Aphrodite's rock

I've just come back from a business trip down to Cyprus, where I got to hang out for a few days. Cyprus is much further away than I thought it was, but it's a beautiful place. I tend to think of it as being like Italy or Greece - a relatively nearby Mediterranean country, but actually is more in the Middle East than it is in Europe - it's a 20 minute flight to Israel for example, and Cyprus was the first stop off point for refugees from Lebenon during the recent problems that have been taking place in that part of the world.


This is the spectacular view from a hillside outside Paphos, of Aphrodite's Rock, where the ancient Greek god of Love, Aphrodite, emerged from the sea. (The same god was known as Venus by the Romans, Ishtar by the Mesopotamians and Turan by the Etrsucans. Wikipedia has this to say:

"Foam-arisen" Aphrodite was born of the sea foam near Paphos, Cyprus after Cronus cut off Uranus' genitals and threw them into the sea. Hesiod's Theogony described that the genitals "were carried over the sea a long time, and white foam arose from the immortal flesh; with it a girl grew" to become Aphrodite. Thus Aphrodite is of an older generation than Zeus.

Also, on the way home I ended up stood next to Peter Hook (Bass playing guitar god with New Order) at the baggage collection area of the Airport. I presume he was on his way to Electric Picnic, which was on this weekend. Still, it's was kinda cool.