Archaeologists in Cyprus have unearthed a 1,500-year-old amulet in the ancient city of Nea Paphos in Cyprus, which contains a curious palindrome inscription—a text that reads the same both backwards and forwards—as well as several images believed to represent the Egyptian god Osiris, god of silence, Harpocrates, and a dog-headed mythical being.
Live Science reports that the discovery was made by archaeologists with the Paphos Agora Project, who have been excavating an ancient agora (gathering place) at Nea Paphos, the most famous and important place for worshiping Aphrodite in the ancient world.
UNESCO writes: “Paphos, which has been inhabited since the Neolithic period, was a center of the cult of Aphrodite and of pre-Hellenic fertility deities. Aphrodite’s legendary birthplace was on the island of Cyprus, where her temple was erected by the Myceneans in the 12th century B.C. and continued to be used until the Roman period. The site is a vast archaeological area, with remains of villas, palaces, theaters, fortresses, and tombs. These illustrate Paphos’ exceptional architectural and historic value and contribute extensively to our understanding of ancient architecture, ways of life, and thinking.”
