Cyprus has always been considered the birthplace of Aphrodite, the ancient Greek Goddess of Love and Beauty. In the 8th century B.C. (B.C.E.), Homer mentions Aphrodite as ‘Kypris’ and ‘Golden Aphrodite’ and there are many myths connecting her to the island, as well as archaeological sites dedicated to her.
Cyprus’s Aphrodite Cultural Route invites visitors to travel in the footsteps of the country’s patron goddess on a self-guided tour that features real sites intertwined with her mythology including:
-
Petra tou Romiou – Aphrodite’s mythical birthplace, this interesting geological formation of huge rocks is located on the southwest coast of the Pafos (Paphos) district. Legend has it that the ancient Goddess of Love and Beauty was born from the sea foam here. Popular myths claim that swimming around the rock three times will bring various blessings, including eternal youth and beauty, good luck, fertility and true love.
-
Baths of Aphrodite – The natural grotto of the Baths of Aphrodite, and its botanical garden, can be found towards the tip of the Akamas Peninsula. Shaded by an old fig tree, amidst lush greenery, legend tells that Aphrodite used to bathe in the waters. According to Greek mythology, she met her lover Adonis at this beautiful spot when he stopped for a drink whilst hunting, and fell in love with her the moment when he drank the water.
-
Palaipafos – This archeological site (‘old Pafos’ in Greek) is located in Kouklia Village and was one of the most important city-kingdoms of Cyprus as well as the first Cypriot site to be included in UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 1980. It was believed that Aphrodite was born from the sea, near the shores of Pafos, and the site remained a place where the goddess was worshipped as an aniconic symbol (a conical stone) until Roman times.
-
Amathous (near Limassol / Lemesos) – This is one of the significant ancient city-kingdoms of Cyprus and an important site of worship of the Goddess Aphrodite where remains of sanctuaries, temples and numerous female figures of the goddess can still be seen.
-
Kition (Larnaka / Larnaca) – Excavations here have brought to light the sacred quarter where the Great Goddess was worshipped in sanctuaries and later in temples associated with workshops for the melting of copper, a major source of wealth in Cyprus.
Each site along the Aphrodite Cultural Route is linked to other sites and museums, where artifacts related to the Goddess endure to this day. Along the way, visitors can learn all about her birth, mythology and character, as well as the rituals, plants and seashells affiliated with the worship of her.
To learn more about the Aphrodite Cultural Route, please visit: https://www.visitcyprus.com/discover-cyprus/culture/cultural-routes/aphrodite-cultural-route/
More information about travel to Cyprus can be found at: https://www.visitcyprus.com/
Please let me know if you have any questions, would like to learn more about Cyprus, or if you would be interested in a potential press opportunity for Fall 2025.