The island of Cyprus is well known for its history and for being steeped in myths and legends. There are often several different versions of a tale claiming to be the real story but the one thing they all have in common is that they are all fascinating to hear about! Cyprus has long been a popular choice among travellers, what with all the white sandy beaches, historical buildings and the raw natural beauty, you’re never pushed for things to do or gawp at. Of course, Cyprus is also one of those places that is steeped in folklore, a land of gods and monsters, of myth and magic and legends that are told in a million ways, from the beautiful architecture to the unassuming rocks in the sea. So wonderful are the tales that we just had to pick some, so here are just a handful of our favourite myths and legends of Cyprus.
In ancient Greece, stories about gods and goddesses and heroes and monsters were an important part of everyday life. They explained everything from religious rituals to the weather, and gave meaning to the world people saw around them. Greek myths were part of an oral tradition, and their plots and themes unfolded gradually in the written literature of the archaic and classical periods. The story of Demeter and Persephone is one of the most renowned narratives from Greek mythology, built on the power of a mother’s love for her only child. It is a story about love, relationships, family bonds, grief, loss, and a renewal of hope.
Some may say the Five Finger Mountain is the most beautiful attraction in North Cyprus which you can see on your holidays in Northern Cyprus but this too has many legends as to how it got its name. There is one legend of an arrogant villager who fell in love with the local queen and asked for her hand in marriage. The queen wished to be rid of the cheeky young man and asked him to bring her some water from the spring of St. Andreas monastery in the North Cyprus Karpaz region. The man set off and after several weeks returned with a small amount of the precious water. The queen was really disappointed to see that he had succeeded, but found herself still refusing to marry him. So in a fit of rage, he poured the water from the spring on to the earth, grabbed a handful of this wet earth which was by now turned into mud and threw it at the queens head. However she managed to duck in time and the lump of mud sailed far across the plain and/to/ land on top of the North Cyprus Kyrenia mountain range, where it is up to this day, still showing the impression of the disappointed villager’s five fingers. Another legend of the Five Finger Mountain is about/of the great hero of North Cyprus, Dhiyenis Akritas. When he leapt across the sea from Anatolia to save Cyprus from the Saracen invaders, legend tells how he left his handprint in the soil of North Cyprus and his five fingers forming the jagged peaks of the Kyrenia mountains.
The well-known goddess Aphrodite, the powerful and flirty goddess of beauty, love, and fertility. While one story suggests Aphrodite came about in a fairly normal manner, as the daughter of Zeus and Dione, the second is much more appealing. It’s said that Aphrodite was born of the sea, rising from the foam as a fully-grown woman. Happily, this fantastical myth has earthly backdrops, and the setting for this particular story is Petra tou Romiou, an amazing rock formation on the beautiful southwest coast of Paphos. When the waves crash against the rock, the resulting foam is said to look like the hint of a human figure, almost as though we can see Aphrodite’s birth being re-enacted again and again. Legend has it that if you too fancy a little of what Aphrodite had, beauty, good luck, fertility and a knack for finding true love, you need only swim around the rock three times in order to be blessed.
Baths of Aphrodite
Along the North Eastern side of Cyprus, it is believed that Aphrodite met one of her lovers, Adonis here. She found him bathing in one of the nearby natural pools and was smitten at first glance (despite her having many other lovers at the same time). If you come here now, you will be faced with another popular attraction; but one that looks so much prettier in person than in any of the photos you’ll see of it.
Adonis Baths
Another place steeped in Greek legend are the Adonis Baths, which sadly we didn’t get a chance to visit during our trip. But I just love the story, so wanted to include it anyway! Not too far to the North of Paphos are the Adonis Baths. It’s believed that Aphrodite and Adonis had many children here together, who are said to be ancestors to those living in Paphos today. These baths are also related to Artemis (Goddess of Hunting). She was jealous of the couple’s love for one another, and so threw a golden almond into the baths in the hope that Adonis would seek the almond, and get trapped and drown in the baths. Thankfully, he was saved by Poseidon (God of the Sea).
If rumors are to be believed, then Nessie seems to have a cousin in one of the most unlikely of places: the party town of Ayia Napa. Sightings of the serpent are said to emanate around the Cape Greko area, close to where Famagusta Bay sits. This beautiful spot has been harbouring sightings since the Roman times allegedly, but you needn’t worry too much. The locals are said to call it “To Filiko Teras”, meaning friendly monster. She’s said to be playful enough to slip away with your fishing nets but is gentle as a Labrador beyond that. Serpent or no, it’s a stunning area of Cyprus and you would be mad to pass up a visit.
Paphos Archaeological Park
Within Greece and Cyprus, it’s possible to see a lot of original mosaics. No more so than in Paphos in Southern Cyprus. The Paphos Archaeological Park is home to a variety of different ones, all devoted to telling the stories of the Gods and Goddesses. If you visit today, you will find most of the mosaics protected inside buildings, which give you a great viewing platform to see every inch of them. Whilst some other mosaics here have sadly been left to the elements a little bit, so are slightly worn away, or missing tiles; it’s still possible to see what the picture is depicting.
Cyprian Centaurs were a tribe of centaurs living on the island of Cyprus. When Zeus attempted to copulate with Aphrodite on the island of Cyprus, Aphrodite escaped his advances and Zeus’s seed was spilt on earth. Earth, being synonymous with the titaness Gaia, received the seed and thus were Cyprian centaurs born. Twelve of the more influential Cyprian centaurs were also river spirits that were guarding Dionysus as an infant, who were later vindictively transformed into bull-horned centaurs by Hera. Cyprian centaurs were not related to the more traditional centaurs of Thessalia. Main difference was their bull-like horns. They may also have been less savage than their Thessalian counterparts, as they were representing fertility rather than virility. They, however, were not completely devoid of their bestial nature, as Dionysus had no trouble in recruiting Cyprian centaurs as part of his army when he had been commanded to assault India by Zeus.
World Mythology 