Cyprus: The Crossroads

By Esha Bajaj

The Mediterranean island of Cyprus is home to a rich history compromised by the merging of countless cultures over the centuries. Ancient powers such as the Egyptians, Greeks, Persians, Romans, Venetians, Genoese, and Turks all fought over the island at various points in history, each power leaving their distinct mark on the island. 

The story begins with the first written sources of Cyprus's history depicting the rule of the Assyrians, an ancient stela narrating the tale of King Sargon II's heroic conquest of the small island kingdom and its seven kings in 709 BCE. The Assyrians ruled over what they called the land of la' for many years, but in 669 BCE, the kingdom wrenched its independence free from the Assyrians. 

Freedom, however, was a short-lived spoil. The island barely had tasted a breath of sovereignty before it was seized by Amasis II, Pharaoh of Egypt, in 570 BCE. This rein too was short lived, for the island fell to new hands not fifty years later. The Persian Empire took control of Cyprus in 545 BCE, erecting the great palace on the north shore of the island, near Soli. The Persians ruled with a heavy hand, quelling two uprisings by the island's inhabitants, but eventually their rule came to an end as well.

The island slipped from empire to empire throughout the centuries, from the Persians to the Ptolemaic dynasty of Greece to the Egyptians once again. Then, in 58 BCE, Cyprus became inducted as a colony of the Holy Roman Empire, thus concluding the ancient side of the island's tale.

Cyprus as we know it today began under the control of the United Kingdom, which took over the island's government in order to protect it from the Ottoman empire in 1878 CE. However, it was annexed from the UK in 1914, right at the start of WWI. The possibility of the island joining Greece bounced back and forth between the two governments for several decades, but in 1960, Cyprus instead chose to solidify its position as an independent state, the Republic of Cyprus.

This is but a taste for the vast, enthralling history of the island nation of Cyprus. Join Philomobile in June 2018 for and incredible 10 day trip to experience the adventure for yourself. More information here.