Petra tou Anrogynou

Petra tou Androgynou is a natural attraction of Cyprus which the traveller can visit in Kakopetria of Limassol province.

A landmark for the region and one of the most visited attractions, it is located near the entrance of the old settlement, close to the big bridge and the road that leads to Metamorphosi tou Sotira Kakopetrias, Petra tou Androgynou is a big imposing rock that carries centuries’ history. According to tradition, this was the spot where the young married couples sat after the celebration of their marriage. The couple, when arrived here, had to follow a specific ritual, waking around the huge rock, and then had to sit on it, in order fot the marriage to be successful, to be grounded and become solid like stone.

Another local myth says another story though, the newlywed couple was walking towards the rock but it started rolling and crashed them on the spot where the two rivers meet. After this incident locals built a solid base around the stone to keep it from rolling and named it ‘kakopetra’ (bad stone) and the village was named Kakopetria.

This story and the altar that was excavated in Ailaes refer to the worship of Aphrodite. The findings of the excavations of 1888 in Palaipaphos, today’s Kouklia, brought to light a symbolic stone used to worship Aphrodite which corresponds to Petra tou Androgynou in Kakopetria. The corresponding ancient ritual that was established by the cyprid goddess of beauty and love, provided that each couple will have to walk around the stone holding hands, dancing to the sounds of music that was playing the lyre of Orpheus. The ceremony ensured that the couple acquired the favor of Venus, ensuring lasting love and happiness throughout life. Many ancient rituals were maintained after the prevalence of Christianity on the island, such as the Petra tou Androgynou.

East of the rock, there is the homonymous waterfall, at the point where rivers Garillis and Karkotis unite and form Klarios.