'Iera Porneia' / 'Holy Prostitution' in Cyprus
In a few words this dates back to the ancient times where the story has it that young girls would go to the temple of the goddess Aphrodite (in Kouklia) to sacrifice their virginity in Her name. As a result they would become 'Iereies' (Holy) and ready to get married. Their virginity would be 'taken' by the priests; those girls who were not chosen by the priests would sit in a chair waiting to be picked up by any passer-by who would, in return, throw money at her. This money of which the amount didn't matter was deemed 'sacred' and retained by the priests. Those that were not even picked up by passer-by strangers would eventually have their virginity sacrificed by the use of phallus-shaped stones.
Nikos Kouroussis installations are inspired by this idea of the 'Iera Porneia' / 'Holy Prostitution'.