Aphrodite, the Goddess of Love and Beauty

Aphrodite's name is derived from the word 'aphros'. Mythology states that Aphrodite is born after sea foam gathers around the mutilated genitals of Uranus. Uranus is castrated by his son Cronos and his genitals are thrown in the sea. When Aphrodite is born, she is escorted ashore on a large shell by the soft breezes of the Zephyrs and the sea nymphs dress her with flowers and gold. Aphrodite is also known as the Lady of Cythera (Cytherea) and the Lady of Cyprus (Cypris) after both islands claimed to be the place of her birth. Generally it is believed that Aphrodite was born near Paphos, on the island of Cyprus.

To this day, Petra tou Romiou (or Aphrodite's Rock) in Paphos is believed to be the birthplace of Aphrodite and is a popular tourist location. Legend states that anyone who swims around Aphrodite's Rock will be blessed with eternal beauty.

After her birth, Aphrodite is believed to have gone to rest further inland in small Paphian village of Kouklia. This site was turned into Aphrodite's main place of worship in the ancient world. In the Sanctuary of Aphrodite the goddess of desire had been worshipped as early as the Iron Age under the names of Astarte and Ishtar. Unfortunately, today this temple lies in ruins after it was destroyed by the Romans.

According to Greek Mythology, after the goddess Aphrodite is born, she attends a congregation of all the great gods on Mount Olympus. The reaction of the other gods as soon as Aphrodite arrives was one of awe and admiration. They fall in love with her beauty and they desire to have her as their wife. However, Aphrodite decides that she is too beautiful and refuses all the gods. Zeus fears that jealousy will break the peace among the gods so he punishes her by marrying her off to the ugly god Hephaestus.

Aphrodite cheats several times on her husband and most notoriously with Ares, the god of war. She was also in love with Adonis, the god of beauty and desire. Aphrodite also loved a mortal man named Anchises and from this relationship she bore a son named Aeneas. She helped Anchises and Aeneas to flee from Troy to Italy and was therefore considered the foremother of the Romans.

Various myths surround the goddess Aphrodite. She plays a central role in the story of Adonis, to whom she is not only a lover but also a surrogate mother. Kinyras, the King of Cyprus, has a beautiful daughter named Myrrha. Myrrha's mother claims that her daughter was more beautiful than the goddess. Aphrodite is humiliated and angered by this statement so she punishes Myrrha with an endless lust for her own father. Kinyras is disgusted by Myrrha's lust for him so Myrrha tricks him into sleeping with her by disguising herself as a prostitute. Myrrha becomes pregnant and Kinyras discovers her deception. Kinyras becomes so enraged by Myrrha's trickery, that he chases her out of the house with a knife. As Myrrha flees from her father's angry pursuit, she prays to the gods for mercy. Her prayers are answered and the gods turn her into a Myrrh tree so that her father cannot kill her. Kinyras commits suicide in an attempt to restore his family's name. Eventually, Myrrha gives birth to a son whom she names Adonis. Aphrodite happens to be in the vicinity and sees the baby boy. She takes pity on him so she places him in a box and takes him to Hades and Persephone to care for him. Adonis grows up to become a very handsome young man.

Aphrodite returns to take Adonis back but Persephone wants Adonis to stay with her in the Underworld. Aphrodite and Persephone start quarrelling about Adonis and Zeus intervenes and arrives at a compromise so that they can both spend time with him. Adonis is a passionate hunter and Aphrodite also takes up the sport to be next to Adonis. Whilst on a hunting trip, Adonis is attacked by a giant wild boar which is believed to be the god Ares in disguise. Ares is one of Aphrodite's jealous lovers. The wild boar kills Adonis and Aphrodite rushes to his side to mourn him. In Adonis' memory, Aphrodite makes anemones grow wherever his blood was spilt. After his death, Adonis joins Persephone again in the Underworld. Persephone is delighted about the reunion however Aphrodite again goes to the Underworld to take Adonis with her. Zeus intervenes again and orders Adonis to spend half the year with Aphrodite and the other half with Persephone.

Throughout the centuries, Aphrodite remains the goddess of the Cypriots and one can find throughout the island evidence of places traditionally associated with the worshipping of this goddess. Her image can be seen on everything related to Cyprus - stamps, postcards, old coins and even the passport!