Since ancient times the island of Kythera has been known for the worship of the goddess Aphrodite, and also for the myth that connects the island with the birth of the goddess. This myth dates back to the presence of the Phoenicians on the island (Herodotus 1.105) and was incorporated into the Minoan cult of the Great Goddess-Mother. Until recently, Aphrodite was the only known deity worshipped on the island, but further research has shown that the gods of the Laconian pantheon were worshipped in almost all the sanctuaries on the island due to the long presence of the Spartan element.
In the following pages the archaeologist Aris Tsaravopoulos presents all the sanctuaries that were discovered, which date back to after the conquest of the island by the Spartans at the end of the 6th century BC, and had a liturgical life of varying duration.
