Cyprus: An Island and a People

According to the 1st century AD Roman writer Pliny the Elder, author of the Historia Naturalis, Cyprus became an island when torn from mainland Syria. Cyprus’ position, in the Pamphylian Sea down from the gulf of Issus (today known as the Eastern Mediterranean), was one of great importance. Not only was the island itself rich in natural resources in the ancient world, but its ports became trading hubs visited by people of many nationalities including the Phoenicians, Anatolians and Syrians, Egyptians, Greeks, Romans and Africans. It was a place where, according to the author of Constitution of the Athenians, the Athenians first discovered luxury.The curators of ‘Cyprus: An Island and a People’ invite visitors to share in a series of stories told in conjunction with ancient Cypriot artefacts. They reflect not only the antiquity of the Island through the Neolithic tools that were used for farming and the processing of grain, but also give us access to the early cults of fertility and death, and the practices and beliefs of, the Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, and peoples from the wider Mediterranean in the modern era, who settled on the Island. The Island itself, an important trading hub, has been celebrated for its fertility, its abundance of natural resources including copper, and its distinctive culture for centuries. Although Cyprus’ political history has at times been tumultuous, the spirit and pride of her people has always shone through. It is a great privilege for us to be able to share their stories with you through this exhibition.