" Papa Nikon , most sources agree Aphrodite came ashore near Pissouri ."
" According to Hesiod , a Boetian . How could he know about Cyprus ? The
Goddess was born near Paleothea . On a rare night , she rises newborn from the sea , clad
in silver , beautiful to behold ."
" Papa Nikon . You ' re a man of God . I know you don ' t believe such nonsense .
Every Greek town claims some god or goddess was born there ."
Nikon shrugged . " I only repeat local tradition , a myth . On the coast , a little less
than a mile from the village , there ' s a promontory with a gap in the rocks at the end .
When the wind ' s right and the sea stormy enough , a wave crashes through in a big
column . At the crest , water spreads out like a young woman ' s long hair in the wind .
Local men night fishing in their caïques swear they ' ve seen the Goddess herself , rising
naked from the foam . I tell them to cross themselves and keep on fishing ."
Nikon leaned close , breath redolent of red wine and tobacco . " I try to stamp out
local superstitions , but they persist like weeds . The villagers believe if a young man goes
alone to the promontory during a full moon , Aphrodite will visit him if he ' s handsome
enough ."
" She ' ll come for him , I wager ," a shrill voice cackled from an open window .
" Eleutheria , shame on you for eavesdropping . Go home and sleep ."