All About Aphrodite Greek Goddess of Love.......
Many visitors to Cyprus are fascinated by the island's connection to Aphrodite Greek Goddess of love and beauty. Not only did the birth of Aphrodite take place off the Paphos coast, but it was here on the island where many famous Aphrodite myths took place.
The Birth of AphroditeCyprus is infamous for being the legendary birthplace of Aphrodite Greek Goddess of love (also known by her Roman name of Venus). Her story begins when the angry Kronos cut off the genitals of his father Uranus and cast them into the sea. This created a white foam from which appeared Aphrodite at the site of Petra Tou Romiou near Paphos. Her name comes from the word afros, which is Greek for foam. The artist Botticelli famously depicted her birth with a painting of Aphrodite emerging from the sea on a scalloped shell.About AphroditeThe goddess Aphrodite is rightly associated with passion, and unlike many of the other Greek goddesses such as Athena, Aphrodite was very promiscuous. This is why her name has given us the word ‘aphrodisiac’! Her beauty and charm was viewed a threat, so to stop any jealousy or unrest Zeus arranged for her to marry the ugliest God of all, Hephaestus. She was unhappy in her marriage, and started a love affair with Ares, the Greek god of war. Aphrodite was an animal lover and did not approve of ritual sacrifices, favouring gifts such as flowers, perfume and jewellery. Many women left gifts of jewellery at the Goddess’s temple in the hope that she would preserve their beauty from the effects of age and nurture their marital relationships. Gold jewellery was especially important to Aphrodite, as she enjoyed luxury. It’s a lesser known fact that Aphrodite is also the Greek goddess of flowers, and she is most commonly connected with roses. This may be why roses are given as a symbol of love and affection. It is also said that Aphrodite gave the rose its thorn, to remind us of the pain and suffering that we must endure with love. She is also credited with first planting pomegranates in Cyprus. The goddess was also mother to Cupid (also known as Eros). The relationship between Aphrodite and Cupid was tested by her interference in his love for Psyche but later returned to normal.
Aphrodite and AdonisAphrodite discovered Adonis as an orphaned baby and gave him to Persephone, Queen of the Ancient Greek underworld, to care for. When Adonis grows up, Aphrodite returns for him and is so struck by his beauty that she falls in love with him. Unfortunately, Persephone is also besotted with Adonis and refuses to give him up causing a furious argument between the two women. To regain peace, Zeus commanded Adonis to split the year into three parts; four months with Aphrodite, four months with Persephone and four months alone. Adonis lnstead spent most of his time with Aphrodite. Adonis was later killed by a boar, believed to be the jealous Ares in disguise, whilst hunting in the Akamas Peninsula in western Cyprus. Aphrodite grieves deeply and declares that everywhere his blood has spilt, anemones will grow. Sure enough, wild flowers appear all over the peninsula in springtime. Despite her hatred of animal sacrifices, pigs were slaughtered during ritual ceremonies to commemorate her lover Adonis and the way that he died from the boar attack.
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