Aphrodite’s Rock (Petra tou Romiou)

Aphrodite’s Rock is a popular tourist sea rock or kekur located in the picturesque bay of Petra-tou-Romiou, on the southeastern coast of Cyprus. According to legend, it was here that the beautiful goddess of love and beauty Aphrodite was born from the sea foam. Wedding and honeymoon organizers bring thousands of couples in love to the bay. It is believed that if the bride and groom bathe together near the rock of Aphrodite, they will never part and live a happy married life.

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Video: Aphrodite’s Rock

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Highlights

The name “Petra tou Romiu”, which the bay bears, means “rock of the Romei”. This name is as much steeped in legend as the myth of Aphrodite. Neighboring Petra tou Romiu, the sea kekur is called Saracen Rock. The protagonist of the Byzantine poem “Digenis Acritus” was born from the union of a Syrian emir who had converted to Christianity and the daughter of a Greek, a Romish stratigist. His name Digenis translates from Greek as “twice-born.” When Saracen pirates tried to invade Cyprus, Digenis threw a huge rock at them from the top of Troodos. It fell into the sea, where it lies to this day.

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The sea near Aphrodite’s Rock is usually choppy, so tourists are not recommended to swim far. Most vacationers are limited to swimming near the Greek stone, which protrudes from the sea in shallow water. It should be taken into account that the bottom of the bay is stony, so it is better to swim here in shoes. It is forbidden to climb on the kekur itself.

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You can visit the rock of Aphrodite at any time. The parking lot is located on the opposite side of the road from the sea. To tourists can safely reach the seashore, under the highway is made a passage. Near the parking lot there is a restaurant, showers and a souvenir store.

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The myth of Aphrodite’s birth

According to Greek mythology, the birth of the goddess Aphrodite was very unusual. Her mother, the earth goddess Gaia, unwilling to put up with the treachery of her husband Uranus, turned to her son Cronus for help. He scraped Uranus with a sickle and threw his genitals into the sea. The drops of blood that fell into the sea water formed snow-white foam, and from it the beautiful Aphrodite was born. The very name of the goddess comes from the Greek word “ἀφρός”, meaning foam.

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The goddess Aphrodite emerged from the sea naked, standing on a seashell. In ancient times, the shell symbolized the vulva. When the young goddess reached the coast and stepped onto the land, flowers began to appear in the place of her footsteps, grass grew, and the air was full of wonderful odors. Aphrodite was met on the shore by the goddesses of the seasons, the Ora, who were in charge of the order of nature. They dressed Aphrodite in gold embroidered clothes, and on her head laid a fragrant wreath.

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According to legend, the part of the sea where the young goddess emerged from the foam is marked by a special stone, the “Rock of Rome” or “Rock of Aphrodite”. The plot of the birth of the goddess is reflected in vase paintings, wall paintings, sculpture and painting. The ancient myth is the subject of works by such famous artists as Sandro Botticelli, Titian, Rubens, Engr, Gustave Moreau and Pablo Picasso.

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The Cult of Aphrodite

The veneration of the goddess of love originated in Cyprus as far back as the pre-Christian era. Cypriots believe that after her birth Aphrodite began to live in Pale Paphos, and the locals built a beautiful temple in her honor.

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To this day, Cyprus is still called the island of love. Every year in early fall, the international opera festival of Aphrodite is held in the medieval castle of Paphos. The performances and concerts take place in the square in front of the castle. The festival program features troupes from the best opera houses in the world performing works by Giuseppe Verdi, Giacomo Puccini, Jacques Offenbach, Georges Bizet and Mozart.

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How to get there

The Rock of Aphrodite is located in the bay of Petra tou Romiou, located between Limassol and Paphos. Tourists come to the bay via highway B6, which connects these two Cypriot cities. The distance from Paphos to Petra tou Romiou is 15 km. You can get here by cab, rented car or as part of a sightseeing tour.

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