Petra tou Romiou or the Rock of the Greek is a sea stack seen in the coastal city Pafos in Cyprus.
What make the formation famous are its beauty as well as mythological relevance. The rock has a magnificent structure with corals, seaweed and pieces of shells on it.
According to legend, Petra tou Romiou is situated where the Greek goddess Aphrodite was born. Hence, it is also known as Aphrodite’s Rock. According to another folk story, a person who swims around the rock is believed to be blessed with eternal beauty. However, this may not be easy, as the sea is usually very rough making it difficult to enter the water. Tourists are often advised not to swim here. Climbing the rock is also prohibited.
There is one more legend associated with the Petra tou Romiou. It says that the rock was thrown by Basil, the legendary hero in the epic of Digenes Akrites, from the Toodos Mountains. He did this to destroy the Arab ships that were on the way to take over Cyprus. The rock landed where it is now situated.