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Detail

The Story of Aphrodite’s Rock
“I will sing of stately Aphrodite, gold-crowned and beautiful, whose dominion is the
walled cities of all sea-set Cyprus. There the moist breath of the western wind wafted her
over the waves of the loud-moaning sea in soft foam.” ~Homer
In ancient times, Cyprus was known as the birthplace of Aphrodite and the center
of her worship, though worship of Aphrodite was widely spread throughout the
Mediterranean region. Even today, Cyprus is called the island of Aphrodite, goddess of
love, beauty, and fertility. Legend associates the name “Aphrodite” with her birth of the
sea-foam as the Greek word (aphros) means “foam.” Hesiod’s description of Aphrodite’s
birth begins as follows: Aphrodite was born out of the sea foam when Uranus was cut by
a sickle and fell into the sea, attacked by his son Cronus. The water began bubbling and
foaming in the spot where Uranus had plunged into the sea. Suddenly, the most beautiful
maiden came up from the foam and appeared on the surface. At first the waves gently
carried her toward Cythera but Zephyrus, the western wind, ultimately guided the waves
to the shores of Paphos, Cyprus.
Story Location Clue: Local tradition claims that the birthplace of Aphrodite is an area
near Paphos called Petra tou Romiou, which is Greek for Rock of Romios (the Greek).
This area is one of the most beautiful landscapes in all of Cyprus. A large, imposing rock
accompanied by several smaller rocks, emerge from the Mediterranean Sea. It is located
west of St. Nicholas of the Cats on the other side of the bay area and southeast of Paphos
in the southern part of Cyprus. This location of unique beauty came to be designated as
the birthplace of Aphrodite.

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