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 About Cyprus
Officially Republic of Cyprus, republic (1994 est. pop. 890,208), 3,578 sq mi (9,267 sq km), an island in the E Mediterranean Sea, 40 mi (60 km) S of Turkey and c.60 mi (100 km) W of Syria. The capital and largest city is Nicosia . In addition to the capital, other important cities are Famagusta , Larnaca , and Limassol . Cyprus is divided into six administrative districts.
 Two mountain ranges traverse the island from east to west; the highest point is Mt. Olympus (6,406 ft/1,953 m), in the southwest. Between the ranges lies a wide plain, the chief agricultural region. Over three quarters of the population is Greek, generally occupies the southern sector of the country, and belongs to the Greek Orthodox Church. Less than 20% of the people are Turkish Muslims, mainly living in the northern region. Religious minorities include the Maronites and Armenian Orthodox. In addition to Greek and Turkish, English is also widely spoken.
*Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition, Copyright (c) 2003
Cyprus's history dates back to the Neolithic period and it is famous for being the mythological birth place of Aphrodite, the goddess of love, beauty and fertility. In the 12th century B.C. a temple was erected for her worship. In Paphos you can find many places dedicated to her such as the Rock of Aphrodite also known as “Petra Tou Romiou” said to be were she took her first steps on earth. Another place is the baths of Aphrodite which are supposed to be the source of fertility and the fountain of love which are associated with her legend. The name Paphos is the name of the daughter of Venus and Pygmalion. Although there is a rich connection to pagan religions, Paphos is known as the first country ruled by a Christian ruler in 45 A.D.
Paphos has many historical sites that have been excavated and with its rich history UNESCO has placed it as a World Heritage site. Today Paphos enjoys all the benefits of being a popular Mediterranean holiday resort destination with an average of 340 days of sunshine and plenty of five star hotels, shopping , restaurants, clubs and neighborhoods that makes it a must-visit place all year round. |