NORTH CYPRUS
MOSAIC OF CULTURES
ISBN 978-975-7528-95-1
North Cyprus Museum Friends (editor),
112 pp, 20 x 26 cm, over 180 colour pictures,
black and white drawings, available in English, French, German, retail price in Turkey € 20.00.
This volume is a visitor's companion which describes about 200 sites in and around Kyrenia (Girne). Nicosia (Lefkoşa), Morphou (Güzelyurt), Soli, Famagusta (Gazimağusa), Salamis, and Carpas Peninsula, sole major sites such as Bellapais Abbey, St Hilarion Castle, Palace of Vouni, Enkomi (Alasiya), Royal Tombs, and Ayios Barnabas Monastery, are introduced under separate headings.
The first inhabitants of North Cyprus are thought to have come from Asia Minor or the Syria-Palestine region in about 7000-6500 BC during the period when these lands were enjoying a rich Neolithic culture. When the weather is clear enough the coast of North Cyprus is visible from these regions, and sea-crossing in small rafts is thought to have been possible. Kastros at Cape Apostolos Andreas is thought to have dated back to this early period. Its rich copper deposits, which were utilized from the Bronze Age onwards, gave the island its name. Enkomi offers the most sophisticated ancient ruins from this period.
In addition to copper, its ship-building timber, wine, oil and grain and its geographical position attracted the powerful kingdoms surrounding it and each occupant imprinted and left something of himself on the island, creating a rich and colourful mosaic of cultures. Greeks, Egyptians, Assyrians, Phoenicians and Persians, Romans, Byzantines and Ottoman Turks were among these.
MOSAIC OF CULTURES
ISBN 978-975-7528-95-1
North Cyprus Museum Friends (editor),
112 pp, 20 x 26 cm, over 180 colour pictures,
black and white drawings, available in English, French, German, retail price in Turkey € 20.00.
This volume is a visitor's companion which describes about 200 sites in and around Kyrenia (Girne). Nicosia (Lefkoşa), Morphou (Güzelyurt), Soli, Famagusta (Gazimağusa), Salamis, and Carpas Peninsula, sole major sites such as Bellapais Abbey, St Hilarion Castle, Palace of Vouni, Enkomi (Alasiya), Royal Tombs, and Ayios Barnabas Monastery, are introduced under separate headings.
The first inhabitants of North Cyprus are thought to have come from Asia Minor or the Syria-Palestine region in about 7000-6500 BC during the period when these lands were enjoying a rich Neolithic culture. When the weather is clear enough the coast of North Cyprus is visible from these regions, and sea-crossing in small rafts is thought to have been possible. Kastros at Cape Apostolos Andreas is thought to have dated back to this early period. Its rich copper deposits, which were utilized from the Bronze Age onwards, gave the island its name. Enkomi offers the most sophisticated ancient ruins from this period.
In addition to copper, its ship-building timber, wine, oil and grain and its geographical position attracted the powerful kingdoms surrounding it and each occupant imprinted and left something of himself on the island, creating a rich and colourful mosaic of cultures. Greeks, Egyptians, Assyrians, Phoenicians and Persians, Romans, Byzantines and Ottoman Turks were among these.