The Ancient Civilization of Cyprus

Cyprus Civilization History - The Ancient Civilization of Cyprus

THE ANCIENT CIVILIZATION OF CYPRUS

THE most ancient civilization of Cyprus is represented by the finds discovered at the Neolithic settlement of Khirokitia (on the Nicosia - Limassol road) which dates back to the sixth millennium B.C.

As shown by the type of their circular dwellings (the tholoi), the stone vessels, the tools and stone ornaments, the Khirokitia inhabitants were skillful craftsmen. They had also made considerable progress in agriculture and domestication of animals and had established trade relations with Asia Minor from where they used to import obsidian for making tools.

The excavations carried out during recent years brought to light new settlements completing the picture of the life of the inhabitants of Cyprus during the Neolithic Period. The Troulli settlement (on the north coast of the Island) dates back to the end of the sixth millennium B.C. and shows the degree of technical achievement reached through the making of pottery red polished or with red geometrical patterns painted on light ground which was not found at Khirokitia. Presumably new settlers had arrived in the Island during this period and they brought with them the art of pottery. Moreover the Neolithic settlements at Kalavassos (Larnaca District) and Sotira (Limassol District) have shed new light on the Island's Neolithic civilization of the second part of the fourth millennium B.C.

At these two settlements new types of habitation were found and a new style of pottery, the combed-ware, which is the most characteristic of the second Neolithic period in Cyprus. The burial of the dead in separate open areas but not far from the dwellings marks a change since in the Neolithic period, represented by Khirokitia, the dead were buried within the dwellings.

The Erimi settlement (3000-2500 B.C.), west of Limassol, which marks a new era in the Island's prehistoric civilization, leads to the end of the Neolithic period. The round habitations or tholoi are now of an advanced type. The stone vases are abandoned and clay vessels with new painted patterns are now produced. But the most important characteristic of the Erimi civilization is the use, for the first time in Cyprus, of copper for making tools. This is the reason why this period was called Chalcolithic. The Island's copper resources brought about a new arrival of people from the west coast of Asia Minor which is evident in the new style of pottery, that of the Red Polished ware and also in the introduction of new burial customs shown at the necropolis of Philia (Nicosia District). The introduction into Cyprus of new elements of civilization from the western part of Asia Minor and the abundant use of copper in making weapons and tools bring us to the Bronze Age, about the end of the third millennium B.C. In the production of pottery, the traditional shapes are abandoned while new types, derived from south-western Anatolia, are now introduced. This gave a new impetus to pottery-making which reached new peaks. At the outset Cypriote potters copied Anatolian models, but later they gradually transformed the various forms to suit their Cypriote taste. The Anatolian influence, however, left its mark on the Bronze Age civilization of Cyprus which lasted for many generations until the appearance of the Mycenaeans during the middle of the second.

Millennium. The characteristic feature of the Island's civilization during the early Bronze Age is the Red Polished ware of a very beautiful appearance, design and decoration. Vases of this ware were produced in large numbers and the Cypriote potters transformed them gradually to suit the Cypriote taste. During this period and particularly during the Middle Bronze Age (beginning of the second millennium B.C.) Cyprus makes good progress in copper mining as well as in other fields. Copper is now exported from Cyprus to other countries of the Near East and as far as the Euphrates, where the exportation of copper from Cyprus is mentioned on tablets with inscriptions in cuneiform writing. But the most important stage in the Island's history during this period starts from the second millennium B.C. when Cyprus, known as Alasia, enters the international field. Its copper is sent to many Eastern and Western countries while on the other hand the Island's pottery becomes known in Greece and other Eastern countries such as Syria, Palestine and Egypt, Until now the Island's connections with the civilization of Crete and the Greek mainland were limited. Only a small number of vases and some other objects from Crete were found in the Island, indicating that relations between Cyprus and the Cretan civilization already existed at the beginning of the second millennium B.C. These relations, however, were not very close. From the end of the 15th century and particularly the beginning of the 14th century, the relations between Cyprus and the Greek mainland entered a completely new phase. During this period flourished the Mycenaean civilization which, having Mycenae as its centre, expanded towards the most distant parts of the Mediterranean. The Mycenaeans, who were good warriors with colonizing qualities, moved in large numbers to all parts of the Mediterranean and along the Syrian coast. Thus Cyprus becomes a very important centre during the Mycenaeans' expansion towards the East. The Mycenaeans settle in the Island and turn Cyprus not only into a trading centre for the exportation of copper but also into a centre of civilization. Cyprus, then known as Alasia, becomes very important, not only as a trading centre or a centre for the exportation of copper, but also as a route through which western civilization (of the Greek mainland) passes to the East.

Engomi, near Salamis, recently identified with Alasia, became a rich port of paramount importance, which is indisputably proved by the latest excavations carried out in this town. Copper and other products as well as Mycenaean and Cypriote pottery are exported from the Island to Syrian ports, especially to Ras Shamra, where Prof. Schaeffer, the well known French archaeologist, discovered a lot of objects of Cypriote origin. The settlement of Mycenaeans and especially of the Achaeans !s one of the greatest turning points in the island's history. While until the arrival of these peoples Cyprus had its own civilization and was rather turned towards the East, now it turns towards the Mycenaean civilization which penetrates the Island and puts its mark on the island's civilization. A little later, when the Achaeans, forced by the Dorians, arrived in large numbers and they founded towns, they introduced into the Island their language, their customs and habits and their religion. In the eleventh century and at the beginning of the Iron Age, the Achaean, Greek and Cypriote civilizations became amalgamated. The Iron Age in Cyprus (so called because iron is now replacing copper and is used for making weapons and tools) appears first as a period of cultural decadence. This was the result of great disturbances which occurred after the Dorian invasion. While other countries had suffered extensively Cyprus appears to have avoided the general upheaval. Owing to the interruption of contacts with foreign countries of the East or the West, the civilization of Cyprus lost its previous brilliance and trade subsided. Where there is no prosperity civilization cannot progress. The most characteristic feature of this period (1050-700 B.C.) is the pottery which owing to its purely geometrical decoration is called Geometric. At the end of the eighth century B.C., when Assyria reached a stage of political and international power, Cyprus was unable to defend herself. In 709 B.C. seven Cypriot Kings submitted to the Assyrian King Sargon II. The subjugation of the Cypriot Kings encouraged the Phoenicians to expand their influence westwards. This period coincides with their settlement in various parts of Cyprus, the most important of which is the town of Kition. Following the Assyrian occupation, the Island passed over to the Egyptian King Amasis (569-525 B.C.) and later on to the Persians (525 B.C.). During the Ionian revolt Cyprus sided with Ionia but the revolt in Cyprus was soon suppressed by the Persians. Afterwards Cyprus goes through a period of trouble and uncertainty until Alexander the Great, after the battle of Issues in 333 B.C., finally freed Cyprus from the Persian yoke.

These events had consequently a detrimental effect on the development of the Island's civilization. The activities, however, of King Evagoras I, of Salamis, (end of the fifth century B.C.)

marked a new era and Greek culture exercises again a strong influence on the civilization of Cyprus. The period between the first part of the seventh century and the time of Alexander saw the development of pottery and sculpture. Following the appearance of the Phoenicians, Cyprus receives influences from the East. It is then that pottery developed into an exquisite style based on the Mycenaean traditions but with oriental sing elements introduced by the Phoenicians. This period (7th-6th century B.C.) is perhaps one of the most brilliant periods in the history of pottery-making in Cyprus when, in spite of foreign influences, it succeeded in retaining its local character. The decoration on pottery now consists of exquisite lotus flowers, birds and human figures. After the occupation of the Island by the Persians, sculpture, which at first received influences from the East (Syria and Egypt), now receives the influence of Ionia and Cyprus statues bear distinctively something of the charm of the Greek Ionian style. During the Persian wars Cyprus loses its direct contact with the Greek cultural centres and the Golden Age of Athens, therefore, passes by without the Island profiting by it. Only after the occupation of Cyprus by Alexander and following his death, after her cession to the Ptolemaic Kingdom, Cyprus starts again to develop its sculpture but this time under the influence of Alexandria. The Ptolemaic rule in Cyprus ended in 58 B.C. when the Island became a Roman province. Later on, under Emperor Diocletian, Cyprus is included in the eastern part of the Roman Empire and at the end of the fourth century, when the Empire was divided, it passed over to the Byzantine Empire.

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