Ancient Greek and Latin literature, from Homer in the eighth century bc until Late Antiquity, unanimously celebrates Cyprus as “island of Aphrodite,” to use the words of Euripides in Bacchai, in the fifth century bc. 2 According to Hesiod’s Theogony, the sea-born goddess first set foot on land on Cyprus. 3 The sixth Homeric Hymn also informs us that Cyprus was assigned to Aphrodite as her home, by cast of lots among the gods. 4 Aphrodite’s prominent role as the great goddess of Cyprus is reflected in various terms used by Greek poets. Thus, she is mostly called Kypris, but also Kypria, Kyprogenes, and Kyprogeneía. 5 She is ‘Princess of Cyprus’(Kýprou despoína),‘Lady of Cyprus’(Potnia Kýprou), and ‘Queen of Cyprus’(Kýprou basilís). 6 In such poetic phrases and in the recorded myths, Greek poets draw a rather veiled