Symbol of love, beauty and fertility in Greek mythology

Expo.. The Cypriot Pavilion receives visitors with an "Aphrodite" smile

• The Greek Aphrodite receives visitors to the "Expo".

  From the source

• Embroidery of the village of Lefkara.

  From the source

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“Yasus, my name is Aphrodite.” A Greek girl, with a gentle smile, said with a calm face, looking out from behind a glass house in a white dress, the edges of which may have been embroidered, in the town of Levikra in the foothills of the Troodos Mountains. She stood to receive visitors at the beginning of the path that leads around Pavilion of the "Blue Flag" island in the eastern Mediterranean, "Cyprus", located in the "Opportunity Zone" at "Expo 2020 Dubai".

And “yassos” is a Greek word that means “hello” in Arabic, and Cypriots use it in greeting and peace throughout the day.

As for Aphrodite, who stood greeting visitors, she is a Greek goddess, who was stationed with a number of symbols and legendary figures of kings in forming the cultural conscience of the peoples of Greek origin, including the people of the island of Cyprus, the European country located in the far eastern Mediterranean.

Perhaps it was not by chance that Aphrodite's speaking aura was chosen, to attract the attention of visitors to the pavilion, and to get them to go on a journey to get to know the island, because Aphrodite in Greek civilization is a symbol of love, beauty, fertility, tenderness and a sense of security that prevails in the warmth of family and social relations, as it is also A symbol of strength, ability to face dangers and victory.

Which made it in the culture of the people of Cyprus and other Greeks, synonymous with stories of deep depth in the meaning of the renewal of life and its brilliance in various human fields.

But what is remarkable when getting to know the culture of the people of Cyprus, is what indicates their conviction, which is based on a passionate dreamer belief that wants to believe what ancient myths say about the birth of Aphrodite from the womb of the sea waves of the western coasts of Cyprus, and that her spirit has guarded the island for thousands of years, and breathes life into everything It is beautiful in it from mountains, coasts, monasteries, ancient temples, vineyards and orange orchards, down to the details of the Cypriot man, who shows the sweetness of Aphrodite's features in his welcoming smile.

There are many historical accounts about the sexual power of Aphrodite, but this did not affect the purity that surrounded her unique beauty, as ancient Greek myths describe her as “a girl with golden hair, reminiscent of the color of the sunset, with skin whiter than ivory, and blue eyes like blue.” summer sky.

The oldest known human activity in Cyprus dates back to about the tenth millennium B.C. It was settled by the Mycenaean Greeks who dated back to the Bronze Age in the second millennium B.C. in two waves, according to historical references.

And Alexander the Great seized the island, which contains a number of the oldest water wells in the world, in 333 BC.

The beauty of the Cypriot coasts, its diverse geographical nature between mountains and beaches, its archaeological treasures from temples and theaters dating back to prehistoric times, its craftsmanship in making ceramics and fabrics, and its wealth of citrus fruits that qualified it to be one of the most important Mediterranean countries in making and preparing delicious foods. For informational, audio-visual materials, distributed throughout the Cyprus pavilion.

The coasts of Cyprus are distinguished by their adherence to strict environmental standards in terms of water quality, hygiene and nature conservation, which has enabled it, over the past few years, to become one of the most European countries whose sea cities and coasts receive the Blue Flag award, which is awarded as a result of meeting the environmental conditions and standards set by the Education Organization Environmental, in partnership with the European Union.

The island of beauty, sun and Greek love, is not only a charming place for relaxation, water sports and mountain climbing, but it is a site for the most important Cypriot and British universities, such as the British University of Westminster, which is located in its second largest city, Nicosia, and is one of the most important universities that teach applied engineering in its various branches. .

• “The people of Cyprus believe that Aphrodite was born from the womb of the waves... and her spirit has guarded the island for thousands of years.”

• “Yasos is a Greek word that means “hello.” Cypriots use it to greet the day.”

very small church

One of the walls of the Cyprus Pavilion is topped by a photo taken from inside the Church of Panagia Asino.

It is a very small church, built as a monastery in 1099, yet it is one of the most important UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

The church, which contains a number of the finest Byzantine frescoes on the island, dates back to the 12th century AD.

It consists of two parts, the dome with a sloping roof, and the narthex, which was known as the waiting area during the Byzantine rule.

manual lace

The Cyprus pavilion displays handmade lace fabric in the village of Lefkara, which is famous for its manufacture of fabrics known as "lefkaritika", as well as handicrafts made of silver.

The village is located in the Troodos Mountains, and takes its name from the white color of silica and limestone, where the word lefkara is derived from a mixture of two Greek words, “lefka” meaning white, and “ori” meaning mountains or hills.

The Stone Age monuments in the village testify that the surrounding area has been continuously inhabited for several centuries. The first historical mention of the existence of the area under its current name was found in the will of St. Neophytos, born in 1134.