Old Town Cementography
You could be forgiven for not knowing anything about Cementography. It is a modern, Cypriot art form, that was celebrated in the dying days of Paphos 2017 by the placement of eight murals in and around Paphos Old Town. You may well have seen some of them on your travels, and some have featured in previous blogs. However, the murals actually depict different stages in a Cypriot fairy tale, so we thought it about time we presented the murals in order, with the accompanying story attached...
The Old Post Office
The journey begins by the Old Post Office. If you don't know where that is, then look on the map that goes with the blog. Marks and Spencers is just down the road from here, if that helps.
Now, for every mural, I will be showing a picture of the design and its surroundings, as well as a separate, close-up of the design.
Arodafnousa
The story begins:
There were three beautiful daughters, one was named Adoroun, the other Adorousa, but the most beautiful of the three was named Arodafnousa. The month when she was born, all the trees blossomed, and all the blossomed flowers were falling on her skin.
The Inscription
I have found numerous translations of the folk song, however, none match exactly the tale that unfolds here. The closest I got was a somewhat sanitised version I found in a school book.
Mural 2
To get to the second mural, you continue up the hill and take a right. Don't worry though, there is a map later.
The queen sends her slaves to fetch the girl: "Up and away Arofnousa, the queen wants you."
Arodafnousa then got dressed with pearls and golden fabrics and went to the queen's tower.