Goddess of Love emerges into foaming Cypriot row

NICOSIA | Thu Dec 23, 2010 6:13am EST

(Reuters Life!) - She may be the ancient Greek Goddess of Love, but a picture of a nude Aphrodite on the new passport of Cyprus has set more than hearts racing.

Cypriot diplomats are furious with the interior ministry for failing to consult with the foreign ministry before issuing passports with a depiction of a naked immortal that might offend conservative foreign cultures.

"They are worried that civilians and diplomats could get into trouble, particularly traveling to very conservative Islamic countries," the authoritative Phileleftheros daily newspaper wrote on Thursday.

The interior ministry said it was too late to change them, the newspaper said.

Local legend says Aphrodite (also known as Venus to the ancient Romans) emerged from the sea on a crest of foam just off the Mediterranean island.

The image on the new biometric passports is modeled on a Greek marble statue of a completely naked Aphrodite in the Cyprus Museum located in the capital Nicosia.

(Writing by Michele Kambas, editing by Paul Casciato)

Bulgarian Expert: Seized Statue Is Not Aphrodite

Archaeology | October 31, 2010, Sunday

The 2-meter statue was found buried in the back yard of a village house on northern Bulgaria. Photo by BGNES

The 2-meter antique statue, which was found buried in the back yard of a Bulgarian village house belonging to illegal treasure hunters, is not of Aphrodite, as the police, who seized it, initially believed.

Petar Banov, archeology expert from the Regional History Museum in the northern city of Pleven told the Bulgarian National Radio, BNR, that the statue is a Roman tomb sculpture of an ordinary woman.

Banov pointed out the find has no signs and symbols around her legs and/or arms, designating the female figure as a goddess, adding it was made during the flourishing of the ancient Roman city of Ulpia Oescus on the Danube, close to the village of Gigen in the Pleven District.

Banov, however, explained the archeological value of the discovery is still very high because it is of great quality and craftsmanship and it would give historians precious information.

According to the expert, it would be very hard to make a monetary appraisal of the statute because Bulgaria does not have an official antiques market and auctions.