Cyprus history
A popular Mediterranean haven for European winter holidays, on the surface sunny Cyprus is a peaceful place to visit. But dig deeper and you’ll find the birthplace of Aphrodite has a somewhat chequered past. From the Greek settlement of the island in 10BC, right up until to the present day, there has been plenty of argument over who controls Cyprus.
Part of the problem is Cyprus’ strategic position in the Mediterranean. Most recently it has been a military outpost for the British government but before the British there were the Ottomans, who ruled for 300 years, and before them the Venetians, Byzantines, Romans and Egyptians. It seems everyone has wanted a piece of Cyprus as a tactical manoeuvre at one time or another.
Quick fact!
The last monarch of Cyprus was Queen Catherine Cornaro, who abdicated in 1489.
Add to the mix a pro-enosis Greek government, an anti-enosis Turkish government and a British government who wanted sovereignty, and you get some idea of the problems Cyprus has had to face throughout the 20th century.
Quick fact!
In 2004, archaeologists found the remains of a person buried with a cat on Cyprus. Dating back about 9,500 years, this is the oldest known pet cat.
Up until then there had been some riots but it wasn’t until the 1950s and the formation of EOKA (National Organisation for the Cypriot Struggle) that things started to get really heated. Over the next three years British administration and military personnel became the focus for a series of attacks by EOKA and many people were killed.
The Zurich Agreement of 1959 was an attempt to put an end to the violence, give Cyprus its independence and keep everyone happy, including the British who wished to retain military bases on the island. As good as this intention was, it didn’t succeed and the violence carried on. Acting under its right as a guarantor power Turkey saw fit to invade the island in 1974 to protect its ‘interests’.
The result was the situation that exists on Cyprus today; the north part ruled by the Turkish Cypriots and the south ruled by the Greek Cypriots. In between runs the peace line, also known as the Attila Line, maintained by the UN.
The north and south divide of Cyprus
Neighbourly relations have started to improve though. Since 2003, visits of up to three months are allowed between the two sides and four checkpoints have been set up. In terms of tourism, both regions are completely safe to visit, but just be aware that Northern Cyprus is outside the EU and uses Turkish lira.
Cyprus language and culture
Culture of Cyprus
Cyprus, although small, has one of the richest and most diverse histories in the world. Cultural influences created by its history include that of the Persians, Egyptians, ancient Greeks, Ottoman Empire and British Colonialism. Cyprus was granted independence in 1960, but still remains culturally and politically torn between the Greek Cypriots and the Turkish Cypriots. Modern day cultural traditions are therefore separated into Greek and Turkish traditions.
Cuisine
The food and drink of Cyprus is impacted primarily from Greek and Turkish cuisines. The primary spices of Cypriot cuisine include garlic, oregano, paprika, black pepper and cumin. Meat dishes are primarily created using lamb, goat and pork.
Traditionally, the Mediterranean is the primary source of food for ancient and modern day Cypriots. Seafood dishes like octopus stew and calamari are extremely common throughout the country, in both Greek Cyprus and Turkish Cyprus. Despite the definite cultural lines within the country, Cypriot cuisine is universal.
Art
Artistic expression in Cyprus dates back nearly ten centuries with the sculptures and paintings found in the ancient villages of Khoirokoitia and Lempa. Ancient Greek goddess Aphrodite is said to be born on the island of Cyprus, and because of this, early Greek art in Cyprus focused primarily on sensuality and the beauty of the human form.
The Middle Ages brought French Gothic architecture to the island country, as well as Italian Renaissance paintings and mural work in churches. Two prominent Cypriot artists Christopheros Savva and Adamantios Diamantis founded the modern art movement in Cyprus. After studying in London, both artists began to influence artistic expression in their stylizations and forms that are still used today.
Literature
Cypriot literature is most notable for its poetry and epic poetry. An epic poem from ancient Greece called the Cypria is said to be the first Greek and European influenced work of epic poetry. The Ottoman Empire’s invasion of Cyprus also brought forth many Turkish Cypriot poets. Hasan Hilmi Efendi is one of the most famous Turkish Cypriot poets, having been acknowledged publically by sultans and kings. With the division of modern day Cyprus, many poets and novelists have created a distinct Cypriot voice in the literary world. William Shakespeare’s Othello has Cyprus as it’s main setting throughout the play. Many celebrated authors also seek artistic solitude upon the island of Cyprus so that they may be influenced by the natural beauty and history of the country.
Languages of Cyprus
In Cyprus, the official languages are Turkish and Greek. In the public domain, the common languages are Cypriot Greek and Cypriot Turkish spoken in the south and north of the country respectively. The minority languages are Armenian and Cypriot Arabic. More than 80% of Cypriots have a good command of the English language. French, German, Spanish and Russian are also spoken by a small proportion of the population.
Basic Greek and Turkish words and phrases
Greek
Hello – Yassas
Goodbye – Antio
Please – Parakalw
Thank-you – Efharistó
My name is… – Me léne…
I don’t speak Greek – Den miló elliniká
Do you speak English / Spanish / French / German – Miláte angliká / ispaniká / Gállos / Germanós
Turkish
Hello – Merhaba
Goodbye – Hoşçakal
Please - Lütfen
Thank-you – Teşekkür ederim
My name is… – Benim adım…
I don’t speak Turkish – Türkçe konuşamıyorum
Cyprus weather
Located in the eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea, Cyprus is an island country that enjoys sunny weather and high temperatures in almost every season. The sub-tropical Mediterranean climate makes Cyprus a very pleasant tourist destination even during winter, when temperatures hardly reach zero degrees.
Spring in Cyprus
Sea temperatures are relatively chilly in spring, and so is the weather, with an average low temperature of 11°C in March that gradually increases until the end of the season. Therefore, May gets an average high temperature of 24°C, with plenty of sunshine and places to visit. Bring your summer clothes, plus a pair of trousers and a jacket in case it gets chilly.
Summer in Cyprus
Given that sea temperatures exceed 27 degrees during the summer, packing several swim suits would be in order. Summers in Cyprus are very hot and dry, with a maximum average temperature of 30°C. There is very little chance of rain, so you should focus on packing plenty of sun cream and a hat to protect you from heatstroke.
Autumn in Cyprus
The temperatures are very pleasant during this time of the year, starting off with an average of 24°C and in November only falling to an average of 15°C. Cyprus gets plenty of sunshine and very little rain during autumn, so a light-weight shirt and shorts would suffice.
Winter in Cyprus
Cyprus experiences very mild winters, with the average temperature dropping to 15 degrees in the first month of the season. Even if the average low usually drops below 10 degrees, you won’t experience negative temperatures in Cyprus, so there’s no need to bring very warm overcoats if you’re travelling here in winter.
Average temperatures in Nicosia and Paphos
Average rainfall in Nicosia and Paphos
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