Cyprus-Forum.com

[alexISS]

Germany bombed England several times in the early 1900's but do we still go on about it? No, do we hate the Germans? No.

Germany showed remorse and apologized for it's actions. That makes forgiving much much easier

[Strahd]

Change the record you idiot. Germany bombed England several times in the early 1900's but do we still go on about it?

Big Difference idiot. Germany and England are no longer at war because they stopped their acts of agression peace has been established 50 years ago, while TURKEY STILL OCCUPPIES 1/3 OF MY COUNTRY AND HAS BEEN DOING SO FOR 32 YEARS.

[Snad]

Change the record you idiot. Germany bombed England several times in the early 1900's but do we still go on about it?

Big Difference idiot. Germany and England are no longer at war because they stopped their acts of agression peace has been established 50 years ago, while TURKEY STILL OCCUPPIES 1/3 OF MY COUNTRY AND HAS BEEN DOING SO FOR 32 YEARS.

Why so hostile?????? Take a chill pill.

You are wrong anyway, Uk & Germany may not be at war, but Germany still thinks it can run UK by back door methods, ie EU. Don't preach to UK about war, we have had our fair share.

[unique_earthling]

My grandmother had her house blown up, also lost her son who was one of the missing, body never found. Yet she never went on and on about it, she got up and rebuilt her life and was grateful to have survived. She did not have a victim mentallity, nor did she live in the past, and she didnt harbour hatred, she remained mentally healthy and never taught her children to hate. She did not go on about what she had lost but what blessings she had left. You should all be ashamed of yourselves and your evil hatred and pathetic greed, and your hanging on to a drama to validate your existances. Grow up, and move on and become something worth knowing, because your not now..

[alexISS]

My grandmother...never taught her children to hate.

Well someone taught her grandchildren

[alexISS]

Uk & Germany may not be at war, but Germany still thinks it can run UK by back door methods, ie EU

Between the Germans and the Americans I would pick the Germans, at least they don't drag other countries to war anymore

[unique_earthling]

I agree, i certainly dont hold with the politics of Blair and Bush, and their manipulations, i am against real injustices, and dont have a pride in any country that is unjust. and believe it or not i dont hate anybody, i just dislike what some do, and how they think.

[elena09]

My grandmother had her house blown up, also lost her son who was one of the missing, body never found. Yet she never went on and on about it, she got up and rebuilt her life and was grateful to have survived. .
You should all be ashamed of yourselves and your evil hatred and pathetic greed, and your hanging on to a drama to validate your existances. ..

Really sorry that we are selfish becase we really cant forget what happened to us just 30 years ago. Bcoz we just cant continue our lives and forget all about our grandpas, fathers, uncles, brothers, mothers, sisters that would have been together with us today. And bcoz ever since we remember our yiayia dressed in black mourning for her lost husband and children.
Bcoz my mum was forced to live in the fields at a young age bcoz some 'friendly turk' decided to take her house.
bcoz nearly 50% of the cyprus population lost everything they had and didnt have, for which they worked hard for their whole life and had to rebuild thir lives agian starting from zero.
and i can go on and on for a number of reasons.
and o be honest, i do not apologise for clinging to the past, bcoz there are just somethings i dont forget.

So, tomorrow when a stranger comes to your house, and drags you out of it, holding a gun to your face, and kills your father and brother on front of you just for the sake of it, please, just go out, find a field to live and try to get on with your life. Do not hang on the drama you just found yourself in. Don't go on and on about it and rebuild your life

[Newformz]

British Takeover

The British took over in Cyprus in 1878. The first British governor of Limassol was Colonel Warren. He showed a particular interest in Limassol and even from the very first days the condition of the town showed an improvement. The roads were cleaned, the animals were removed from the center, roads were fixed, trees were planted and docks were constructed for the loading and unloading of those ships that were embarked away from the shore. Lanterns for the lighting of the central areas were also installed in the 1880. In 1912, electricity finally replaced the old lanterns.

From the very first years of the British occupation, a post office, a telegraph office and a hospital began to operate. In 1880 the first printing press started working. It was in this printing press that the newspapers «Alithia» and «Anagennisis» were published in 1897. The newspaper «Salpinx» was published at the same time.
At the end of the 19th century the very first hotels began to operate. Among these were «Europe» and «Amathus».
These changes that the British brought about contributed to the development of an intellectual and artistic life. Schools, theaters, clubs, art galleries, music halls, sport societies, football clubs etc. were all set up and meant a great deal to the cultural life of Lemesos (Limassol).
Job opportunities concerned the wine and ceramic industries, as well as the commerce and tourism developed by the port.


History

The town of Limassol is situated between the ancient towns of Amathus and Curium (Kourion). The English King Richard the Lionheart destroyed Amathus in 1191. Lemesos (Limassol) was probably built after Amathus had been ruined. However, the town of Lemesos (Limassol) was inhabited since the very old times. Graves found there date back to 2.000 B.C. and others date back to the 8th and 4th century BC. These few remains show that a small colonization must have existed which did not manage to develop and flourish.
Ancient writers mention nothing about the foundation of the town.
According to the Synod which took place in 451, the bishop of Theodossiani Sotir as well as the bishops of Amathus and Arsinoe were involved in the foundation. Theodossiani is regarded the same as Limassol was known later as Neapolis. Bishop Leontios of Neapolis was an important church writer in the 7th century.The records of the 7th Synod (787) refer to it as the bishop’s see. The town was known as Nemesos in the 10th century. Constantine Porfyrogennitos refers to the town by this name.

The history of Limassol is largely known by the events of 1191 A.D. that put an end to the Byzantine dominion of Cyprus. The king of England, Richard the Lionheart, was travelling to the Holy Land in 1191. His fiancée Berengaria and his sister loanna, (Queen of Sicily), were also travelling on a different ship. Because of a storm, the ship with the queens arrived in Lemesos (Limassol). Isaac Comnenus, the Byzantine governor of Cyprus, was heartless and cruel, and loathed the Latins. He invited the queens ashore, with the intention of holding them to ransom, but they wisely refused. So he refused them fresh water and they had to put out to sea again or yield to capture. When Richard arrived in Lemesos (Limassol) and met Isaac Comnenus, he asked him to contribute to the crusade for the liberation of the Holy Land. While at the beginning Isaac had accepted, he later on refused to give any help.

Richard then chased him and beat him. Cyprus was therefore taken over by the English. Richard celebrated his marriage with Berengaria who had received the crown as queen of England in Cyprus. So, the Byzantine dominion in Cyprus came to an end.Richard destroyed Amathus and the inhabitants were transferred to Limassol.

A year later, in 1192 A.D. Cyprus was sold to the Templars, rich monks and soldiers whose aim was the protection of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. The knights enforced high taxes, in order to put back the money that had been given for the purchase of Cyprus. This led to the revolt of the Cypriots. They demanded that they should get rid of the bond of the promise. Richard accepted their request and a new purchaser was found: Guy de Lusignan, a Frank, a Roman Catholic. Cyprus was thus handed over to the Frankish Dynasty of the Lusignan kings of the medieval Cypriot kingdom.

For a period of about three centuries 1192-1489, Limassol enjoyed a remarkable prosperity. Cyprus was characterized by its great number of Latin bishops. This lasted until the occupation of Cyprus by the Turks in 1570 A.D. Latin battalions which established monasteries were settled down there.

The settling down of merchants in Cyprus and particularly in Limassol in the 13th century led to the financial welfare of its inhabitants. Its harbor as a center of transportation and commerce, contributed greatly to the financial and cultural development.


Arrival of Germany

The King of Germany, Frederick II, urged by the Templars of Cyprus who were enemies of Ibelen, arrived in Limassol and took over in the town in 1228. He then called John Ibelen to come before him, in order to discuss the plans against the Muslims. John Ibelen came before him accompanied by the under-aged King Eric and all the Templars of Cyprus. When Ibelen refused to cooperate, Frederick had no choice but to let him go. The German King took over in Limassol and in other towns. He appointed his own governors but he finally left Cyprus. The forces of Frederick were finally beaten in the battle of 1229, which took place in Agirta, a village in the Kyrenia area, between the forces of Frederick and the troops of the Franks, which were led by John Ibelen. The outcome of the battle meant the beginning of the freedom of Cyprus from the Germans.


Attacks from Egypt

Limassol witnessed the attacks of the Mamelukes of Egypt. The harbor of Limassol had become a refuge for the pirates who were ravaging the countries of the Eastern Mediterranean and were stealing the products of the Mohammedans. The lords were getting richer and richer because of the money that was given to them for their assistance to the pirates. Thus, a military force arrived in Limassol in 1424, sent by the Mamelukes of Egypt. The Mamelukes devastated and burned Lemesos (Limassol). A year later, they invaded Cyprus again, this time with greater forces. They plundered Famagusta and Larnaca, and then arrived in Limassol where without any difficulty they occupied the Castle, burned many places, plundered others and then returned to Cairo. The Mamelukes caused even greater destruction in Limassol and other places in 1426. Janus, the king of Cyprus, was defeated by them in Chirokitia and was sent back to Cairo as a prisoner.

Cyprus was sold in 1489 A.D. to the town of Venice by the Cypriot Queen Catherine Cornaro. The Venetians were not interested in Cyprus. They were only interested in receiving the taxes and in exploiting the country’s sources. They destroyed the Castle of Limassol. Travelers who visited Cyprus in the 16th century commented on the poor condition of the local population in the towns of Cyprus.
All the inhabitants of Cyprus were enslaved by the Venetians, and were obliged to pay a tribute of ⅓ of their income, whether this was part of their products of the land, e.g. wheat, wine, oil, or animals or of any other product.


Turkish invasion

The Turks invaded Cyprus in 1570-1571 and occupied it. Limassol was conquered in July 1570 without any resistance. The Turks devastated and burnt it. Descriptions of different visitors inform us that the town of Limassol looked like a village with a considerable number of inhabitants. The Christians used to live in small houses of such low height, that one had to bend in order to enter the house. This was deliberately chosen in order to prevent the Turks from riding a horse, to enter the houses.
During the years of the Turkish domination, Cyprus faced a general decline. The Turks did not contribute to any development. Greeks and Turks used to live in distinct neighborhoods. During the years of the Turkish domination, the intellectual standard of the Cypriots had declined. The lack of interest on the part of conquerors, the oppression and the high taxation were restraining factors for the intellectual development of the children. The church played an important role in the education of the country during the years 1754-1821. During those years new schools were set up in all the towns. Greek intellectuals used to teach Greek history, Turkish and French. The following schools operated in the town of Limassol:
• The Greek School which was established in 1819.
• The first public school which was established in 1841.
• The Girls’ School which was established in 1861.

[Swashbuckler]

My grandmother had her house blown up, also lost her son who was one of the missing, body never found. Yet she never went on and on about it, she got up and rebuilt her life and was grateful to have survived. .
You should all be ashamed of yourselves and your evil hatred and pathetic greed, and your hanging on to a drama to validate your existances. ..

Really sorry that we are selfish becase we really cant forget what happened to us just 30 years ago. Bcoz we just cant continue our lives and forget all about our grandpas, fathers, uncles, brothers, mothers, sisters that would have been together with us today. And bcoz ever since we remember our yiayia dressed in black mourning for her lost husband and children.
Bcoz my mum was forced to live in the fields at a young age bcoz some 'friendly turk' decided to take her house.
bcoz nearly 50% of the cyprus population lost everything they had and didnt have, for which they worked hard for their whole life and had to rebuild thir lives agian starting from zero.
and i can go on and on for a number of reasons.
and o be honest, i do not apologise for clinging to the past, bcoz there are just somethings i dont forget.

So, tomorrow when a stranger comes to your house, and drags you out of it, holding a gun to your face, and kills your father and brother on front of you just for the sake of it, please, just go out, find a field to live and try to get on with your life. Do not hang on the drama you just found yourself in. Don't go on and on about it and rebuild your life

And neither do the TCs forget what happened to them before those sorry events.

We all harp on and on (wallowing in self-righteous victimization)until these hallowed memories have become religious dogma and have made any chance at reconciliation impossible.

For a reconciliation and solution both sides need to get on and grow up. Playing the whining victim (which both sides do) gets us nowhere. And no, it's not a question of "I was wronged more than you". Because all of us have wronged the other.

Regrettably, given the near-religious overtones of our collective victimhood, I see that reconciliation is impossible.