Explore Cyprus with Our Interactive Map

Featured Articles

Explore our top stories and discover ideas worth your time.

View all articles
Sufi Tekkes of Cyprus

Sufi Tekkes of Cyprus

A tekke is a building designed specifically for gatherings of a Sufi brotherhood, or tariqa, and functions as a place of spiritual retreat and character reformation. During Ottoman rule in Cyprus from 1571 to 1878, several tekkes were established across the island to serve the mystical branches of Islam that emphasized direct personal experience of the divine through meditation, prayer, music, and dance. These sacred spaces became centers not only for spiritual practice but also for community welfare, providing food for the poor and accommodation for travelers. Today, the most significant surviving tekkes in Cyprus are the Mevlevi Tekke in Nicosia and Hala Sultan Tekke in Larnaca, each representing different aspects of Sufi tradition on the island. Historical Background Sufism, or Islamic mysticism, arrived in Cyprus with the Ottoman conquest of 1570. During each war waged by the Ottomans, quite a few Sufis provided spiritual guidance for soldiers and participated in battles alongside them. Many Sufis died as martyrs while trying to seize fortresses during the conquest of Cyprus, particularly of Nicosia, and their graves mark the places where they fell. The relationship between Ottoman authorities and Sufi orders was complex. While the state's official religion followed orthodox Sunni Islam, Sufi organizations established official relationships with various levels of society. The Janissaries, an elite corps of soldier-slaves, and the guilds…

Read more
Emphasis on Frontalism and Hieratic Scale

Emphasis on Frontalism and Hieratic Scale

Emphasis on Frontalism and Hieratic Scale in ancient Cypriot art involved depicting figures in direct frontal views, with sizes scaled to reflect spiritual or social significance rather than physical accuracy. This method imbued artworks with a sense of authority and depth, incorporating influences from neighboring cultures to emphasize deities, rulers, or sacred concepts over naturalistic portrayals. The approach created compositions that convey power and divinity through straightforward, impactful forms. A Style Prioritizing Significance Cypriot art from antiquity often avoided precise replication of reality, opting instead for frontalism where subjects face outward directly. Hieratic scale further adjusted proportions, enlarging key elements to denote importance - a deity might dominate over attendants, defying natural dimensions. This was not a limitation but a deliberate strategy to clarify hierarchies, as seen in temple reliefs or vessel decorations, where the format ensured immediate comprehension of narratives. Influences from Surrounding Regions The technique drew from interactions with adjacent civilizations, beginning in the Bronze Age around 3000 BC amid trade with Egypt, the Near East, and Greece. Egyptian art's rigid frontal poses and enlarged rulers influenced Cypriot statues, adopting a formal, unchanging stance. Near Eastern traditions contributed exaggerated scales for monarchs or divinities, while later Greek elements introduced subtle dynamism. As empires like Persia and Rome asserted control, Cypriot adaptations formed a distinctive synthesis aligned with the…

Read more
Cape Greco National Forest Park

Cape Greco National Forest Park

Cape Greco National Forest Park occupies 385 hectares on a rocky promontory at the southeastern tip of Cyprus, nestled between the resorts of Ayia Napa and Protaras. The park was designated as a National Forest Park in 1993 to protect this area of unspoiled natural beauty. The broader Natura 2000 site encompasses 1,876 hectares, including 915 hectares of terrestrial area and 961 hectares of marine zones. The dramatic limestone cliffs rise 30 feet above turquoise Mediterranean waters, creating spectacular coastal scenery. Sea caves carved by thousands of years of wave action punctuate the coastline, while natural rock arches frame views of the endless blue horizon. The park combines hiking trails, cycling paths, endemic plant species, and coastal beauty in a relatively compact area. Visitors experience Cyprus at its wildest and most beautiful, with pine scented paths overlooking crystal clear waters. The lost juniper forest and current vegetation Cape Greco was originally covered by a dense juniper forest that gave the area its distinctive character. Between 1910 and 1920, these trees were rapidly cut down and burned to power steam flour mills that operated in abundance in the Paralimni area. Since then the slow growing juniper has never fully recovered, though scattered specimens still survive alongside varieties of pine. Today the vegetation consists mostly of sparse low level growth, including 14…

Read more