Once we got off the bus, we walked down to the beach, which was different than I expected. My first problem was figuring out which rock sticking out of the water was the right one. As Demetria explained to us, Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love, was born from the sea foam on the coast of Cyprus. Local legend believes that the rock can also give you eternal youth and beauty. Although I don’t believe any of this, I could understand why it would be considered the birthplace of a goddess. Looking around at the water, feeling the smooth rocks, and listening to the sound of the waves crashing against the rock brought me a sense of peace.
Next, the group headed to visit the Tomb of the Kings, an ancient burial site. The height of each of the tombs and the depth of each individual burial plot made me wonder about the methods used to construct the entire place. Without the use of modern technology, how long did it take for ancient peoples to build the now historical site? What surprised me the most about this visit was how expansive it was. According to Demetria, the tombs and other ruins extended around the whole surrounding area. I wish we got more time to explore, but it was onto the next!
After a nice lunch by the water and a pelican sighting, it was time to see some mosaics. This was my favorite part of the day. I was amazed by how intricate and well-preserved all the mosaics were. Each of the images were made using different colored pebbles. Sometimes, when the artist could not find the color that they needed, they would use glass instead. The subject of the mosaics lining the floor of the House of Dionysus were very varied, some depicting famous Greek myths while others were made up of different patterns. Another thing I found interesting about the mosaics was the use of symbols. Featured in many works were what are now polarizing symbols such as the Star of David and the swastika. I think it is very interesting how simple patterns once used in extravagant ancient mosaics can turn into symbols of hate or identity.
I peli-can’t wait for tomorrow ; )
