Kythera is an island associated with love and mythology, as it is the island of Aphrodite, the goddess of love. On this island, according to legend, Paris left with the beautiful Helen, the wife of the king of Sparta, Menelaus, causing the Trojan War.
The myth of Paris and Helen is one of the most well-known and dramatic myths of ancient Greece that you eventually associate with Kythera. According to legend, Paris was the son of King Priam of Troy and Queen Hecabe. When he was born, his mother had a dream that warned her that her son would destroy her city. For this reason, Paris was abandoned on the mountain Ida, where he was raised by the nymphs.When he became a young man, Paris returned to Troy and was recognized by his family. Soon, he became known for his beauty and kindness. One day, Paris was asked to choose the most beautiful goddess among Hera, Athena and Aphrodite, who claimed the golden apple of Eris, the goddess of discord. The three goddesses promised him various gifts to convince him to choose them. Hera promised him kingship and power, Athena promised him wisdom and glory, and Aphrodite promised him the most beautiful woman in the world. Paris, charmed by Aphrodite, gave her the apple, earning the enmity of the other two gods.
Kythera was the island where Paris and Helen spent their first night together, and where they lived their love for a while, before reaching Troy. Here in Kythera, they bathed in the crystal waters of the beaches of Kythera, enjoyed fresh fruit, the famous thyme honey of Kythira, amidst a wonderful natural landscape that enchants visitors.
It is no coincidence that even today many couples in love choose Kythira to enjoy an ideal honeymoon.
