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A Sea Raised Into The Sky

A Sea Raised Into The Sky

Pick up a stone almost anywhere in Cyprus and there is a fair chance it once lay two or three kilometres beneath an ocean. Stand on a Troodos peak and you are standing deeper than the deepest submarine canyon of the Mediterranean ever reaches today. Walk along a riverbed in Paphos region after winter rains and you may notice greenish rocks polished smooth by water: the same minerals astronauts search for on Mars because they can form where life begins. Cyprus is not just an island with mountains. It is a place where the Earth accidentally turned itself inside out. Geologists often say walking across Cyprus is like reading a history book backwards. Instead of digging down into the planet’s past, the past has been lifted up for you. You begin your journey on younger coastal plains and finish it on the deep mantle that once had lied beneath the seabed. You are quite literally walking on a vanished ocean floor. And the strangest part? This tiny island is connected, geologically, to the “rooftop of the world” the Himalayas themselves. 1. Where we are? But also, when we are? On a map, Cyprus looks like a small island in the Eastern Mediterranean. In reality, it is a meeting point of continents, oceans, and geological time. The Troodos Mountains rise in…

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Wild Sage in Cyprus

Wild Sage in Cyprus

Imagine strolling across a rocky hillside in Cyprus under a clear blue sky, where a shrubby plant releases a warm, woody aroma that hints at ancient potions and savory island dishes. This is sage, a resilient herb that dots the wild landscapes of Cyprus, offering simple wisdom from nature’s own apothecary to those who pause to notice. A Fragrant Shrub in the Mint Family Sage belongs to the genus Salvia in the vast mint family (Lamiaceae), a group of plants known for their square stems and aromatic leaves rich in essential oils. In Cyprus, several wild species grace the landscape, thriving in dry, rocky slopes and maquis vegetation from sea level to the high Troodos peaks. Echoes of Ancient Healers The name Salvia comes from the Latin “salvare” – to save or heal – reflecting its long history as a medicinal plant. In Cyprus, sage has been gathered since prehistoric times. Ancient Greek physicians like Dioscorides praised its wound-healing powers, while it was used in rituals for protection and purification. Over centuries, it became deeply rooted in island folklore as a symbol of longevity and wisdom. Woolly Leaves and Starry Blooms Wild sage in Cyprus typically grows as a low to medium shrub with fuzzy, silvery-green leaves that feel velvety to the touch. When crushed, they release a bold, earthy-camphor…

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Hadji Georgakis Kornesios Mansion in Cyprus

Hadji Georgakis Kornesios Mansion in Cyprus

The Hadjigeorgakis Kornesios Mansion stands in Nicosia's old Saint Antonios quarter as the finest surviving example of 18th century Ottoman urban architecture in Cyprus. Built in 1793, this two story residence once belonged to the island's most powerful dragoman and now serves as the Cyprus Ethnological Museum, winner of the 1988 Europa Nostra award for cultural heritage restoration. The dragoman served as the official interpreter between the Ottoman Sultan's Divan and the local Greek Cypriot population. This position emerged at the start of Ottoman rule in Cyprus in 1571 and continued until the Greek War of Independence in 1821. The dragoman acted as a liaison between the pasha and the occupied population. In the early years of Ottoman rule, dragomans were foreigners or Greek Franks. Later, the Ottomans appointed Orthodox Greek Cypriots to the position. The office required mastery of both Greek and Turkish languages and went only to highly educated individuals.  Historical Background Hadjigeorgakis Kornesios came from Kritou Terra, a village in the Paphos district of western Cyprus. He served as dragoman of Cyprus from 1779 to 1809, a period of 30 years that made him the longest serving and most prominent holder of this office. Around 1796, Sultan Selim III issued a special edict granting Kornesios the title of lifelong Dragoman of Cyprus, an unusual distinction that reflected…

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