Cyprus-Forum.com

[sajica58]

I thought that all of you who are interested in the history of the Island, would like to read this account i found on Greekcity.com
a forum for greeks living in Australia. For ancient history in general
a good book that explains the beginnings of european people with plenty of maps is the penguin atlas of ancient history by colin mcEvedy........

To understand Cyprus's history is to understand, who the Cypriots are. Some people say there, Greek, Turk or a blend of these races. Yet it appears that the average Greek and Turkish Cypriot (who have lived in cyprus for 400 years+) have so much in common. Firstly whether they are Greek or Turk, they are Cypriot. To be Cypriot means that one is born in Cyprus or descended from Cyprus. Therefore such a statement is Cyprus Greek? To a certain extent I'd reply. Are Cypriots Greek, to some extent, not entirely. A unique mix of local linguistical dialect has formed, and the people have retained a great deal of influence from other cultures. Rather it seems a Cypriot is a blend of many historical cultures, with the preodminance being Greek. However from 9000-1200 BC, the island of Cyprus, according to aracheologists was occupied by people indigenous to Cyprus. Therefore these people have become to be known as the "Eteo-Cypriots" or true Cypriots (traces of whose non-Greek and also non-Semitic language survived in Cypro-Minoan syallabic script until the 4th century AD). They developed a unique culture with Assyrian, Levantine, Egyptian, and Minoan influences. By the 1200's the Mycenean Greeks had arrived in Cyprus, the new Greek settlers introduced their culture and belnded in with the indigenous peoples, creating a unique Near-Eastern, Aegean Greek culture in the Mediterranean. Later the Phoenicians also settled for a short time in Cyprus, introducing a highly sophisticated Semitc-Syrian culture to the island. By the 500's Cypryus fell under control of the Egyptians for 40 years, Followed by the control of the Persians for the next 200 years, during this time some city kingdoms sided with Greece while others sided with Persia, during the Battle of Salamis. Alexander reconquered the island and it remained a possession of the Greek empire, until 58 BC, when it was captured by the Romans. By 247 AD the island had become a possession of the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) empire which asserted a long dominance over the island until 1191 AD. The Crusaders captured the island in 1191 AD and had it transferred to the Lusignans (an ex latin kingdom of Jerusalem), who's latin-catholic, french and geonese rulers would go on ruling the island till 1489. When the last Lusignan king died, his wife Caterina Cornaro handed over Cyprus to the Venetians (from Venice, Italy) in 1489. The Venetians sought to use the island as a trade income and base against the Ottomans, they prepared the defences of the island, and continued to do so until the battle with the Ottomans in July 1570.The island fell to the Ottoman Turks. Ottoman rule would last from 1570-1878, when the British took possesion of the island. British occupation lasted from 1878 until 1960.

As can be dicerned Cyprus has a long, difficult history. The people are by no means exclusively Greek, rather the Greek Cypriots are a combination of the first Ture "Eteo" Cypriots, Greek Achaens, Egyptians, Romans, Byzantines, Venetians, Lusignans and Geonese. While intermarrying amongst Greek and Turkish Cypriots was taboo and uncommon, it very rarel occured. The Greek Cypriots are descendants of the many empires above (excluding the Turks and the British). Similarly the Turkish Cypriots are descendants of Turkish migrants and soliders and their families who settled in Cyprus after 1571. While the two in the main lived peacefully, the Turkish Cyptiots developed a unique dialect from the Turkish mainlanders, with many common Cypriot words, as did the Greek Cypriots who's isolation from the Greek world, and subsequent influences of levantine, arabic, and italian linguistical influences became part of the Greek Cypriot dialect. The vast differences between the appearnces of Greek Cyptiots testifies to the testament of various empires who setlled and developed a unique culture to Cyprus. Some Cyptiots appear much darker, and appear more Arabic in appearnce, others appear more Greek or Italian looking, while some have neither a Grecian profile.

The clear turth is that yes Cypriots have some Greek blood, culture, history and traditions, yet the marked influences of all those other cultures over the centuries, has contibuted to the unique development of the Cypriot people both Greek and Turkish. Rather the Greeks and Turkish Cypriots of Cyprus have evolved through many centuries into the people of Cyprus, developed unqie Cypriot words and a common love for the island. Cyprus isn;t a half Gree, half Turk island, arther it has developed something unique to its own, which owes testament to the Greeks, Turks, Byzantines, Romans, Assyrians, Egyptians, Arabs, Italians, the latins and the Poms.

[Piratis]

The clear turth is that yes Cypriots have some Greek blood, culture, history and traditions, yet the marked influences of all those other cultures over the centuries, has contibuted to the unique development of the Cypriot people

This can be said for most people, including the Greeks. So from a "purity" point of view, Greeks are mostly Greek (and not pure Greek), Turks are mostly Turkish etc.

If being "mostly Greek" or "mostly Turk" etc is not enough to make somebody Greek or Turkish, then such thing as a Greek, Turk etc does not exist.

Greece was also under occupation by different empires (Roman, Byzantine, Roman etc). They didn't mix, only we did?

If you go to different part of Greece you will see many different kind of dialects, traditions etc. In fact in some of those places their dialect and traditions are very close to the ones of Cyprus and not very common to the ones of Athens.

Greek Cypriots are as much Greek as any other Greek. If Cyprus was part of Greece and Crete was not, then this whole discussion would go on about Crete (they would talk about Minoans etc) and nobody would doubt the "Greekness" of Greek Cypriots.

I say all these because saying what is correct is important. (being Greek is not). I personally might be more Turkish or more Arabic from a genetic point of view, and I have no problem with that.

Unity in Cyprus should not come out of forging history. Unity should come by respecting the differences (cultural, linguistic etc) of all Cypriots. Being different is something that should only enrich our island, not something that should be used as an excuse for division and conflicts.

[miltiades]

It may in the long run convince the doubters that there is such race as the Cypriot race , I'm certainly a Cypriot above all else.

[MarsdenCuckoo]

Nice thoughts so... maybe 'Cypriot Greek' and 'Cypriot Turk' may be a good idea?

Christine

[EUropean666]

Maybe it's time to create a cypriot identity.

[miltiades]

I have had one since 1946 .

[EUropean666]

i mean....without the greek- or turk-cypriot pronounce

[unique_earthling]

halleluja!!!

[MarsdenCuckoo]

Well done, guys.... we're rockin 'n rollin' now. So what's the next step?
(This could be history in the making.) All the Cypriots I've met here (North and South) have had one thing very firmly in common: they prefer to be called 'Cypriots' without any adjective. So, come on, all Cypriots.... It's your country; make the most of it!

Christine

[sajica58]

So marsden, who did frame roger rabbit?