Explore Cyprus with Our Interactive Map

Featured Articles

Explore our top stories and discover ideas worth your time.

View all articles
Enkomi Bronze Figurines: Gods of Copper

Enkomi Bronze Figurines: Gods of Copper

Enkomi’s bronze figurines show how Late Bronze Age Cyprus fused religion with copper production, turning its key resource into divine protection and political legitimacy. The Horned God and the Ingot God were not decorative art but intentional symbols, linking sanctuaries, workshops, and administrative control inside one civic system. This article explains Enkomi’s trade position as Alashiya, what each figure was designed to communicate, and why their burial and survival still shape how we understand “sacred industry” on Cyprus. A City Between Mine and Sea Enkomi rose on a rocky plateau near a sheltered inlet that once opened to the sea. This position allowed it to function as both a port and a processing centre, linking the copper-rich Troodos Mountains to international trade routes that reached Egypt, the Levant, and the Aegean. Ancient texts refer to the kingdom of Alashiya as a copper supplier powerful enough to address pharaohs as equals. That status came directly from Enkomi's control of metal production. The city expanded dramatically during the Late Bronze Age, especially in the 14th and 13th centuries BCE. Its layout reveals planning rather than improvisation. Straight streets, large ashlar buildings, and massive fortifications point to centralised authority and long-term investment. This was not a marginal settlement. It was an industrial capital whose wealth depended on metal and whose religion reflected that…

Read more
Sousta (Cypriot Style)

Sousta (Cypriot Style)

Sousta (Cypriot Style) is a dynamic folk dance from Cyprus that emphasizes balance, agility, and gender dialogue, traditionally performed in social gatherings rather than formal stages. Characterized by intricate footwork, playful interactions between partners, and rhythmic accompaniment, it reflects the island's cultural blend of Greek, Ottoman, and local influences. This dance serves as a living expression of community and courtship, preserving ancient movement patterns while adapting to contemporary celebrations. A Dynamic Expression of Cypriot Culture Sousta in its Cypriot form stands as one of the island's most energetic and interactive folk dances, where pairs or groups move in synchronized steps that highlight physical coordination and social connection. Originating from communal events like weddings and festivals, it involves men and women facing each other in lines or circles, exchanging gestures that mimic dialogue through body language. The dance's emphasis on balance comes from precise foot placements and weight shifts, agility from quick turns and hops, and gender dialogue from the call-and-response patterns where leads alternate between partners. This structure not only entertains but also reinforces social norms and relationships, making sousta a cultural mirror of Cypriot life. Unlike staged performances common in mainland Greece, Cypriot sousta thrives in informal settings, where spontaneity and participation define the experience. Historical Origins and Evolution The roots of sousta trace back to ancient Greek dance…

Read more
Life of Village Elders in Cyprus

Life of Village Elders in Cyprus

Traditionally, mukhtars, alongside village priests, oversaw local disputes and liaised with state officials, in a role akin to tribal elders. The position of mukhtar was introduced by the Turks, who had held Cyprus since 1570. The term mukhtar, derived from the Arabic word meaning "chosen" or "selected," referred to the head of a village or neighborhood who served as the liaison between residents and higher levels of government. This Ottoman administrative system formalized authority structures that had existed informally in Cyprus villages for centuries, creating an official role for community leadership that persisted through British rule, independence, and into the modern era. How Mukhtars Were Selected and Qualified At first mukhtars were appointed from above by Ottoman authorities, but later residents were allowed to choose the headman and his assistants for a year. At the same time, the religious affiliation of a group of residents was certainly taken into account. Under British colonial rule, the role became more regulated, with set criteria for selection, including an age range of 25 to 60. Mukhtars had to be literate, wealthy enough to host visiting officials, and free of serious criminal convictions. All religious leaders, teachers, doctors or anyone who is a Government employee or member of any Municipal or Administrative Council in Cyprus cannot be elected as a Mukhtari or Aza. The…

Read more