Welcome to Aphrodites Rock!
This place is one of the most popular tourist sites in Cyprus and one of the most mythical ones. Not only is the beach nice to hang out on, or the water crystal clear if you fancy a swim, or avoid it on days of rough waves, but it is also drenched in romantic history! The mere name Aphrodite is believed to be associated with the Greek word aphro, meaning sea foam, from which she was born, according to legend. This place is also called Petra tou Romiou in Greek, which means Rock of the Greek and refers to a different myth.
The Aphrodite myth though goes something like this: Gaia, the god of mother earth wanted to get even with Uranus, and sent their son Cronus to mutilate his own father. Cronus took a sword and sliced his testicles and lower part of his body off, they fell into the sea and made sea foam spring from where they landed. From the sea foam sprang the beautiful maiden of Aphrodite, the goddess of beauty, love and fertility. The fortunate winds brought her to the shores of this beautiful place. Check out the large rock and the small ones scattered around it! According to local myths the big rock is actually the lower part of Uranus body! The legend also has it any person swimming around the rock will be blessed with eternal beauty.
In ancient times an Aphrodite cult formed here in Paphos and stayed strong until the Romans crushed it. You can still find the remnants of a sanctuary devoted to Aphrodite in Kouklia not far from here. The cult of Aphrodite, or Venus, as the Romans called her, was strong in many other Mediterranean countries as well, but this is believed to be her birthplace.
Photo Aphrodites Rock by Paul167 is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.5
