Aphrodisia

, an island in the Persian gulf, where Venus is worshipped.――Festivals in honour of Venus, celebrated in different parts of Greece, but chiefly in Cyprus. They were first instituted by Cinyras, from whose family the priests of the godde were always chosen. All those that were initiated offered a piece of money to Venus as a harlot, and received as a mark of the favours of the godde , a measure of salt and a θαλλος ; the salt, because Venus arose from the sea; the θαλλος , because she is the godde of wantonne . They were celebrated at Corinth by harlots, and in every part of Greece they were very much frequented. Strabo , bk. 14 .— Athenæus.