Siglos

Paphos was one of the most politically active of the Cypriot city-kingdoms during the Persian period, and sigloi from this mint date to a era when Cyprus sat uncomfortably between Achaemenid overlordship and persistent Greek cultural pull. The island formally submitted to Cambyses II around 525 BC — which gives this issue its opening date — but individual dynasts retained enough autonomy to strike their own coinage throughout.

The Ionian Revolt of 499–494 BC briefly drew several Cypriot kingdoms into open rebellion against Persia. Paphos joined. The revolt collapsed, and with it any pretense of political independence for a generation.