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| Cypriot pound |
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| Central Bank of Cyprus - Cypriot pound Lira banknote |
Cypriot banknotes, Cypriot paper money, Cypriot bank notes, Cyprus banknotes, Cyprus paper money, Cyprus bank notes.
Reverse: Bellapais Abbey, an early XIIIth century ruined monastery near Kyrenia in Northern Cyprus. Watermark: Mouflon's head.
Printer: Thomas De La Rue & Company Limited, London England.
Near the Paphos harbor are the excellently preserved mosaic pavements of the Villa of Dionysos, among the finest in the Mediterranean area.
The mosaics, which mainly depict scenes from Greek mythology, were accidentally discovered by a farmer plowing his field.
The House of Dionysus, was a private house, probably belonging to a very wealthy citizen. It was given the name because of the frequent appearance of the god on the mosaic floors and dates to the latter half of the second century.
Turning clockwise along the outer platforms are mosaics showing the figure of a man, various patterns of shapes and a depiction of a peacock. At the back of the house is one of the best-known mosaics, depicting a Ganymede being taken back to Olympus by an eagle. They are very well preserved, especially the natural colors of the limestone. In the inner series, in the Atrium, there are four panels, mainly depicting hunting scenes.
In the first is a picture of Pyramus and Thisbe, the second Dionysos and Ikarios, the third Poseidon and Amymone and in the fourth Apollo and Daphne.
The most famous mosaic is that of the triumph of Dionysos with the God in a chariot drawn by leopards. Behind him are a gathering of followers engaged in various revelries.
The remaining mosaics show numerous hunting scenes depicting a wide range of animals, including tigers.
Bellapais Abbey, or "The Abbey of Peace" (from French: Abbaye de la Belle Paix), is the ruin of a monastery built by Canons Regular in the 13th century on the northern side of the small village of Bellapais, now in Turkish-controlled Northern Cyprus, about five kilometers from the town of Kyrenia. The ruin is at an altitude of 220m above sea level, and commands a long view down to Kyrenia and the Mediterranean sea. The site is also a museum, which hosts a restaurant and a cafe.
Opening hours in the summer are 9am to 7pm; the winter hours are 9am to 1 pm and 2pm to 4:45pm. There is a small admission charge. The Abbey's refectory now serves as a venue for concerts and lectures. In early summer it is also a venue for a local music festival.