Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
potamia. The huts were organised within a protective rock wall, around a central courtyard, with some chambers
dedicated to cooking and eating, others to sleeping and storage.
Evidence shows the inhabitants produced stoneware tools, weapons, containers and jewellery. They picked
fruit, fished and kept sheep and goats. They even kept pets. The oldest known feline-human connection - a do-
mesticated cat buried with its owner - was unearthed here, far pre-dating similar ancient Egyptian finds.
Greek Cypriots are mainly the descendants of early Mycenaean and Achaean settlers, who intermingled with the
indigenous population around 1100 BC, and subsequent settlers up to the 16th century.
Romans & Rising Christianity
Cyprus was annexed by the expanding Roman Empire in 58 BC, orator and writer Cicero
becoming one of its first proconsuls. Despite being briefly given to Cleopatra VII of
Egypt by Mark Anthony (her lover) and subsequently handed back to Roman control,
Cyprus enjoyed some 600 years of relative peace and prosperity under Roman rule, and
many public buildings, aqueducts, harbours and roads date from this time; noteworthy
among them were the theatre at Kourion, the colonnaded gymnasium at Salamis and the
Sanctuary of Apollon Ylatis. Many of these ancient ruins can still be seen today, along
with the many mosaic floors depicting scenes from Greek mythology. Trade also flour-
ished with exports including decorative pottery, copper and glassware.
Top Archaeological Sites
Pafos Archaeological Site, Pafos
Tomb of the Kings, Pafos
Ancient Kourion, Lemesos
Ancient Salamis, Famagusta
Island of Saints
Christianity made its early appearance on the island in AD 45. It was during this period
that the apostle Paul began spreading the new religion on the island, accompanied by
Barnabas, a Greek Jewish native of Salamis. He was later canonised St Barnabas (Agios
Varnavas in Greek). The missionaries travelled across the island preaching the word of
God and converting many locals. Once they reached Pafos, the Roman proconsul Sergius
Paulus granted them an audience. A court magician mocked the apostles upon their
speech about Jesus, angering Paul, who is said to have temporarily blinded the sorcerer
