The History of Cyprus Podcast

*NEW EPISODE!* 49. Saints, Synods, and Struggles: The Rise of Christian Cyprus with Young Kim

In this episode, I welcome Dr. Young Kim, Associate Professor at the University of Illinois Chicago, to discuss the role of Cyprus in Late Antiquity. Although often seen as politically unimportant under Roman rule, Cyprus played a key part in trade, religion, and cultural life. We explore how the island became deeply involved in early Christianity--appearing in the New Testament, participating in the first ecumenical councils like Nicaea, and eventually gaining autocephalic (independent) status for its Church. We also look at how saints’ lives, or hagiographies, offer insight into everyday life, travel, and religious change during this time. Special attention is given to St. Epiphanius--his fight against heresies and his dramatic clash with St. John Chrysostom!

*BONUS!* Fragrant & Flavourful: On the Flaouna/Pilavuna & Identity with Anna Charalambidou

In this bonus episode, I sit down with Dr. Anna Charalambidou from University College London to explore flaounes (φλαούνες/pilavunalar), the iconic Cypriot pastry. Using an ethnomethodological approach, Dr. Charalambidou examines how flaounes reflect and shape Cypriot identity across both Greek and Turkish communities on the island. We discuss their origins, regional variations, and the rich tradition of flaouna-making, uncovering how this beloved pastry connects generations and communities.

Primary Source XLIX: An Excerpt from St. Epiphanius' Panarion

St. Epiphanius ranks among the most important and well-known saints of Cyprus. Ordained as Bishop of Constantia (Salamis) in the 4th century, he was a steadfast defender of (o)rthodox Christian practice and belief. In fact "Epiphanius was respected not only for his piety and rectitude but for his learning. Churches far from Cyprus consulted him on doctrinal issues."In this dramatization, we hear an excerpt from The Panarion -- a theological treatise written by St. Epiphanius himself. Also known as the "Medicine Chest," the Panarion addresses 80 heresies, many emerging in the post-Nicene period. The excerpt featured here is from Against the Severians, a sect that vigorously rejected marriage and, at least according to The Panarion, viewed women as creations of Satan. Christians have wrestled with what it means to live in a body. Some saw the body as part of God’s good creation--maybe damaged after the Fall, but still good at its core. Others, though, thought the body just got in the way of drawing close to God. In this passage, he pushes back hard against their ideas. The Panarion stands out as a key historical source. It gives us a window into the mess of competing beliefs among early Christians, and it even lets us peek at what religion looked like in Late Antique Cyprus. Next month I welcome Dr. Young Kim to discuss the impact Cypriots made in forming early Christian thought and the foundations of Early Christianity in Cyprus!

BONUS! Sun, Sand...and Scandinavians? Vikings in Cyprus

OK so "Vikings in Cyprus" is a bit hyperbolic as the term Viking tends to suggest pre-Christian marauding warriors who pillaged and plundered all over Europe -- which Cyprus didn't experience. But Scandinavians? Most certainly! Over the past couple of months, I have been scouring the sources for references to Scandinavians and their presence in Cyprus. So far, I have identified four key witnesses to this phenomenon, all from different parts of the Scandinavian world. Chronologically they are:
The Danish cleric Saxo Grammaticus, who first writes of King Erik the Evergood of Denmark's death and burial on Cyprus while travelling to the Holy Land (circa 1103);
The Icelandic abbot Nikulas Bergsson, who records the presence of a contingent of the Varangian Guard* stationed in Paphos;
King Sigurd the Crusader of Norway who stayed on Cyprus for sometime (c. 1107) before visiting Miklagaard ("The Great City," i.e., Constantinople), as recounted by the famous Icelandic writer Snorri Sturluson;
and finally St. Birgitta of Sweden, whose foreboding words to the Latin rulers of Cyprus come to us directly from her own testimony (14th century).
Together, their works offer rare but compelling evidence that Cyprus was not merely a distant waypoint, but a meaningful hinge between the West and the East within the wider world of medieval Scandinavian travel, devotion, and crusading activity.Please enjoy this bonus content of the dramatized excerpts (excerpts from all four have been included here in one extended Primary Source recording). Though I'd love to have a guest on the show to talk about the relationship between Scandinavia and Cyprus, I don't believe this has been explored in academia as I have not found any published paper. But the search continues!**Famed for their loyalty and ferocity, the Varangian Guard was a contingent of Scandinavian, Anglo-Saxon and Rus mercenaries that served as a personal guard to the Emperor in Constantinople.

48. Ancient Art from Cyprus and the Mediterranean: The John & Mable Ringling Museum of Art with Joanna Smith

In this special episode, I’m joined by Dr. Joanna S. Smith, Consulting Curator for the new permanent gallery for the Cypriot Collection at the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art in Sarasota, Florida. With a career based on decades of fieldwork at sites like Polis Chrysochous, Dr. Smith tells the fascinating story behind The Ringling Museum's ancient art collection. She traces it from the dreams of John Ringling, a circus magnate who became an art patron, to the 19th century explorations of Luigi Palma di Cesnola. The conversation culminates in a look ahead to “Ancient Art from Cyprus and the Mediterranean” The Ringling’s new permanent gallery that opened in January of this year. Dr. Smith offers an inside view of what visitors can expect, the standout Cypriot pieces in the collection, and why this gallery marks a significant moment not only for the museum but for the understanding of Cyprus as a cultural crossroads of the ancient world. Learn more:
https://emuseum.ringling.org/collections/141853/ancient-art-from-cyprus-and-the-mediterranean-gallery-12

*SPECIAL!* Cypriot Naming Conventions and WWI Enlistment Data with Andrekos Varnava

Ever heard of the names "Finikou" or "Pastirou?" Neither have I! In this bonus clip from episode 31 on "Cyprus in the Great War: The Cypriot Mule Corps with Andrekos Varnava," Andrekos helps me work through the enlistment data from my grandparents' villages. We discuss Cypriot naming conventions and the frustrating dearth of data based on the inconsistent record keeping and the unusual Cypriot names from the period in a lighthearted discussion. Enjoy!Some of the roll call can be found in Andrekos' book, "Serving the Empire in the Great War."*
**https://www.amazon.ca/Serving-empire-Great-War-imperial/dp/1526103699/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

47. Signs, Scripts & Silence: Cypro-Minoan with Cassandra Donnelly

Support the Podcast! Nominate The History of Cyprus Podcast for the 2026 CYDIA Award: https://www.cyprusdiasporaforum.com/nominate Cypro-Minoan is an undeciphered syllabic script in use during the Late Bronze Age, offering a rare glimpse into a local writing tradition at the crossroads of Aegean, Levantine, and Anatolian exchange. In this episode, Cassandra Donnelly breaks down what we do know about Cypro-Minoan—from its discovery and visual features to its possible uses in trade and identity. We explore the difference between script and language, discuss the curious appearance of single-sign texts, and examine how writing may have been taught “on the job” by merchants rather than in scribal schools. Donnelly explains how the writing system’s survival during the broader Bronze Age collapse reveals something unique about Cyprus’ decentralized social structure. We also dig into how early 20th-century archaeological ideologies shaped assumptions about ethnicity and literacy on the island. 

*NOMINATE!* The History of Cyprus Podcast Cyprus Diaspora Forum 2026 Submission

I'd like to take a moment to thank listener and patron H.I. along with many others on Patreon for nominating The History of Cyprus Podcast for the 2026 CYDIA Awards in "Culture & Arts" and "Education." As of two weeks ago, I wasn't aware of CYDIA until H.I. sent me a private message informing me of the event which now entering its third year.But the History of Cyprus Podcast still needs your help! *** https://www.cyprusdiasporaforum.com/nominate ***What is CYDIA?CYDIA "serves as a launchpad for startups, giving them the opportunity to showcase their innovative ideas to investors" and "recogni[zing] the contribution of the diaspora... accelerat[ing' opportunities for entrepreneurship, cross-border investment, and international partnerships." There are a number of categories including Education, Finance & Health to name but a few. From what I understand, this nomination is unofficial (i.e., The History of Cyprus Podcast has NOT been officially nominated). Once nominees are officially announced, they’re voted on, and a winner is chosen for each category. The more nominations The History of Cyprus Podcast gets, the more likely it is to be shortlisted!Why support?Being nominated for the CYDIA Award for Culture would be a major milestone for the History of Cyprus podcast. It represents a chance to bring Cypriot history to a wider audience, amplify stories that are often overlooked, and place Cyprus more firmly in the global conversation about culture and heritage. So, if you're able to, I'd love to receive your support.*** https://www.cyprusdiasporaforum.com/nominate ***Below is some of the information you'll need. The due date for any nominations is March. If you're looking for any additional information, please message me.The History of Cyprus PodcastAndreas CharalambousToronto, CanadaPhone No: 111-1111cyprusthepodcast@gmail.com

Primary Source XLVII: Sir Arthur Evans and the Cypro-Minoan Script

Sir Arthur Evans was a British archaeologist best known for excavating the Minoan palace at Knossos in Crete. He named the Minoan civilization, developed the idea of a pre-Greek Aegean culture, and famously (though controversially) reconstructed parts of the site. But for our purposes, Evans played a key early role in identifying and naming the Cypro-Minoan script. During his study of Aegean scripts, he noticed that some undeciphered inscriptions from Late Bronze Age Cyprus resembled the Linear A script of Minoan Crete and he coined the term Cypro-Minoan to describe these signs, believing they represented a local offshoot of the Minoan writing tradition brought to Cyprus through cultural contact or colonization. Evans recognized its significance and proposed that it was a syllabic script related to earlier Aegean systems. In this excerpt, we hear from his own observations on the enigmatic script -- which leads us to next month's guest, Dr. Cassandra Donnelly as we discuss the enigmatic and undeciphered Cypro-Minoan script!

46. By Sword and By Song: The Byzantine Warrior Hero with Chrysovalantis Kyriacou

In this episode, I'm joined again by Dr. Chrysovalantis Kyriacou where we discuss the ακριτικά τραγούδια i.e., the Acritic Songs! These are heroic ballads from the borderlands that emerged between the 9th and 11th centuries, highlighting semi- mythological figures like the legendary Digenis Akritas. Passed down through performances at festivals and weddings -- often created and performed by or for rural peasants -- these songs provide rare insight into the lives, struggles, and values of marginalized medieval communities. Their transmission reflects both elite and popular storytelling styles, often mixing Homeric, Christian, and local themes. In Cyprus, these songs were adapted into the local dialect. They also included unique Cypriot experiences, like in The Song of Antzoules, which reflects Cypriot responses to events in Anemourion in Anatolia and subsequent Frankish rule. In Cyprus, the legend of Digenis is imprinted on the land itself, from his handprint on the Pentadaktylos to the rocks of Petra tou Romiou, once believed to have been hurled at Saracen ships by Digenis himself!
P.S. In this episode I learn that Vikings (VARANGIANS) may have been stationed in Cyprus!