Orpheus.

    figurines of Aphrodite and Eros from the House of OrpheusNea PaphosMichaelidès 2015, p. 330

  • Demetrios Michaelides studied the monumental tombs of Cyprus and Rhodes.

    Nea Paphos, the city of Rhodes, and LindosMichaelides 2016, p. 305

Held a post1

  • Demetrios Michaelidès was Principal Researcher for the project on the House of Orpheus terracotta figurines.

    terracotta figurines from the House of OrpheusNea PaphosMichaelidès 2015, p. 330

Employed by3
Directed2
Acquired1

  • 1988Demetrios Michaelides collected tesserae samples from the Basilica of Chrysopolitissa in June 1988.

    Doehne 1991, p. 57

Found1

  • Michaelides recovered mosaics overlying tombs at the basilica of Ayioi Pente in Yeroskipou.

    Ayioi Pente, YeroskipouGordon & Caraher 2016

Other work3

  • 1988Demetrios Michaelides collected tesserae samples from the Basilica of Chrysopolitissa.

    Basilica of Chrysopolitissa, Lower PaphosPrice 1991, p. 57

  • 2004Demetrios Michaelides visited the tomb with his co-author in the summer of 2004.

    tomb at Spelios tou Tsali near PhlamoudiSpelios tou Tsali near PhlamoudiGuimier-Sorbets & Michaelides 2009, p. 220

  • Demetrios Michaelides was directing the investigation of an early Christian religious/funerary complex at Yeroskipou.

    Kakoulli et al. 2010, p. 102

Objects

  • Orpheus mosaic, House of Orpheus (excavated 1984)

    From Nea Paphos, House of Orpheus1984Price 1991

  • Archaic tomb at Mesoyi (Paphos Museum 2883) and Kissonerga (MP 2880)

    From Mesoyi; KissonergaPaphos District Museum MP 2883; MP 28801986Karageorghis 1987

Discussed in documents

Also named in

On Ancient Cyprus

3 pages

Sources

  1. 1.V. Karageorghis (1983). “Chronique des fouilles et découvertes archéologiques à Chypre en 1982”. Bulletin de correspondance hellénique 107.
  2. 2.V. Karageorghis (1984). “Chronique des fouilles et découvertes archéologiques à Chypre en 1983”. Bulletin de correspondance hellénique 108.
  3. 3.V. Karageorghis (1985). “Chronique des fouilles et découvertes archéologiques à Chypre en 1984”. Bulletin de correspondance hellénique 109.
  4. 4.V. Karageorghis (1987). “Chronique des fouilles et découvertes archéologiques à Chypre en 1986”. Bulletin de correspondance hellénique 111.
  5. 5.V. Karageorghis (1988). “Chronique des fouilles et découvertes archéologiques à Chypre en 1987”. Bulletin de correspondance hellénique 112.
  6. 6.D. J. Symons (1986-1987). “Archaeology in Cyprus, 1981-85”. Archaeological Reports 33, 62-77.
  7. 7.Louise Steel (1997-1998). “Archaeology in Cyprus 1987-1997”. Archaeological Reports 44, 137-149.
  8. 8.Antoine Hermary (1986). “Chronique d'archéologie chypriote (1984-1985)”. Cahiers du Centre d'Études Chypriotes 5.
  9. 9.F. G. Maier, V. Karageorghis (1984). Paphos: History and Archaeology. 383 pp.. Nicosia, A. G. Leventis Foundation.
  10. 10.Nicholas Stanley Price (ed.) (1991). The Conservation of the Orpheus Mosaic at Paphos, Cyprus. Getty Conservation Institute.
  11. 11.Michaelides, Papantoniou and Dikomitou-Eliadou (eds).
  12. 12.CAARI (2006). CAARI News No. 32, Summer 2006.
  13. 13.E. Papuci-Władyka (ed.) (2020). Interdisciplinary Research of the Jagiellonian University in Nea Paphos UNESCO World Heritage Site (2011-2015): First Results.
  14. 14.D. Michaelides (1984). “A Roman Surgeon's Tomb from Nea Paphos, Part 1”. Report of the Department of Antiquities of Cyprus, 315-332.
  15. 15.D. Michaelides (1986). “A new Orpheus mosaic in Cyprus”. Cyprus between the Orient and the Occident: Acts of the International Archaeological Symposium, Nicosia 1985, 473-489. Nicosia, Department of Antiquities.
  16. 16.D. Michaelides (1987). Cypriot Mosaics. Nicosia, Department of Antiquities.
  17. 17.W. A. Daszewski, D. Michaelides (1988). Guide to the Paphos Mosaics. Nicosia, Bank of Cyprus Cultural Foundation with the Department of Antiquities.
  18. 18.D. Michaelides (1990). “The Tombs, their Excavation and Architecture (Chapter I)”. Tombs at Palaepaphos: 1. Teratsoudhia, 2. Eliomylia. Nicosia.
  19. 19.V. Karageorghis (ed.), D. Michaelides (ed.) (1995). Cyprus and the Sea. Proceedings of the International Symposium, Nicosia 25-26 September 1993. Nicosia, University of Cyprus and Cyprus Ports Authority.
  20. 20.D. Michaelides (1997). “Nicolaou, Kyriakos”. The Oxford Encyclopedia of Archaeology in the Near East 4, 138-139. New York, Oxford University Press.
  21. 21.D. Michaelides (ed.) (2013). Epigraphy, Numismatics, Prosopography and History of Ancient Cyprus. Papers in honour of Ino Nicolaou. Uppsala, Åströms förlag.
  22. 22.Wikidata. Dēmētrios Michaēlidēs. Online
  23. 23.Claire Balandier (2017). “Un autre dispositif portuaire à Paphos ?”. Cahiers du Centre d'Études Chypriotes.
  24. 24.O. Masson (1997). “À propos des inscriptions syllabiques de Dhrymou (Paphos) et du site antique correspondant”. Cahiers du Centre d'Études Chypriotes 27. Online
  25. 25.Ioanna Kakoulli, Christian Fischer, Demetrios Michaelides (2010). “Painted Rock-Cut Tombs in Cyprus from the Hellenistic and Roman Periods to Byzantium: Material Properties, Degradation Processes and Sustainable Preservation Strategies”. 96-102.
  26. 26.Véronique François (2013). “Vaisselle de terre et pouvoirs politiques à Chypre aux époques comnène, franque et vénitienne”. Cahiers du Centre d'Études Chypriotes 43, 423-. Online
  27. 27.Pavlos Flourentzos (2010). Annual Report of the Department of Antiquities for the year 2008. Nicosia, Printing Office of the Republic of Cyprus.
  28. 28.Department of Antiquities, Cyprus (2010). Annual Report of the Department of Antiquities for the year 2009. Nicosia, Department of Antiquities.
  29. 29.Marietta Horster (ed.), Doria Nicolaou (ed.), Sabine Rogge (ed.) (2018). Church Building in Cyprus (Fourth to Seventh Centuries): A Mirror of Intercultural Contacts in the Eastern Mediterranean. Münster, Waxmann.
  30. 30.Vasiliki Kassianidou (ed.), Maria Dikomitou-Eliadou (ed.) (2014). The NARNIA Project: Integrating Approaches to Ancient Material Studies. Nicosia, University of Cyprus.
  31. 31.Demetrios Michaelides (ed.), Philippe Pergola (ed.), Enrico Zanini (ed.) (2012). The Insular System of the Early Byzantine Mediterranean: Archaeology and History.
  32. 32. (1999). “Informations”. Cahiers du Centre d'Études Chypriotes 29. Centre d'Études Chypriotes.
  33. 33.S. Demesticha (2009). “Questions on trade: the case of the Mazotos shipwreck”. Cahiers du Centre d'Études Chypriotes 39, 387-402.
  34. 34.C. A. Stewart (ed.), T. W. Davis (ed.), A. Weyl Carr (ed.) (2014). Cyprus and the Balance of Empires: Art and Archaeology from Justinian I to the Coeur de Lion. CAARI / ASOR.
  35. 35.D. Hunt (ed.) (1990). Footprints in Cyprus: an illustrated history. London, Trigraph.
  36. 36.C. T. Keane (2024). More than a Church: Late Antique Ecclesiastical Complexes in Cyprus. Leiden, Brill.
  37. 37.M. L. Lawall (ed.), J. Lund (ed.) (2013). The Transport Amphorae and Trade of Cyprus. Aarhus, Aarhus University Press.
  38. 38.Demetrios Michaelides, Anne-Marie Guimier-Sorbets (2016). “Funerary architecture and other underground structures in Hellenistic Cyprus and Rhodes”. Cahiers du Centre d'Études Chypriotes 46, 305-322. Online
  39. 39.G. C. Ioannides (ed.) (1992). Αφιέρωμα στο Βάσο Καραγιώργη / Studies in Honour of Vassos Karageorghis. Nicosia, Society of Cypriot Studies.
  40. 40.Demetrios Michaelides (ed.) (2014). Medicine and Healing in the Ancient Mediterranean World. Oxford, Oxbow Books.
  41. 41.A.-M. Guimier-Sorbets, D. Michaelides (2009). “Alexandrian Influences on the Architecture and Decoration of the Hellenistic Tombs of Cyprus”. Egypt and Cyprus in Antiquity, 216-233. Oxford, Oxbow Books.
  42. 42.D. Michaelides (ed.), V. Kassianidou (ed.), R. S. Merrillees (ed.) (2009). Egypt and Cyprus in Antiquity: proceedings of the international conference, Nicosia, 3-6 April 2003. Oxford, Oxbow Books.
  43. 43.E. Doehne (1991). “Evaluation of Tesserae from the Paphos Mosaics”. The Conservation of the Orpheus Mosaic at Paphos, Cyprus, 46-57.
  44. 44.Nolwenn Lécuyer (2004). “Le territoire de Potamia aux époques médiévale et moderne : acquis récents”. Cahiers du Centre d'Études Chypriotes 34.
  45. 45.A. Nicolaïdès, C. Vanderheyde (2004). “La topographie cultuelle chrétienne de la région de Potamia-Agios Sozoménos”. Cahiers du Centre d'Études Chypriotes 34, 251-266. Online
  46. 46.C. Balandier, É. Morvillez (2009). “Nouvelles recherches archéologiques à Paphos. Premiers résultats de la mission française sur la colline de Fabrika (2008-2009)”. Cahiers du Centre d'Études Chypriotes 39, 425-447.
  47. 47.D. Bolger (ed.), N. Serwint (ed.) (2002). Engendering Aphrodite: Women and Society in Ancient Cyprus. Boston, American Schools of Oriental Research.
  48. 48.Hélène Cassimatis (1985). “Colloque archéologique international "Chypre entre l'Orient et l'Occident", Nicosie 8-14 septembre 1985”. Cahiers du Centre d'Études Chypriotes 4, 61-73.
  49. 49.J. M. Gordon, W. Caraher (2016). The holy island: An archaeology of early Christian Cyprus.
  50. 50.Christine Kondoleon (1995). Domestic and Divine: Roman Mosaics in the House of Dionysos. Ithaca and London, Cornell University Press.
  51. 51.Hartmut Matthäus (2010). “Spätbronzezeitliche und früheisenzeitliche Thymiateria in der Levante und auf der Insel Zypern – Formgeschichtliche Untersuchungen”. Cahiers du Centre d'Études Chypriotes 40.
  52. 52.Demetrios Michaelidès (2009). “A boat-shaped lamp from Nea Paphos and the divine protectors of navigation in Cyprus”. Cahiers du Centre d'Études Chypriotes 39, 197-226.
  53. 53.Demetrios Michaelidès (2015). “Aphrodite at the House of Orpheus in Nea Paphos”. Cahiers du Centre d'Études Chypriotes 45.
  54. 54.D. Soren (1985). “An Earthquake on Cyprus: New Discoveries from Kourion”. Archaeology 38, 52-59. Online