Friday, June 25, 2010

Aphrodite's Origins

"The cult of Aphrodite was officially established on Cyprus in 1500 BC, with the building of a hilltop temple on this site.Although the worship of Aphrodite seems to have come from the east, it was soon identified with Cyprus. Homer referred to the goddess as the "Cyprian" as early as the 8th century BC, and she was called the "Paphian" in the 6th century BC. Inscriptions at Palea Paphos call her simply Wanassa, (the lady)."


Aphrodite's Temple at Palea Paphos

Originally traces have been found on Palea Paphos that cult belonged to Astarte,goddesses of fertility who was worshiped by Achaean colonists,later renamed by greeks to Aphrodite.
So,to conclude traces about goddesses of fertility,sexuality and love were recorded first around 8000 BC,altought named differently.