Cyprus, Aphrodite’s Island of Love
by Eleanor S. Morris

The beautiful island of Cyprus, floating on the eastern Mediterranean, claims to be the birthplace of the goddess Aphrodite, the goddess of love in Greek mythology. She is said to have emerged from the waves at Petra tou Romiou, a picturesque rock off one of the island's most beautiful stretches of coastline. The name means "The Rock of the Greek," and a frontier guard of Byzantine times supposedly heaved the rock into the sea to keep marauding Saracens at bay.

In the Iliad, Aphrodite is the daughter of the great god Zeus and a Titan goddess, Dione. All the gods wanted this beautiful golden goddess but Zeus gave her to Hephaestus (Vulcan in Roman mythology), a lame and ugly god. She soon left him for Ares, the handsome god of war. Eros, the winged god of love, was their child.

Aphrodite was worshipped as the goddess of human love, and the poets of Greece and Rome sang her praises endlessly. But she was also venerated as a nature goddess, and because she came from the sea, sailors prayed to her to calm the wind and the waves.

Cyprus’ Long History

The island of Cyprus is divided into thirds, with two thirds being an independent Greek nation and one third, the northern border, being occupied by Turkey. The United Nations maintains a green line separating the two zones, and it's the lower Greek two thirds that's accessible and of interest to tourists, historians, archaeologists and the like.

With such a long history, dating from 8200 BC, the island has had lots of "occupations." After the Neolithic and Bronze ages, came the Hellenistic (with infighting between Alexander the Great and the Ptolemys of Egypt), Roman, Byzantium, the Knights Templar Crusaders, the Franks, the Venetians, the Ottomans, and the British, until the Republic of Cyprus finally came into its own in 1960.

Petra Tou Romiou

Petra tou Romiou, is located along the coastal road toward the western port of Paphos. Further on along the way, you can visit the Sanctuary of Aphrodite, which dates back to the 12th century BC. The Lusignan Manor contains many of the finds from the ruins, and excavations continue on the site.

Paphos

The city of Paphos, named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, is called "Playground of the Gods. Here you can become totally immersed in Greek mythology. At the city's Archaeological Park in the Houses of Dioysos, Aeon and Achilles, you'll find ancient and spectacular floor murals depicting scenes from Greek mythology, such as the one showing Hyppolitye heartlessly rejecting a love letter from Phaedre. Love had its ups and downs even way back then!

Also nearby are the ruins of the Tombs of the Kings, built between the 3rd century BC and 300 AD. Spread over a large area, these underground tombs date back to the 4th century BC. Carved out of solid rock, the tombs are decorated with Doric pillars. Although it turns out that there are no kings buried here, only high officials, the magnificence of the tombs gave the site its name.

Paphos, being a port, has a medieval fort guarding the port. Built in the 13th century AD, it was dismantled by the Venetians in 1570 and rebuilt by the Ottomans when they captured the island in the 16th century. Today the fishing harbor by the fort is lined with with open-air cafes and tavernas serving tempting menus of the day's catch.

Historic Monasteries

North of Paphos, two monasteries are worth visiting. Agios Neofytos Monastery, was founded at the end of the 12th century by Nofytos, a Cypriot hermit. He actually carved it out of the mountainside, and it contains some fine Byzantine frescoes, as well as beautiful icons.

Chrysorrogiatissa Monastery, also founded in the 12th century, has a collection of important icons and treasures. The old winery of the monastery produces one of the best vintage wines of Cyprus.

Cyprus Wines

Cyprus is proud of its fine wines; you'll see vineyards all over the island. So dedicated are the inhabitants that you might see even black-clad grandmothers out pruning the vines.

Visit the Cyprus Wine Museum at Erimi village near Limassol. The village is at the crossroads of the wine routes of Cyprus, close to the prehistoric settlement of Sotira, where the oldest remains of grape seeds have been found.

Nearby is Kolossi Castle, a medieval commanderie of the Hospitaller Knights, who gave the name to the island's Commanderia Wine, first produced by them. Enjoy the taste of this sweet red wine at the museum after taking the museum's "journey" through centuries of Cyprus wine history.

Paphos Amathus Beach Hotel

Stay at the luxurious Paphos Amathus Beach Hotel in Paphos, with 257 rooms beautifully furnished and appointed with a balcony or veranda, mini-bar, hairdryer, TV and small safe. Rooms have either inland or sea views, and 12 junior suites have small private pools.

Enjoy a cocktail in the Amphora Bar, dine in Amrosa or La Rotisserie or the informal Byzantium or La Terraza. The swimming pool is situated amid the green garden, and the island in the middle has a ridge, an eddy, and a children's section.

The hotel's health center offers a well-appointed gym, sauna, swimming pool, solarium and hydro-massage, table tennis, billiards, and fruit juices in the center's bar. There are three tennis courts, and a golf club, Tsada, is just 20 minutes away.

For More Information

Cyprus Tourism Organization: www.visitcyprus.org.cy
Cyprus Wine Museum: cypruswinemuseum@cytanet.com.cy
Paphos Amathus Beach Hotel: www.pamathus.com

Related pages:

• Honeymoons & Romantic Getaways in Cyprus