Maria Paphiti

---

Short Biography

Maria Paphiti is a Research Associate at The Digital Heritage Research Laboratory (DHRLab) at the Cyprus University of Technology, currently working on the EU funded Digital Europe EUreka3D-XR project.

Maria is a distinguished art historian and consultant specialising in Byzantine art, Russian icons, and the early works of El Greco. An alumna of the Courtauld Institute of Art, she formerly led the international Icons department at Christie’s. Her professional highlights include discovering a 15th-century masterpiece by Angelos Akotantos—the most expensive icon ever sold—now held by the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Beyond this, Maria is a prominent advocate for cultural heritage, instrumental in repatriating numerous looted artifacts to Cyprus. Most notably, she located a 6th-century mosaic of Apostle Andrew, an effort for which she received the gold medal of the Order of St. Paul. A prolific author and award-winning cultural leader, she serves as a member of the Committee for Cultural Heritage of the parallel Parliament and is a Goodwill Ambassador for the UK-Cyprus Enterprise Council.

DHRLab Projects

• Digital Europe EUreka3D-XR [2025-Present]

DHRLab Publication Record

Published in 2026