Aphrodite's Island – The Goddess of Cyprus and Her Journey

Saturday, 21 November 2026

Doors Open: 2:30 p.m. | Event: 3:00–5:15 p.m.

Cyprus House, 13 St James's Square, London SW1Y 4LB

Free Admission | Registration Required

Part of Discovering Ancient Cyprus: A Month of Archaeology, Mythology and Cultural Heritage

Join us for a captivating afternoon celebrating the archaeology, mythology and cultural heritage of Cyprus through scholarship, film and conversation.

Presented by the Cultural Section of the Cyprus High Commission in London, this special event forms part of Discovering Ancient Cyprus: A Month of Archaeology, Mythology and Cultural Heritage, a programme exploring the island's extraordinary contribution to the ancient Mediterranean and its continuing influence on the world today.

The afternoon begins with a lecture by Dr Anja Ulbrich, A.G. Leventis Curator of the Cypriot Collection at the Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford, and curator of the acclaimed exhibition Aphrodite: The Making of a Goddess.

Aphrodite's Island – The Goddess of Cyprus and Her Journey Through Antiquity

For centuries, Greek and Roman authors celebrated Cyprus as the "Island of Aphrodite" the place where the goddess first emerged and where she was worshipped as the island's principal deity before her cult spread throughout the Greek and Roman worlds.

Beginning with Aphrodite's birth and worship in ancient Cyprus, Dr Ulbrich will explore the goddess's remarkable journey across antiquity, tracing how her cult travelled from Cyprus into the Greek world before becoming the Roman Venus and reaching as far as Britain. The lecture also introduces audiences to the themes of the Ashmolean Museum's landmark exhibition, which brings together exceptional international loans including important antiquities from Cyprus to tell the story of one of history's most enduring and influential deities.

Following the lecture, guests will enjoy a special 35-minute screening of selected episodes from Myths of Cyprus, produced by the Press and Information Office of the Republic of Cyprus.

Directed by Markos Kassinos, with research, writing and presentation by Dr Iosif Hadjikyriacos, the series brings Cyprus's myths vividly to life through cinematic storytelling inspired by the island's archaeology, history and landscapes. The programme will include episodes dedicated to Aphrodite, featuring newly produced material created especially in connection with the Ashmolean exhibition and this series of events.

The afternoon will conclude with a reception, offering guests the opportunity to continue the discussion and celebrate the rich cultural legacy of Cyprus.

Programme

2:30 p.m. – Doors Open

3:00 p.m. – Welcome

3:05 p.m. – Lecture by Dr Anja Ulbrich

Approximately 3:45 p.m. – Myths of Cyprus special screening (35 minutes)

Approximately 4:30 p.m. – Reception

5:15 p.m. – Event concludes

We look forward to welcoming you for an inspiring afternoon exploring the island where the story of Aphrodite began, and the remarkable journey that carried her from ancient Cyprus to the wider world.