Cyprus Brief History

Cyprus has seen human activities for hundreds of years BC. The history of Cyprus draws visitors and tourists in search of culture and historical places every year. Cyprus is The Island that is a true chest of ancient ruins and historical events. 

It is known that since 700 BC the first colonists of the Neolithic period arrived in the Island. The island has been occupied by several major powers, including the empires of the Hittites, Assyrians, Egyptians, Phoenicians, Ptolemies, Persians, Byzantines, Arabs, and Ottomans in different times and has left some of their foot marks and cultural marks in each corner. However, the island today governs itself. 

Greeks have ruled the island from 1050 BC to 800 BC by that time Cyprus was made up of 10 autonomy Greekkingdoms. 

Kourion, one of the ancient cities of Cyprus is a great historic visit worthy that has ruins of a theater from the early middle age. Kourion is just 20 km away from Limassol. Ruins of Kourion are perfact exampl of the architectural knowledge with capacity of 2000 seats. This ancient theatre was used in the middle age by the gladiators who had battled till death to prove their strength and fighting skills. Besides the theatre the astonishing City of Kourion is another remarkable Historic mark of Cyprus. 

The Island of Cyprus remained under rule of Egyptians in many different ages. Their first visit to the Island is recorded around 1500 BC, then 500 BC and the last signs of Egyption rule over Cyprus was around 325 BC. End was brought to the Egyptians rule on the Mediterenean Island by Romans, who took over the Island under their command. Evidences of the Egyptian occupation in Cyprus has been collected and transfered by Americans and later British but Egyptian artifacts can be also found in room 8 of the Cyprus museum in Nicosia, including some bronze tools, weaponry and stone statues of Egyptian Gods.

Roman Empire has left its huge impact on Cyprus and the city of Paphos is an excellent example of the historic roman activities in Cyprus. Some remarkable roman age ruins are still situated in Paphos. Close to Paphos harbor is the mosaic floors of the ancient houses of Dionysus, Orpheus and Aion and the villa of Theseus. These mosaics are made from small cubes of marble and stone designed with small an complex images. The modern light house of Paphos is restored to host the summer activites and stage performances is another example of the Roman left behinds from the second century AD Odeon in Cyprus.

Further to the Egyption and Roman rulers Cyprus has also been occupied by Venetian and the Ottoman Empire. The Island has beautiful Byzantine churches, medieval forts and ancient monasteries. 

Cyprus recent occupation was by the British who ruled Cyprus between the years of 1878 to 1955. Cyprus gained its independent in 1960. In 1974, Turkey invaded the North side of the Island and geopolitically divided the Island into two parts. Later in 1982 Turkish Cypriots declared their independence as the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus which is only recognized by Turkey and it remains the same since then.