Temple of Aphrodite

Kouklia, Cyprus

The Temple of Aphrodite was officially established by its cult with the construction of a hilltop temple on the important pilgrimage site of Palea Paphos. Although, it is said that the temple was erected in 1500-1300 BC, the idols and coins related to Aphrodite found here date back to 3800 BC. It stood on a knoll about 2 kilometres inland overlooking the sea. Soon, the town of Palea Paphos started forming around the temple.

The sanctuary of Aphrodite was first excavated by the Cyprus Exploration Fund in 1887. It was again explored by the British Kouklia Expedition in 1950-55 and has been dug up by a Swiss-German expedition since 1996. The Temple of Aphrodite is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Paphos.

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Address

F612, Kouklia, Cyprus
See all sites in Kouklia

Details

Founded: 1500 BC
Category: Prehistoric and archaeological sites in Cyprus

Rating

4.4/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

Mustafa Kulle (6 months ago)
A holy site. The Sanctuary of the Goddess Aphrodite herself. This is the home of the black conal rock of the temple itself is kept. There are some wonderful exhibits here. From a mosaic here and a broken piece of building there. It's mysterious and a wonderful place to explore. Everything you see is just one piece of the puzzle. A wonderful place of imagination. However there are some issues that need to be addressed: Some of the displays have faded because of constant exposure to the sun and the heat, these need to be renewed. Some exhibits have been scattered carelessly! There is even a piece of an ancient column with ancient Cypriot syllabic text engraved on it that has been left outside the TV room making it vulnerable to damage. It needs to be kept indoors and studied, not left outside abandoned like this. There is no label on it or any translation of what it says. Overall, an essential visit for anyone who loves history and mythology. I recommend.
Roberto Belchior (6 months ago)
A must visit, given the unique opportunity to see the stone that represented Aphrodite in the antiquity and the one-of-a-kind sarcophagus perfectly preserved. The excellent explanation and story telling by the museum guard is another highlight. Large collection of ancient artifacts from different periods.
Richard Ashcroft (12 months ago)
When the Achaeans settled Cyprus, Palaepaphos was already a site of worship of a fertility goddess, which became Aphrodite. The altar was open-air, the goddess being represented by a large stone. The archaeological site today includes the Sanctuary of Aphrodite and remains of the city and fortress. There’s also a collection of artifacts housed in a medieval villa. A pleasant site, well worth a short visit.
Piotrek P (14 months ago)
Well underrated UNESCO listed place with many artefacts and stunning views surrounding this site. The ancient remains date back to 12th century BC! This place is also known as The Sanctuary of Aphrodite and it also was one of the most important city-kingdoms of Cyprus.
Donna W (2 years ago)
Spent about 40 mins here with my son who loves exploring ruins. The site is quite big with about 10 -15 different bits to explore. The small museum has more artifacts & the staff are very helpful in explaining them all. There is a 10 min TV show explaining the ruins which is worth a watch. €4.50 entry, free for smaller children and over 65s. Lovely views too.
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