Editing Sacred prostitution (section)

===Hellenistic world===
In the Greek-influenced and colonised world, "sacred prostitution" was known in [[Cyprus]]<ref>{{cite web|last1=Watson|first1=Andrea|title=It was an ancient form of sex tourism|url=http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20161017-it-was-an-ancient-form-of-sex-tourism|publisher=BBC|access-date=18 February 2018|date=18 October 2016|archive-date=14 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180414024938/http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20161017-it-was-an-ancient-form-of-sex-tourism|url-status=live}}</ref> (Greek-settled since 1100 BC), [[Sicily]]<ref>{{cite web |last1=Stupia |first1=Tiziana |title=Salome re-awakens: Beltane at the Temple of Venus in Sicily – Goddess Pages |url=https://www.goddess-pages.co.uk/salome-re-awakens-beltane-at-the-temple-of-venus-in-sicily-2/ |website=goddess-pages.co.uk |access-date=25 August 2019 |archive-date=25 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190825161740/https://www.goddess-pages.co.uk/salome-re-awakens-beltane-at-the-temple-of-venus-in-sicily-2/ |url-status=live }}</ref> (Hellenised since 750 BC), in the [[Kingdom of Pontus]]{{sfn|Debord|1982|p=97}} (8th century BC) and in [[Cappadocia]] (c. 330 BC hellenised).{{sfn|Yarshater|1983|p=107}} [[2 Maccabees]] ({{bibleverse||2 Maccabees|6:4–5|KJV}}) describes sacred prostitution in the [[Second Temple]] under the reign of the Hellenistic ruler [[Antiochus IV Epiphanes]].

==== Cyprus ====
A passage in Herodotus explains a Babylonian custom where before marriage, girls had to offer themselves for sex, presumably within a temple, as required by rites of a goddess equivalent to Aphrodite in their culture. [[Herodotus]] records that a similar practice or custom took place within Cyprus, with girls offering themselves up for sex as required by the rites of Aphrodite.<ref>Herodotus, ''History''. Rawlinson, G. (trans.), New York:  Tudor Publishing Company, 1936</ref> Ennius and Ovid corroborate each other on the idea that Aphrodite established the act of prostitution within the city of Cyprus.<ref name=":2">Serwint, Nancy. "Aphrodite and her Near Eastern sisters: spheres of influence". ''Engendering Aphrodite: Women and Society in Ancient Cyprus'', American Schools of Oriental Research, Boston (2002): 325–350.</ref>

A temple of Kition also shows evidence of sacred prostitution. On a marble plaque, it lists sacred prostitutes among other professions (bakers, scribes, barbers) that were part of ritual personnel at some Cypriot temples.<ref name=":2" />

==== Temple of Aphaca ====
The temple of Aphaca may be another source of evidence for temple prostitution.<ref name=":3">{{Cite journal|last=Gibson|first=Craig|date=2019|title=Temple Prostitution at Aphaca: An Overlooked Source|journal=Classical Quarterly|volume=69|issue=2|pages=928–931|doi=10.1017/S0009838819000697|s2cid=211942060}}</ref> The process is similar to regular prostitution, where male customers paid two or three obol in the form of or in addition to dedications to Aphrodite in exchange for sex with a temple prostitute. In the temple of Aphaca specifically, the men would dedicate their payment to "Cyprian Aphrodite" before engaging in sex with a temple prostitute.<ref name=":3" />