Paphos was a city in Cyprus sacred to Venus, the goddess of love. `Reunited on the island of Paphos, Venus, Bacchus and Cupid decide to enliven their leisure in such a pleasant location by celebrating their first loves, and this gives rise to the following three acts and the title Les fêtes de Paphos.`
Act One: Vénus et Adonis
Librettist: Jean-Baptiste Collet de Messine
Source: the myth of Venus and Adonis
Act Two: Bacchus et Érigone
Librettist: Charles-Antoine le Clerc de la Bruère
Source: the myth of Bacchus and Erigone
Act Three: L`Amour et Psyché
Librettist: Claude-Henri de Fusée de Voisenon
Source: the myth of Cupid and Psyche