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Viewing The Spirit of the Greek Goddess of Love Lives on in CyprusThe Spirit of the Greek Goddess of Love Lives on in Cyprus
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If you know a little about Cyprus or Greek mythology, chances are you will have heard of the Goddess of love, beauty, and sexual rapture. When you visit Cyprus, be sure to take a trip to her alleged birthplace, a few kilometers outside of Paphos. By Kevin Moore If you know a little about Cyprus or Greek mythology, chances are you will have heard of the Goddess of love, beauty, and sexual rapture - Aphrodite. Legend says that she was the result of the castration of the God Uranus, which was carried out by his son Cronus with a sickle (perhaps it was the way those Gods raised their kids). Ouch! Cronus threw the severed genitals into the sea, where they foamed up. This in turn gave birth to Aphrodite. The word 'aphros' or 'sea foam' gives rise to the translation 'Aphrodite' or 'deity of foam'. The sea carried Aphrodite and washed her ashore on the Island of Cyprus. Some legends claim she rode on a giant clamshell. In fact, some Greek mythology refers to her as 'Cytherea' or 'Kypros' for this very reason. Zeus (the top God) was worried that the other Gods would fight over Aphrodite's hand in marriage, so he married her off to Hephaestus, the smith God. Hm. Scruffy old black smith weds Goddess of love, beauty and sexual rapture! Had his boat come in or what? Hephaestus was ecstatic, and as a sign of his love for Aphrodite, he used all his skills as a smith to fashion her a beautiful bejeweled girdle with fine gold filigree. He even wove magic into the gold filigree, which was a big mistake on his part. The problem was that whenever Aphrodite wore the girdle, she would become sexually irresistible (bearing in mind that she was already the ultimate embodiment of female beauty anyway). Gods were amongst her many lovers, but she also took mortal lovers, too, the most famous being Adonis. Some of her Sons are Eros, Anteros, Hymenaios, and Aeneas through her union with her Trojan lover Anchisess. It is a typical story of a beautiful woman wreaking havoc amongst the male population, causing wars, and several spoiled dinners to boot. Her festival was 'Aphrodisiac' (now you know where that term comes from), which was celebrated in several places in Greece - including Athens and Corinth. Her priestesses where not prostitutes, but sexual intercourse with them was considered a form of worship to the Goddess herself. Now you can impress all your friends or fellow tourists with your factual knowledge of Aphrodite. When you visit Cyprus, be sure to take a trip out to her alleged birthplace a few kilometers outside of Paphos. The view from the cliffs is indeed spectacular and there is a restaurant bar with a great viewpoint where you can relax with a cool drink. You will see the 'Rock of Aphrodite' itself just off the coast. The local legend states that if you swim around the rock at midnight during the full moon, Aphrodite will make you ten years younger (if the exercise doesn't kill you off first, that is). Enjoy Cyprus and do not forget to visit the Rock of Aphrodite! About the Author: Kevin Moore owns several Cyprus websites, and writes regular articles about Cyprus holidays and Cyprus property, so take a look for yourself here: Cyprus Agia Napa. Article Source: Adult Escapes - http://www.AdultEscapes.com More free articles: 1st Rate Articles - 1stRateArticles.com |
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