{"id":35268,"date":"2023-07-29T13:46:36","date_gmt":"2023-07-29T11:46:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/beta.cycladic.gr\/essay\/i-kypros-stous-istorikous-chronous\/"},"modified":"2023-11-14T17:03:13","modified_gmt":"2023-11-14T15:03:13","slug":"i-kypros-stous-istorikous-chronous","status":"publish","type":"essay","link":"https:\/\/cycladic.gr\/en\/essay\/i-kypros-stous-istorikous-chronous\/","title":{"rendered":"Cyprus in historical times"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Cyprus in historical times<\/h1>

CYPRIOT ART<\/p> <\/header>

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CYPRO – GEOMETRIC
(1050 \u2013 750 BC)<\/h2> <\/header>\n\n \n
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The turmoil in the Eastern Mediterranean during the late 13th and early 12th centuries BC greatly affected Cyprus. New settlements were established and a new form or political organization \u2013 based on ten independent kingdoms \u2013 gradually made its appearance. The strategic location and the availability of raw materials (metals and timber) helped Cyprus regain its role as a centre of Mediterranean trade, forging relations with the Syro-Palestinian littoral, Egypt, and Crete.<\/p>\n

The founding of a Phoenician colony at Kition \u2013 in the 9th c. BC \u2013 gave fresh impetus to commercial activities. New cultural elements were introduced to the island too, such as the Phoenician language and the cult of Astarte (which was later assimilated into the worship of Aphrodite). The art of the period has a distinctly local idiom, despite the influences from the Orient and the Aegean. As early as the 11th c. BC, a new syllabic system of writing (Cypriot syllabary) was developed, which was used continuously until the 3rd c. BC for the ancient Cypriot and Greek language.<\/p>\n\n \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n

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Pottery of the Cypro-Geometric period, Z0192, Z0190, Z0600A, \u03960189<\/div>
\u00a9 Museum of Cycladic Art<\/div><\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n \n \n<\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n
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CYPRO – ARCHAIC
(750 \u2013 475 BC)<\/h2> <\/header>\n\n
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View of the Permanent Exhibition<\/div>
Photo Paris Tavitian \u00a9Museum of Cycladic Art<\/div><\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n
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The Archaic period was one of intense political and cultural growth on Cyprus. In 709 BC, most of the island\u2019s kingdoms were subjugated by Assyria and remained under Assyrian rule until 669 BC. Then, one of the rare periods of independence for Cyprus began, lasting until 560 BC \u2013 when the Cypriot kingdoms were forced to become vassals of Egypt.<\/p>\n

However, Egyptian rule was short-lived, since, in 526\/5 BC, the island was captured by the Persians. In 499 BC most of the Cypriot kingdoms allied themselves with the Greeks of Ionia in their revolt against the Persians. The effects of the continuous invasions and power changes do not seem to have negatively impacted Cyprus, which continued to thrive as a centre of trade. However, the insurrection of 499 BC brought Cyprus into closer contact with the Hellenic world.<\/p>\n\n \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n

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CYPRO – CLASSICAL
(475 \u2013 312 BC)<\/h2> <\/header>\n\n \n
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Jug with plastic decoration, late 5th c. BC \nZ0208<\/div>
\u00a9 Museum of Cycladic Art<\/div><\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n \n \n<\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n
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The Cypro-Classical period was scarred by the Cypriots\u2019 futile struggle against the Persians \u2013\u2013 which were frequently instigated by the Greeks. This struggle continued until the reign of Alexander the Great. In this period, the political and cultural ties with the Aegean reinforced the Hellenic identity of the Cypriots and directed the arts, particularly sculpture, towards Hellenic models.<\/p>\n

Many oriental deities were identified with Greek ones (Astarte with Aphrodite, Anat with Athena, Melkar with Herakles, Resef with Apollo, and Baal with Zeus) and the Greek alphabet began to be used in the latter years of the 5th c. BC, alongside the existing Cypro-syllabic script. An analogous tendency of \u201cHellenization\u201d is observed in other sectors too, such as coinage, jewellery, dress, and objects for domestic use.<\/p>\n\n \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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HELLENISTIC PERIOD
(312 \u2013 58 BC)<\/h2> <\/header>\n\n \n
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\n The dissolution of the Persian state by Alexander the Great granted Cyprus a brief interlude of independence. However, the island was soon incorporated into the Ptolemaic kingdom of Egypt (294 BC).\n <\/div>\n \n \n<\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n
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This brought forth the demise of the old Cypriot kingdoms and the creation of a more centralizing authority, which was exercised by a plenipotentiary of the Ptolemies \u2013 the strategos, which was based initially at Salamis and later at Nea Paphos. Cyprus was of vital importance to the Ptolemies due to its strategic position, rich copper ores, and abundant timber \u2013 which was essential for shipbuilding.<\/p>\n

The island\u2019s art was influenced by the contemporary cosmopolitan currents of the Hellenistic koine, reflecting influences from both Egypt and the Greek mainland. Ultimately, the Greek alphabet prevailed, while many Egyptian elements were adopted in religion \u2013 such as the worship of kings and rulers.<\/p>\n\n \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n

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01<\/div>
Silver tetradrachm of Ptolemy XII \u201cAuletes\u201d, 79\/78 BC (obverse)\r\nZ0435b<\/div> <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n \n \n \n\n
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02<\/div>
Silver tetradrachm of Ptolemy XII \u201cAuletes\u201d, 79\/78 BC (reverse)\r\nZ0435b<\/div>
\u00a9 Museum of Cycladic Art<\/div><\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
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01<\/div>
Silver tetradrachm of Ptolemy XII \u201cAuletes\u201d, 79\/78 BC (obverse)\r\nZ0435b<\/div> <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n
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02<\/div>
Silver tetradrachm of Ptolemy XII \u201cAuletes\u201d, 79\/78 BC (reverse)\r\nZ0435b<\/div>
\u00a9 Museum of Cycladic Art<\/div><\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n \n <\/div>\n
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