WINDOW ON CYPRUS “Cyprus is not a detail, a mere island at the edge of the Mediterranean Sea; today it has been transformed into the fateful centre, where the moral values of contemporary man are at stake. ... For us this is a good moment to forget our passions and our petty cares; for each man of us with his own God- given gifts to follow the path of freedom throughout the land of Cyprus. And we must share her grief, her upsurge, her danger, insofar as we are capable, and surely later on her great joy as well.” Nikos Kazantzakis (From his essay “The Angels of Cyprus”). Gold-green leaf Land of the lemon and the olive tree land of warm embraces, land of joy land of the pine and the cypress tree land of fine young men, land of love a gold-green leaf cast upon the open sea Land of the parched prairie land of the bitter Virgin land of the warm wind and unfair loss land of wild weather and volcanoes a gold-green leaf cast upon the open sea Land of the laughing girls land of the tipsy boys land of unction and salutations Cyprus, land of love and dreams a gold-green leaf cast upon the open sea Leonidas Malenis (Translated by John Vickers) window on cyprus P.I.O. 219/2015 - 4.000 Photography: The majority of the photographs used ISBN 978-9963-50-351-3 in the book come from the photographic archive of the Press and Information Offi ce. In addition, a number of institutions and individuals have generously given their Published by the Press and Information Offi ce, permission for the use of photographs in the book. They Republic of Cyprus are listed below in recognition of their kind cooperation, www.pio.gov.cy which is greatly appreciated. Fifth Edition Agencies and Organisations Amateur Athletic Association of Cyprus Editors: Miltos Miltiadou Agricultural Research Institute Andreas Lyritsas Archaelogical Museum of Cyprus Angeliki Nicolaidou Mavrommati Central Bank of Cyprus Elli Nicolaou Cultural Services, Ministry of Education and Culture Polly Lyssiotis Cyprus News Agency Michalis Michael Cyprus Olympic Committee Cyprus Ports Authority Photography Editor: Yiannos Miltiadou Cyprus Telecommunications Authority Cyprus Theatre Organisation Archive Designed by: Andreas Georgiou Cyprus Tourism Organisation Cover by: Christos Avraamides Cyprus Wine Museum Printed by: R.P.M. 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European Press Agency Hermes Airports Leventis Municipal Museum of Nicosia Limassol Marina CREDITS Ministry of Energy, Commerce, Industry and Tourism The Press and Information Offi ce, publishers of the book, Nicosia Municipal Arts Centre express their appreciation and gratitude to all the individuals, Noble Energy agencies and organizations that have contributed to the Public Works Department realization of this project. Special thanks go to those who State General Laboratory have kindly contributed essays and photographs for the Theatro Ena book. Theatro Scala United Nations (UNPHOTO) Text: Much of the text has been prepared or adapted by Water Development Department the editorial team from other publications of the Press and www.dreamstime.com Information Offi ce. Some segments represent contributions by other government agencies. A number of essays represent Individuals contributions by experts, who kindly extended their Avraamides Christos Lazanitis Andreas cooperation for this project. They are cited in the book under Charalambous Constantinos Louka Nikos the title of their respective contribution. Their assistance is Christodoulou Katia Panayides Christos greatly valued. Our thanks also to Mr Leonidas Malenis for his Coutas Andreas Pantzis Andreas kind permission to use his poem “Gold-green leaf”. Demetriou Costas Photo Larkos Farmakas Antonis Vatiliotis George Ioannides Takis Violaris Christos Kokkinias Panos Zafi riou Lefkios CONTENTS HISTORY 3 THE REPUBLIC OF CYPRUS 41 CYPRUS IN THE WORLD 69 POLITICAL SYSTEM AND ADMINISTRATION 87 PEOPLE AND NATURE 113 ECONOMY 143 EDUCATION 195 CULTURE 219 The Gymnasium at the ancient city-kingdom of Salamis. 2 history CYPRUS IN HISTORY ARCHAIC AND CLASSICAL PERIOD FRANKISH PERIOD NEOLITHIC PERIOD HELLENISTIC PERIOD VENETIAN PERIOD CHALCOLITHIC AGE ROMAN PERIOD OTTOMAN OCCUPATION BRONZE AGE BYZANTINE PERIOD BRITISH RULE GEOMETRIC PERIOD RICHARD THE LIONHEART THE LIBERATION MOVEMENT AND THE KNIGHTS TEMPLAR 3 history cyprus in history CYPRUS IN HISTORY The history of Cyprus is one of the oldest recorded in the world. From the earliest times, Cyprus’ historical signifi cance far outweighed its small size. Its strategic position at the crossroads of three continents and its considerable resources of copper and timber combined to make it a highly desirable territorial acquisition. The fi rst signs of life date to the tenth millennium BC (Pre-Neolithic age), but it was the discovery of copper (3900 - 2500 BC) that was to bring wealth and trade to the island. Around 1200 BC, a process began that was to largely mark the island with the predominant national identity that it still has today; the arrival of Mycenaean-Achaean Greeks as permanent settlers, who brought with them their language and culture. Cyprus was subsequently subjugated by various conquerors; nevertheless, it managed to retain its Protome of a cat made of Greek identity. The Turkish Cypriots came much later, andesite from Pareklisia- as a result of the Ottoman occupation of the island “Shyllourokambos”, tenth for more than three hundred years (1571-1878), and millennium BC. have contributed their own heritage to the country. 4 neolithic 8200-3900 BC period NEOLITHIC PERIOD (8200 - 3900 BC) Remains of the oldest known settlements in Cyprus date from this period. They can best be seen at Khirokitia, just off the Nicosia to Limassol highway. The use of carbon-14 dating method proved that life in the settlement of Khirokitia started in the sixth millennium BC, indicating that Cyprus was inhabited Diabase stone during the same period as Mesopotamia and Greece. anthropomorphic fi gurine from However, a more recent dating procedure suggests Khirokitia, Neolithic Period, 7000-6000 BC. that the settlement might even date back to the eighth millennium BC. At fi rst, only stone vessels were used. Pottery appeared in a second phase after 5000 BC. Idols of clay or stone representing human and animal fi gures are the earliest specimens of Cypriot sculpture. Necklace of dentalium bead shells and precious stones from the Aceramic Neolithic settlement of Khirokitia, c. 6500 BC. 5 history neolithic 8200-3900 BC period Large spouted bowl of Combed ware from the Ceramic Neolothic settlement of Sotira-“Teppes”, decorated with groups of combed wavy bands on its reddish surface, c. 4500-3750 BC. Andesite spouted bowl from the Aceramic Neolithic settlement of Khirokitia, decorated with parallel chevrons and dotted abstract motifs in relief, c. 6500 BC. 6 neolithic 8200-3900 BC period Part of the Aceramic Neolithic settlement at Khirokitia, c. 7000-6000 BC. 7 history chalcolithic age 3900-2500 BC CHALCOLITHIC AGE (3900 - 2500 BC) A transitional period between the Stone Age and the Bronze Age. Most Chalcolithic settlements were found in southwestern Cyprus where a fertility cult developed. During this period there were changes in many fields. The burial customs of the Cypriots changed and the deceased were now buried in separate cemeteries. Several clay figurines representing the goddess of fertility were produced. New forms in pottery were introduced and new styles in decoration appeared. Copper was discovered and was beginning to be exploited on a small scale. Clay bowl with three long feet of the developed Red-on-White ware from the Chalcolithic II settlement of Ambelikou-“Ayios Georghios” decorated with linear geometric designs on its whitish surface, c. 2700 BC. Female limestone fi gurine from Lemba, Chalcolithic Period, c. 2500 BC. 8 chalcolithic age 3900-2500 BC Picrolite cruciform fi gurine of the Chalcolithic I Period from Pafos, bearing a necklace with a pendant in the form of a similar fi gurine, c. 3500 BC. Necklace of dentalium bead shells and miniature picrolite cruciform fi gurines with a central animal-shaped pendant from the Souskiou- “Vathyrkakas” Chalcolithic I cemetery, c. 3000 BC. 9 history bronze age2500-1050 BC BRONZE AGE (2500 - 1050 BC) The most signifi cant event during this period was the extensive exploitation of copper mines on the island bringing wealth to Cyprus. Gradually, copper mixed with tin produced a much harder material called bronze, the discovery of which dramatically boosted the island’s economy and commerce. Trade developed with the Near East, Egypt and the Aegean where Cyprus was known under the name of Alasia. After 1400 BC, Mycenaeans from Greece fi rst came to the island as merchants. Around 1200 BC, mass waves of Achaean Greeks came to settle on the island and established the fi rst city-kingdoms of Pafos, Salamis, Kition and Kourion, spreading the Greek language, religion and customs. The hellenisation of the island was then