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Folk Games of Cyprus

Folk Games of Cyprus

Traditional games in Cyprus represent a valuable cultural heritage passed from generation to generation, teaching social skills, building community bonds, and providing entertainment before electronic devices dominated leisure time. The games of the people of Cyprus are a valuable cultural heritage, as are other similar heritages like fairytales, songs, and proverbs. Some games come from Greece, but they play them extensively in Cyprus, while other games are originally Cypriot. Traditional games are played in villages and especially by the older generations, though certain games like tavli and pilotta remain popular across all ages and regions. Tavli, The Strategic Board Game Tavli is especially played in Cyprus and Greece and is enjoyed by people of all ages, particularly in coffee shops where the sounds of rolling dice and clattering pieces resonate throughout the day and most evenings. The term tavli itself derives from the Greek word meaning "board." The game is thought to have been introduced to Cyprus during the Byzantine era when dice games enjoyed immense popularity. Tavli is a compendium game for two players which comprises three different variants played in succession: Portes, Plakoto, and Fevga. These are played in a cycle until one player reaches the target score, usually five or seven points. The backgammon board is divided into four areas with six points included in each area,…

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Byzantine Frescoes & Iconography

Byzantine Frescoes & Iconography

The Troodos Mountains of Cyprus contain one of the most significant collections of medieval mural painting in the Eastern Mediterranean. Ten churches and monastic buildings, all listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, preserve a continuous tradition of wall painting that spans from the 11th to the 16th centuries. These mountain structures are valued not only for their artistic content but also for their exceptional state of preservation. Their remote location helped protect them from destruction during periods of coastal instability and repeated invasions in earlier centuries. In addition, the characteristic steep-pitched wooden roofs—added to many structures over time—helped shield interior wall surfaces from heavy snowfall and seasonal rainfall. The result is a rare survival of complete interior decorative programs, where painted surfaces remain visible across domes, walls, and arches, offering insight into medieval visual culture in Cyprus. Historical Background Cyprus became integrated into the Byzantine administrative and cultural sphere in the early medieval period, adopting artistic traditions that combined Greco-Roman visual heritage with evolving regional styles. Over time, local workshops developed a distinct mural painting tradition that reflected both imperial influences and island-based interpretations. The earliest major phase of mural decoration in Cyprus dates broadly from the 4th to the 7th centuries. During this period, large basilica-style structures were constructed, often featuring painted or mosaic decoration in apsidal areas. One…

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Büyük Han Nicosia Ottoman Caravanserai

Büyük Han Nicosia Ottoman Caravanserai

In the center of the Turkish-occupied part of Nicosia’s Old City stands a building that has had many lives. It has been a merchant’s inn, a prison, a home for displaced families, and today it is a lively cultural center. Built in 1572, just two years after the Ottomans took over Cyprus, Büyük Han is the largest and best example of caravanserai architecture on the island. The building is almost square, measuring 50.67 by 45.25 meters, and has 68 rooms on two floors arranged around a central courtyard. It was originally built for traveling merchants and traders who connected Cyprus with Anatolia, the Levant, and beyond. Büyük Han is considered one of the best surviving examples of Ottoman architecture in Cyprus and has been a protected monument since its restoration in the 1990s. The History Behind the Great Inn Büyük Han was built in 1572 under Muzaffer Pasha, the first Ottoman governor of Cyprus. Some sources say it might have been completed by his successor, Sinan Pasha, because Muzaffer Pasha was reassigned shortly after the island was taken. Muzaffer Pasha brought an architect from Constantinople named Bostan, who may have designed Büyük Han. The design was based on the Koza Han in Bursa, Turkey, a famous Ottoman caravanserai. It has a central courtyard and fortified elements, with open arcades to…

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