cyprus mediaeval literature

CRYSTÝANÝTY, Byzantine administration and Arabian raids influenced Cypriot life deeply in all its attitudes during the first twelve centuries and the general rhythm of Cypriot life followed the Byzantine lead everywhere. Worship, art, social structure, economic and intellectual life, all bore Byzantine characteristics. This influence is more obvious as far as it concerns literature, which during the first centuries was of a purely religious character, but which in the last centuries of Byzantine administration took a heroic epic character, especially in its folk side. Arabian raids played their part in this change. These raids kept Cyprus separated from the Byzantine Empire sometimes for whole decades but united it closer as far as concerned the people's spiritual feelings, which in Byzantium were also revolving round the "Akrites" (frontier guards) who were fighting the Arabs. They were therefore taking on a Christian and national character.

No important works of this period have been preserved except some of a religious character. The most important literary creation of those times were the folk songs, especially the "Akritika". In no other Greek country are so many and such perfect "Akritika" preserved. The whole circle of the "Akrites" epic, the subject of which is the peculiar life of Byzantine "Akrites", and their endless struggles against the Arab raiders, is revived in the Cypriot "Akritika" songs. The innumerable Cypriot traditions and names of localities which have been preserved until to day are as un-extinguished and brilliant monuments of that chivalrous period. The heroic deeds of Digenis of Skliros, of Phokas, of Porphyris, of Aliandri, of Constantas and other "Akrites" are sung with epic magnificence in these songs, distinguished by their perfection of construction and contents, epic force and dramatic clearness, poetic imagination, expressive richness, national pride and a brave man's politeness. They are also among the most valuable intellectual creations of the Cypriot folk Muse in the mediaeval and post-mediaeval years. Exactly the same characteristics can be found in the parallel songs of the other Greek countries, which show that a spiritual and racial brotherhood existed in those countries in all conditions at that time.

Under the Lusignan and Venetian rule, the vitality of the people wag so strong that they forced their rulers to accept the Cypriot language to a certain extent and even to write in it the Civil Code mixed with many foreign elements. This same lingual mixture is to be seen in all the Cypriot works of that period, even the best known, as the Chronicles of Leontios Makhairas and of George "oustronios, and the famous "Cypriot love Songs".

The works of this period are many, but the Chronicle of Makhairas stands out because, despite its naively and the lack of scholastic criticism it is a valuable book in that it revitalizes the historical period.

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