The History of Cyprus Podcast

Primary Source XVII: George Boustronios and the Last Queen of Cyprus, Catherine Cornaro

George Boustronios, in his Narrative of the Chronicle of Cyprus 1456–1489, documents the transition from the Lusignan dynasty to Venice. In this month's excerpt, you'll hear a dramatized reading of last Queen of Cyprus, Catherine Cornaro, as she abdicates her throne, bequeathing Cyprus to the Republic of Venice, and departing Cyprus forever. Next month I invite Benjamin Arbel (University of Tel Aviv) to discuss Cyprus under Venetian rule.

16. Eύώδεα Κύπρον: Perfumery Production in Ancient Cyprus with Maria Rosaria Belgiorno

There are seven olfactory families to categorize fragrances. Yet of the seven, only one is named for a place: Chypre. It's no surprise, then, that Cyprus' importance in perfumery has been known throughout antiquity. Maria Rosaria Belgiorno (Senior Associate Researcher of the Institute for Applied Technology to Cultural Heritage of the Italian National Research Council) has published dozens of articles on the Pyrgos-Mavroraki site in Cyprus, an industrial complex known for its metallurgical, viticultural, and for the purposes of this month's episode, its perfumery production. Her experimental work in recreating the techniques, scents and processes involved in ancient perfumery have been integral in our understanding of Cyprus' role in the production of perfume and its role in ancient life. Cyprus is, after all, Eὐώδεα Κύπρον (Fragrant Cyprus).

Primary Source XVI: Hymn to Aphrodite

The Homeric Hymns -- named for their "Homeric" style -- are a collection of anonymously authored hymns dedicated to the major gods and goddesses in the Hellenic Pantheon. This particular excerpt, from the Hymn to Aphrodite, was chosen as this month's Primary Source to emphasize Aphrodite's and Cyprus' connection to "sweet-smelling temples" "heavenly oils," and "fragrant altars." For my next episode, I invite archaeologist Maria-Rosaria Belgiorno (ITABC-CNR) to discuss Cyprus' integral role in perfumery from the Bronze Age to the present and the archaeological finds at Pyrgos in Limassol.

15. Le Coeur de Lion: King Richard’s Conquest of Cyprus with Angel Nicolaou-Konnari

In 1191, during the Third Crusade, King Richard I of England, also known as Richard the Lionheart, led his army to capture the island of Cyprus. The island was controlled by an illegitimate, self-styled emperor, Isaac Komnenos (Comnenus). Richard would rout Isaac's forces and, as legends have it, bind him in silver chains. The island remained under English rule until Richard sold it to the Knights Templar in 1192.  Richard's conquest of Cyprus provided a valuable base for his military operations in the Eastern Mediterranean and allowed him to resupply his troops and ships. But what exactly transpired? What were Richard's motivations? And who was this usurper, Isaac Komnenos? Today, I welcome Dr. Angel Nicolaou-Konnari from the University of Cyprus to discuss King Richard the Lionheart's Conquest of Cyprus.

UPDATE: How you can support The History of Cyprus Podcast...!

Thank you for listening to the History of Cyprus Podcast. I'm incredibly grateful for your support, and I'm thrilled to have you as a listener. Creating this podcast is a labor of love. It's not monetized -- and I'd like to keep it that way, ad free and accessible to all. With that said, it also comes with real costs -- from hosting fees to equipment, research materials, producing the Primary Sources and editing expenses.  If you enjoy the podcast and want to help continue to produce new episodes, I kindly ask that you consider supporting The History of Cyprus Podcast through Patreon. Your financial support will allow me to continue bringing you fascinating stories and insights into the rich history of Cyprus and offset the costs involved in producing the episodes. Thank you again for your support -- I couldn't do it without you! https://www.patreon.com/TheHistoryofCyprusPodcast

Primary Source XV: King Richard’s Letter on the Conquest of Cyprus 1191

In this primary source, King Richard of England (The Lionheart) addresses his judiciary, providing us a firsthand account of the events leading up to the capture of the Cyprus and sheds light on the political and military strategies employed by King Richard. This is a valuable source as it is one of only two letters that come from King Richard himself. Contrary to popular belief, Richard -- although King of England -- would have spoken French as his first language (hence the voice-over). This recording is a springboard to next month's interview with Dr. Angel Nicolaou-Konnari (University of Cyprus) as we discuss King Richard's Conquest of Cyprus in 1191.

14. The Copper Island: Copper Production in Ancient Cyprus with Lina Kassianidou

For thousands of years, Cyprus exploited its richest resource: copper. The copper trade was, after all, synonymous with Cyprus and integral for its wealth. While the importance of copper is known, certain questions remain: how did ancient Cypriots source copper? What processes were involved in its extraction? What were the risks and dangers involved with mining? How was copper refined and exactly how much was produced? Archaeologist Lina Kassianidou (University of Cyprus) joins us to answer these questions and more in this month's episode.

Primary Source XIV: Aristotle on Cyprus’ Natural Resources

Although many of Aristotle's observations on Cyprus' natural resources have proven to be false or misleading, this excerpt certainly speaks to Cyprus' perceived wealth in natural resources -- renowned for centuries. Next month, my guest is Lina Kassianidou (University of Cyprus) who shares with us the history of Copper Production on Cyprus and how it was sourced, extracted and refined in antiquity. If you haven't had a chance yet, you can also check out "Primary Source VII: The Hand of Nergal" for another look at the Copper Trade in the period.

13. Grilling the Past: Halloumi & Ethnoarchaeology with Rafael Laoutari

Rafael Laoutari (Cambridge University) shares a lesser known aspect of archaeology, namely, that of ethnoarchaeology, using it as a lens to explore cheese-making in antiquity. We discuss cheese-making on Cyprus in the archaeological record and the earliest literary references to Halloumi that we know of. By studying how Halloumi is produced in rural settings and recreating its traditional methods, Rafael gives us insight into our past and helps us better understand the act of dairying culture in Cyprus and beyond. 

Primary Source XIII: Richard Pococke & Cypriot Cheese 1738

Richard Pococke (18th century) was an avid traveler providing us with one of the earliest literary allusions to Halloumi. Though not the first reference (that honour may go to the Doge of Venice, Leonardo Dona, who lived in Cyprus for a period during the Venetian era), it does show that Halloumi was well known throughout the Levant. Next month, I invite Rafael Laoutari (Cambridge University) to discuss Halloumi as a lens in which to explore cheese-making in antiquity, and specifically, in Cyprus.