Archaeologists Confirm Discovery of Aphrodite’s Sanctuary in Cyprus

During recent excavations in Cyprus, archaeologists have confirmed the long-debated location of the temple dedicated to the goddess Idalion (one of the names of Aphrodite) at the top of Mutti-tu-Arvili hill. The confirmation was reported by the Department of Antiquities.

The announcement came after the conclusion of the 2024 excavation season in the Nicosia suburb of Dali. The project was a collaboration between the Berlin-Idalion Project (BIP), Humboldt University of Berlin (Germany), and the University of Cyprus. The excavation took place from September 10 to October 10.

The team focused their efforts on the upper plateau of Idalion-Mutti-tu-Arvili, often referred to as the eastern acropolis. The site has been believed to house the sanctuary of the great Cypriot goddess Aphrodite since the late 19th century. This year’s excavations uncovered significant architectural remains.

The team also discovered several layers containing a considerable amount of pottery, primarily from the Hellenistic period. In addition, numerous high-quality limestone and terracotta figurines were found.

Among the most remarkable finds were several nearly intact figurines, discovered in a floor layer. Sculptures dating from the Cypro-Archaic to the Hellenistic period were found in a higher layer.

One particularly noteworthy find was a 40 cm high limestone figurine depicting a woman wearing a chiton and himation, adorned in vibrant red colors.

The figurine’s posture and design closely resemble a life-sized Hellenistic statue that was unearthed on the same site in the 19th century and is now housed in the Louvre in Paris.

• A fragment from this year’s excavations bears traces of an engraved Greek inscription, likely applied before firing. The preserved portions of the inscription show the letters ᾼΦΡΟΔ[…], leaving little doubt about the identity of the sanctuary’s main deity, according to the Department of Antiquities.

As the press release highlights, after more than 130 years of research, the hypothesis that the sanctuary of the great goddess Idalion, celebrated in Hellenistic and Roman poetry, is located at the summit of Mutti-tu-Arvili hill now appears to be conclusively confirmed.