We had another beautiful day in Cyprus! I am a big fan of both Greek mythology and rocks, so other than the heat today was my perfect day. We started our adventure learning about the Greek mythology connected to Cyprus, particularly Aphrodite. Aphrodite is traditionally the goddess of love and beauty, but to Cypriots she is mostly known as the goddess of fertility. She has been worshipped since the 3rd millennium BC, and her name directly translates to “the one who emerged from the foam of the sea.” Aphrodite’s story states that she was created from the castration of Uranus and ocean foam crashing against a rock along the coast of Cyprus. We visited Aphrodite’s rock, and the beach was beautiful! The rocks on the beach were so colorful and smooth, and the water was just as clear and turquoise as yesterday!
Our second stop of the day was the Tomb of the Kings. These tombs were built with the concept that the house of the dead should be like the house of the living. This means that the tombs we toured were built like underground houses with multiple rooms and beautiful architecture. There were only 3 tombs in Cyprus that were found without evidence of past plundering. Most burials of the time had the gifts for the dead such as olive oil and jewels stolen, and some tombs were even lived in; ash from fires can still be seen on some ceilings. Although the contents of the tombs have been removed by thieves and archaeologists alike, what remains is gorgeous, and I’m so glad we had the opportunity to learn and explore.
Our final tour of the day took place in the House of Dionysus. This was a palace with mosaic covered floors, owned by an unidentified man. The palace was named the House of Dionysus because the god is frequently featured in the mosaics. Along with Dionysus, Narcissus, Cronos, and Pan are also featured in the artwork. The scenes and stories portrayed in the mosaics are beautiful, and the archeological site was a great way to end the day. I had a great time learning about the history and myths of Cyprus, and I can’t wait for tomorrow!