Editing Sacred prostitution (section)

==== 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" />