Driving along the coastline towards Paphos from Limassol, you will notice there is a beautiful rock laying in the sea. It’s not like any old rock that’s out in the water. When driving by it will catch your eye from a distance, or at least it did for me. Come to find out this beautiful rock structure is Petra tou Romiou, Rock of the Greek. It has had many different names, “Aphrodite’s Rock”, “Rock of the Roman” and even been known to be the lower half of Uranus. The rock is located in the birthplace of Aphrodite, the Goddess of love. Legend says that this birthplace is due to the foaminess of the sea as her name comes from “aphros” meaning sea-foam. The foam comes from the way that the rock catches the waves. The story of Uranus says that he was cut at the lower part of his body by his son Cronus and this rock is his lower half that Cronus has scattered into the sea. From the severed body a white foam began and Aphrodite was born. Some say that swimming near this area will bring you beauty.

From viewing out the window of our bus you would not have guessed such a pretty view would have such a great story and significance to the island history.