Ancient & Medieval Cyprus

10 000 years of history

Cyprus is one of the most ancient centers of civilization. People lived here already in the Neolithic era.

Period	Years	What happened
Neolithic	10 000–3 000 BC	First settlements (Choirokoitia / Chirokitia)
Bronze Age	3 000–1 050 BC	Copper mining, trade
Greek colonization	1 400–1 050 BC	Mycenaeans founded cities
Assyria, Egypt, Persia	700–333 BC	Change of conquerors
Hellenistic period	333–58 BC	Alexander the Great, Ptolemies
Roman period	58 BC–395 AD	Flourishing, Christianity
Byzantium	395–1191	Orthodoxy, monasteries
Crusaders and Lusignans	1191–1489	Richard the Lionheart, Franks
Venice	1489–1571	Fortresses, trade
Ottoman Empire	1571–1878	307 years of Turkish rule
British Empire	1878–1960	Colony, then independence

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Name of the island

The word “Кипр” (Cyprus) comes from the Greek word χαλκός (copper). The island was the largest source of copper in the ancient world.

The Latin name of copper — cuprum — also comes from Cyprus.

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Main archaeological sites

Choirokoitia (Χοιροκοιτία)

Where: Larnaca district
What: Neolithic settlement (7000–4000 BC)
Status: UNESCO World Heritage Site

Kourion (Κούριον)

Where: Limassol district
What: Greco-Roman city, amphitheater, mosaics

Amathus (Αμαθούς)

Where: Limassol district (east of the city)
What: one of the most ancient cities of Cyprus

❓ In which city is Amathus located? → Limassol

Pafos / Paphos

Where: south-west
What: mosaics of Dionysos, Tombs of the Kings, capital in the Roman period
Status: UNESCO World Heritage Site

Paphos was the main center of worship of the goddess Aphrodite (Αφροδίτη) in the ancient world. According to Greek mythology, Aphrodite was born from the sea foam near the rock Petra tou Romiou (Πέτρα του Ρωμιού, "Rock of the Greek") on the south-western coast of the island. The ancient Temple of Aphrodite in Palaepaphos (Old Paphos, modern village of Kouklia) attracted pilgrims from across the Mediterranean.

❓ Which ancient city in Cyprus was the center of worship of the goddess Aphrodite? → Paphos (Πάφος)

Salamis (Σαλαμίς)

Where: Famagusta district
What: the largest ancient city of Cyprus
Status: ⚠️ in the occupied territory

Kition (Κίτιον)

Where: modern Larnaca
What: Phoenician and Greek city, birthplace of Zeno (founder of Stoicism)

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Religious heritage

Painted churches of Troodos

In the Troodos mountains there are 10 Byzantine churches with unique frescoes of the 11th–16th centuries. All of them are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

The most famous:

• Panagia Phorviotissa (Asinou)
• Panagia tou Araka
• Church of Archangel Michael (Pedoulas)

Monastery of Kykkos

Where: Troodos mountains
Founded: 11th century
Famous for: icon of the Virgin Mary attributed to the Apostle Luke

Monastery of Apostle Andreas

Where: Karpas (Karpasia) peninsula (occupied)
Famous for: place of pilgrimage

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Ottoman period (1571–1878)

307 years of Turkish rule.

What changed:

• Part of the population converted to Islam → the Turkish Cypriot community appeared
• The Orthodox Church received autonomy
• Latin churches were turned into mosques

Important for the exam: it was in this period that two communities were formed — the Greek Cypriot and the Turkish Cypriot.

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British period (1878–1960)

Year	Event
1878	Great Britain received Cyprus from the Ottoman Empire
1914	Annexation after Turkey entered the war
1925	Cyprus became a Crown Colony
1955–1959	EOKA struggle for independence
1960	Independence

Legacy:

• Left-hand traffic
• English as a second language
• British military bases (still remain)

❓ Which foreign language is the most widespread in Cyprus? → English

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What to remember

Fact	Answer
Where does the name “Cyprus” come from	From copper (cuprum)
Neolithic UNESCO settlement	Choirokoitia
Amathus — district	Limassol
Monument in the occupied territory	Salamis
Painted UNESCO churches	10 churches in Troodos
Ottoman period	1571–1878 (307 years)
British period	1878–1960