Antiquity: Aphrodite, Copper & Kings
Cyprus is one of the oldest inhabited islands in the world. The Neolithic settlement of Choirokoitia (UNESCO World Heritage Site) south of Larnaka dates back to around 7000 BC — one of the oldest settlements in the entire Mediterranean region.
The name "Cyprus" probably derives from the Greek word for copper (kypros). In the Bronze Age (3rd millennium BC), the island was one of the most important copper producers in the ancient world — the metal was exported as far as Egypt and Mesopotamia. The wealth of the copper mines made Cyprus a coveted trading center.
In the 1st millennium BC, Cyprus had ten independent city-kingdoms (Salamis, Paphos, Kourion, Amathous, among others), which submitted to various great powers: the Assyrians, the Egyptians, and finally the Persians.
With Alexander the Great (333 BC), Cyprus became part of the Hellenistic world. Ptolemaic Egypt ruled the island before it was annexed by the Romans in 58 BC. Under Rome, Cyprus flourished: Paphos became the capital of the province, magnificent mosaics and theaters were created. The Apostle Paul visited the island in 45 AD and converted the Roman proconsul Sergius Paulus — Cyprus is thus considered the first Christian-governed country in the world.
Aphrodite — Cyprus's Divine Heritage
Cyprus is inextricably linked with Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love and beauty. The ancient Greeks believed she rose from the sea foam at Petra tou Romiou. In Old Paphos (Kouklia), one of the most famous sanctuaries of the ancient world stood — the Temple of Aphrodite, to which pilgrims from across the Mediterranean flocked. The ruins are modest today, but the mythical power of the place is palpable.
