For the history and archaeology of the city of Palaipaphos (Old Paphos) on Cyprus, seat of the kings of Paphos and famous for its large sanctuary of Aphrodite, the Persian siege ramp at the Northeast Gate on the Marcello plateau is of immense interest. Here, in a dominant position above the city, the monumental gate and a section of the defensive walls, with a tower and a dry ditch, form a key point in the ancient defences of the city. Fire debris, weapon finds and a mighty siege ramp bear witness to a war which took place shortly after 500 BC. In the heaped-up rubble of the ramp, fragments came to light of a sanctuary which had been deliberately destroyed to build the ramp and which must have stood outside the city. The original location and ground plan of the sanctuary can no longer be traced, but it has been possible to determine the nature of its architecture and some of the interior furnishings. This unusual assemblage, for which a terminus ante quem is provided by the siege, includes some of the finest Archaic sculptures found on Cyprus, along with votive stelai, small altars, blocks bearing inscriptions, stone implements, and architectural elements, including large palm capitals, moulded cornices and blind windows with balustrades. It is thought that the sanctuary was dedicated to a powerful tutelary god and to Aphrodite, goddess of Paphos. Its situation, close to the monumental Northeast Gate, its sculptural ornamentation, and the choice of pictorial motifs for the votive offerings not only indicate the high status of this cult site but show that it was closely connected with the king of Paphos and the city’s elite. Notable amongst the statuary are male figures wearing royal insignia and robes which were probably reserved for religious ceremonies. These include a particularly striking bearded head which is interpreted as a ceremonial portrait of one of the priest-kings of Paphos. His crown and hair style combine elements of Egyptian and Assyrian/Persian symbols of rulership. weiterlesen