Agapenor the Arkas founded Pafos and created a colony. This colony had contact with the mother land, Archadia, and this contact brought more colonists to Pafos and further Cyprus. A cult to the goddess Aphrodite was established as it attracted many worshipers. The beginings of this cult is something Homer decided to elaborate on in his hymn to Aphrodite. He states that the site of the city of Pafos was where the goddess of beauty first came ashore and was thus the birth of her cult.
In the fifth century the father of all historians, Herodotus, elaborates on the foundings of the cities in Cyprus. He also states names to which the island was refered to: Olympos, Ourania, Kyrene, Lapethos, Sfikai, et. al.
By the 10th century B.C. Greeks had established their presence throughout the island and nine kingdoms were formed. Because of the island's geography it was vulnerable to attacks. A navy and army were raised as they withstood the attacks of pirates and other invaders. As trading and shipping were booming the island's economy flourished once again. In the 8th century B.C. the Assyrians invaded and forced the islanders to pay heavy fines and taxes as the Cypriots came under the empire's rule.
