Arcadians Were First Inhabitants Of Paphos

Photos Catherine Tsounis Demetris Filios (c.) with Michael Hadjiloucas (l.) and Mary Marangas recognizing Hellenic unity at event.

Love. Aphrodite. These words conjure the image of Paphos, Cyprus, where Aphrodite, goddess of love, was born from the sea foam. The famed and widely acclaimed Temple of Aphrodite is located there. The Panpaphian Association of America presented a unique lecture in collaboration with "Geros tou Morea", chapter No. 1 of the Pan Arcadian Federation of America. The exceptional intellectual event was held Saturday evening, June 16 at the Hellenic Cultural Center at 27-09 Crescent St., Astoria. Dr. Christos P. Ioannides, director of the Center for Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies of Queens College, CUNY, was the main speaker. His topic was "Arcadians: The First Inhabitants of Paphos, Cyprus". The event was coordinated through the efforts of Michael Hadjiloucas and Demetris Filios.

Ioannides showed the audience of more than 150 persons a map of the ancient world through a PowerPoint presentation. "Greek immigration began from 1200 B.C.," he said. "Greek kingdoms were founded across the island from the start of the first millennium B.C. Greek has been the predominant language. The first dialectal form that appeared is known as Arcado-Cypriot, indicating an Arcadian/Peloponnesian origin. Paphos was one of six ancient Greek kingdoms. The ancient temple of Paphos dates from the 12th century B.C."

Dr. Christos P. Ioannides, internationally renowned writer/educator (first row) and (l. to r.) members of the Cypriot Consulate at event.

Archeologists report that the site of Paphos has been inhabited since the Neolithic period. It was a center of the cult of Aphrodite. The temple was erected by the Myceneans in the 12th century B.C. The remains of villas, palaces, theaters, fortresses and tombs through history give the site extraordinary historical value. The grove and altar of Aphrodite are mentioned in the Odyssey. New Paphos was founded by Agapenor of Tegea, chief of the Arcadians at the siege of Troy. After the Trojan city fell, he was driven by the storm that separated the Greek fleet, and landed on the coast of Cyprus, according to Pausanias. Herodotus, a Greek historian from Ionia who lived in the 5th century B.C. (484 B.C.- ca. 425 B.C.) refers to an Arcadian colony in Cyprus. New Paphos was distinguished for the worship of Aphrodite. Yet the old city retained preeminence in the worship of Aphrodite.

The founder myth is a phenomenon found in the Greek city-states. The story of how a hero established a city was cherished by their citizens. It was passed on from generation to generation. Many founder myths were based on a historical core. The first inhabitants of the city came from a certain region of Greece, personified in the person of the founder. In time new layers were added around the historical core. The self-perception of the citizens or ruling elite came to be projected on to the founder-hero. The foundation story was embellished and fictionalized.

Where is Arcadia located? It is a prefecture in the central Peloponnesus, south of Achaia, north of Messenia and Laconia, east of Argolis and west of Elis. The first king of Arcadia was Pelasgus. The persons of the Peloponnesus assumed the name Pelasgians from this first king. For more information on this exciting topic, visit the following internet links: www.answers.com/topic/paphos www.cyprusedirectory.com/cyprusguide/paphos.aspx www.ancientworlds.net/aw/Article/882996;websrv5.sdu. dk/tonnes/paphos.htm www.britannica.com/eb/article-33820/Cyprus homepage.mac.com/cparada/GML/Arcadia.html

- Catherine Tsounis