Aphrodite: The Making of a Goddess

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The Cultural Section of the Cyprus High Commission in London is proud to support the Ashmolean Museum's landmark exhibition Aphrodite: The Making of a Goddess, opening to the public on 8 October 2026.

Co-curated by Dr Anja Ulbrich, A.G. Leventis Curator of Cypriot Antiquities, and Dr Jennifer Sliwka, the exhibition traces the extraordinary journey of Aphrodite from her mythical birth on the shores of Cyprus through the Greek and Roman worlds and her continuing influence on art and culture to the present day. Bringing together more than 200 exceptional objects from leading international collections alongside masterpieces from the Ashmolean's own holdings, the exhibition offers a unique opportunity to rediscover one of mythology's most enduring and celebrated figures.

As part of its support for the exhibition, the Cultural Section will present a series of parallel events in London and Oxford, celebrating Cyprus's central place in Aphrodite's story.

On Saturday, 21 November 2026, Cyprus House in London will host a special event introducing the exhibition, featuring a lecture by Dr Anja Ulbrich, who will present its vision, themes and highlights.

This will be followed by a Cyprus Weekend in Oxford, taking place from 11–13 December 2026. On Saturday, 12 December, the Cultural Section will present its new theatre education workshop inspired by the five myths of Aphrodite for pupils of the Oxford Greek School.

The weekend will conclude on Sunday, 13 December, with a special afternoon at the Ashmolean Museum, including a lecture by Dr Anja Ulbrich, followed by screenings from the Myths of Cyprus series produced by the Press and Information Office of the Republic of Cyprus (PIO), in collaboration with NEPOMAK UK and the Cypriot Educational Mission in the United Kingdom. Participants will then have the opportunity to visit the exhibition at a specially arranged group rate.