CYPRUS
Golf overlooks Aphrodite's birth place

by R. Bourne & C. Jaricott

Paphos March ,2002
From the scripts of ancient Greek poets to modern tourist brochures, and now to the name of a famous golf course, Aphrodite has been almost synonymous with Cyprus throughout history. Variously known as 'Kypris', the Cyprian, and 'Paphian', after the town of Paphos from where, mythology has it, she rose from the sea-foam, the goddess of beauty and love is above all a Cypriot goddess.

At the crossroads of ancient civilizations, it was said "everyone who wants to have power in Orient needs to control Cyprus". So it has seen many visitors, some built temples to their Gods, some castles for their Kings, the Crusaders used it as a staging post, and the pirates for a plunder. Chroniclers tell of magnificent royal weddings and unsurpassed works of art created by its artists. All were enchanted by its beauty, the legacy of Aphrodite.

In the past decade, the new visitors begun coming by charters from the Northern countries of Europe for sea, sun and sand. And nowadays the new tourist generation arrives with golf bags to play Aphrodite's golf course.

With 9.250 km2 large, Cyprus stretches 150 miles (240 km) from the west coast to its eastern tip. It is the third largest Mediterranean island, smaller than Sicily and Sardinia, at about the same size as the state of Connecticut with 730,000 inhabitants. The population of the island consists of: Greek-Cypriots 78%, Turkish-Cypriots 18%, Armenian, Maronite and Latin-Cypriots 4%. Lying between three continents: Europe, Asia and Africa, Cyprus is the most eastern island of the Mediterranean but its culture and civilization belongs more to Europe.

The island's strategic position, its copper (kuprum, origin of the name) deposits and its timber attracted the first Greeks who came to the island over 3,000 years ago. They settled down bringing in with them the Greek identity, language and civilization. Over the centuries Cyprus came under the sway of various rulers including the Egyptians, Assyrians, Persians, the successors to Alexander the Great and the Romans, before Cyprus became part of the Byzantine Empire. Later came the Crusaders, the Lusignans and Venetians, Ottomans and British. Cyprus won its independence in 1960, for the first time in 3.500 years, but the Greek identity of language and culture has been retained.

With its spectacular scenery and enviable climate, it's no wonder that Aphrodite chose Cyprus as her playground.  Cool, pine-clad mountains are a complete scene-change after golden sun-kissed beaches. Tranquil, timeless villages are in striking contrast to modern cosmopolitan towns; luxurious beachside hotels can be exchanged for large areas of natural unspoiled countryside; yet in Cyprus all distances are easily manageable, mostly on modern roads and highways - with a secondary route or two for the more adventurous. There is a lot to see all around the island and golf courses are rising on the hills overlooking the sea.

                                                                                       
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Cyprus map

Aphrodite and her birth place at Petra tou Romiou

Kakopetria XIth church

Amathus beach

Aphrodite Hills 8th hole