The History of Cyprus Podcast

Primary Source XXIV: The Hosting of the Achaeans

Bear with me. This is a long (but important!) episode description.Cyprus is mentioned only once in The Iliad. Kinyras, The King of Cyprus, gifts Agamemnon a breastplate as he prepares for war against Troy:"First [Agamemnon] strapped the splendid greaves around his shins, fitted with silver bindings around his ankles; Next he girt about his chest a breastplate, which in time before, Kinyras gave him to be a guest friend, for the great rumor had been heard in Cyprus that the Achaeans were about to sail out in their ships to Troy; for this reason Kinyras gave it to him, seeking favor with the king."-The Iliad 11:15-21However, Cyprus is more intertwined in the Homeric Epics than that sole reference would seem to suggest. According to the ancient scholar and historian, Apollodorus, Kinyras was a legendary King of Cyprus and Priest of Aphrodite who was known for his beauty and musical skill. Apollodorus describes Kinyras as the father of several notable figures in Greek mythology, including the handsome Adonis.In his most famous work, The Library and Epitome (Bibliotheca), Apollodorus informs the reader that in the prelude to the Trojan War, Menelaus and Odysseus visited Kinyras to solicit him for ships to send to Troy. However, the King of Cyprus, being the Priest of Aphrodite, deceived them. Though he promised to send 50 ships, Kinyras provided only one for Agamemnon's cause -- and the rest were made of clay:"Menelaus went with Odysseus and Talthybius to Kinyras in Cyprus and tried to persuade him to join the battle. But he [Kinyras] made a gift of a breastplate for Agamemnon, who was not present; and vowing to send fifty ships, he sent one, which [name lost] the son of Mygdalion commanded. And molding the rest out of clay, he launched them into the sea."-Apollodorus 3.9Kinyras technically fulfilled his obligation but drew the ire of Agamemnon. In later fragments and references, we learn that Agamemnon had, in fact, cursed the King of Cyprus, and drove him from his lands with his Achaean fleet (which some have said corresponds to the so-called Mycenaean Colonization that took place after the Trojan War). Kinyras would ultimately find refuge in Amathus -- the last "indigenous" city on Cyprus.*And then there is The Cypria -- one of the lost Epics that make up the Trojan Cycle.** It is possible that Apollodorus' story is referenced in its fragments but unfortunately, we know very little about The Cypria. The poem is thought to have covered the events leading up to the Trojan War, including the infamous Judgment of Paris and the Rape of Helen. It is believed to have been authored not by Homer, but by one Stasinus...of Cyprus.Next month I welcome John Franklin from University of Vermont to discuss the very Cypriot connections to this important lost Trojan Tale!---------------------------------------------------------------------* For more on Amathus' "indigeneity," see episode 2, "The Linguistic History of Cyprus with Pippa Steele" and "Amathus with Thierry Petit" on Patreon!** The Trojan Cycle (often referred to as the Epic Cycle) was a collection of the epic poems related to the Trojan War. Most readers are familiar with The Iliad and the Odyssey simply because they are the only works to have survived. Unlike the Homeric epics, these other poems exist only in fragmented pieces and summaries. There are, in fact, six other poems that made up the Epic Cycle. The order is as follows: The Cypria, The Iliad, Aethiopis, Little Iliad, Iliou Persis, Nostoi, the Odyssey and the Telegony.

23. A Fiddler's Fervor: The History of the Cypriot Fiddler with Nicoletta Demetriou

When we think of traditional Cypriot music, typically we picture the fiddle -- ubiquitous to both Greek & Turkish communities in Cyprus. But just what is "traditional" Cypriot music? And who exactly was the Cypriot Fiddler? My guest this month is ethnomusicologist, Dr. Nicoletta Demetriou, whose work and book, The Cypriot Fiddler, frames the bulk of this episode.More information on the Cypriot Fiddler can be found here including a NEW online resource called Cyprus Music Archive.
https://cyprusmusicarchive.elementor.cloud/ (Greek)**https://cyprusmusicarchive.elementor.cloud/en/home_en/ (English)**https://www.youtube.com/@TheCypriotFiddlerhttps://www.facebook.com/TheCypriotFiddler/https://www.instagram.com/thecypriotfiddler/
 
**Nicoletta Demetriou's new site will be moving over from elementor.cloud to cyprusmusicarchive.cy in the coming weeks/months so keep an eye out for that!

Primary Source XXIII: An excerpt from Magda Ohnefalsch-Richter on Cypriot Music (1913)

Magda Ohnefalsch-Richter was an ethnographer who lived in Cyprus in the latter part of the 19th century. Her published work provides us an invaluable insight into the customs and mores of Cypriots in the period. In this excerpt, Ohnefalsch-Richter notes the different instruments used in Greek and Turkish communities. However, we can't quite speak of "Greek" and "Turkish" music -- as only the instruments were/are different. If you're familiar with Cypriot music, you'll notice the Cypriot Zeimbekiko/Zeybegi played by both Greek and Turkish communities. Next month my guest is ethnomusicologist, Dr. Nicoletta Demetriou, who shares with us more information on the history of the 20th century Cypriot Fiddler!  

UPDATE: Let's keep the project going together!

A huge thank you to everyone for your unwavering support to The History of Cyprus Podcast. If you're looking for something to tide you over until the next episode, you can find my interview with Thierry Petit, the Director of Excavations at Amathus, on Patreon . The episode is available to all members, regardless of the tier, and for as little as $1 your donations will make a world of difference. Great episodes are planned including ones on Kourion & Earthquakes, Alexander the Great and Cyprus and even...Commandaria! If you're able to, join The History of Cyprus Podcast and help keep the project alive! https://www.patreon.com/TheHistoryofCyprusPodcast

22. The Kyprogenes: Aphrodite with Stephanie Budin

Aphrodite is associated with love, beauty and, I learn -- quite erroneously -- with fertility. Often through this sanitized lens, we lose sight of who Aphrodite was: the Goddess of Sex. But who was she? What are her origins? How was she understood in antiquity? And, perhaps more importantly, why is she so intimately associated with Cyprus? Join me as I interview historian and prolific author, Dr. Stephanie Budin, as we discuss "The Kyprogenes."

Primary Source XXII: A reading from Hesiod’s The Theogony

Cyprus has been intimately associated with the Greek goddess Aphrodite for centuries. According to Hesiod, in a calculated act of violence, she was born from the severed genitals of Ouranos near the coast of Cyprus. It is one of the earliest surviving works of Greek literature and is considered a foundational text of Greek mythology.
But who exactly was Aphrodite that is so associated with Cyprus? Next month, my guest is prolific author and historian, Stephanie Budin, who discusses the origins of "The Goddess," of Aphrodite, our "Kyprogenes." 

21. Tα Kυπριακά: The Cypriot Greek Dialect with Stavroula Varella

Stavroula Varella (King's College London) joins me this month to discuss the origins of the modern Cypriot Greek dialect. We explore the meaning and origins of a myriad of words (e.g., ίντα, θωρώ, έσσω, ηὗρεν and έννε...) and their possible roots. We touch on all the parent languages that inform the Cypriot vernacular including French, Italian, Turkish & English and not only identify potential etymologies (which, I learn, is notoriously difficult) but also their mode and places of transmission. You won't want to miss this!

Primary Source XXI: The Cypriot Greek Dialect: An excerpt from Leontios Machairas

Listen closely. You'll hear snippets of the Cypriot Greek dialect in this excerpt from the Chronicles of Leontios Machairas as he describes a particularly compelling event during Genoese invasion of Nicosia in the 14th century. But this excerpt was chosen not for the story per se. Rather, it was chosen for its rich Cypriot vernacular. Word use, such as θωρώ (i.e., to see) heard in this excerpt, have their roots in antiquity (see: θεωρῶ) and were preserved from the Koine into medieval Greek. Many are commonly used today in Cypriot vernacular. Other noticeable words in this recording, such as έσσω (home) and ηὗρεν (found), should be familiar to the modern ear. The Chronicles of Leontios Machairas is one of our earliest sources that both documents the historical developments in medieval Cyprus and provides us the distinct beginnings of the modern Cypriot dialect (though not the first. That would be the medieval law code, The Assizes). There are, however, roots that may go further back into antiquity. Next month, I invite Stavroula Varella (King's College London) author of the fantastic book "Language Contact and the Lexicon in the History of Cypriot Greek" to discuss the origins and evolution of the Cypriot Greek dialect!
...and if you've enjoyed this particular Primary Source, please consider becoming a Patreon member! https://www.patreon.com/TheHistoryofCyprusPodcast For as little as $1 a month, your financial support helps keep the podcast ad-free, offsets the costs of hosting the podcast and funds future primary source recordings like the one you just enjoyed. All members, regardless of which tier they subscribe to, can have access to this month's primary source recording entirely in its Medieval Greek, allowing you to get a better sense of the nuances of the Cypriot dialect in full! And if you become a third tier member, you can have early access to upcoming episodes. Thank you for your support in helping make The History of Cyprus accessible to all! 

20. The Dragoman: The Ottoman Period with Antonis Hadjikyriacou Part 2

A dragoman was an interpreter and guide who facilitated communication between individuals or groups who spoke different languages, particularly in the context of diplomatic, commercial, or cultural exchanges. During the Ottoman Empire, the position of dragoman was highly respected and influential. For Part 2 of my interview with Antonis Hadjikyriacou, we discuss the impact of Hadjigeorgakis Kornesios in 19th century Cyprus.
***Apologies for the audio quality on my end. My external microphone refused to connect prior to the recording.

Primary Source XX: Cabi Omer Efendi and the Execution of Hadjigeorgakis Kornesios 1809

Cabi Omer Efendi was an Ottoman statesman and military commander who lived from 1750 to 1814. He served as the Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire three times, and was known for his military successes, administrative skills, and political influence. For this month's primary source, he provides a direct account of the execution of Dragoman Hadjigeorgakis Kornesios in 1809 and as a springboard for Part 2 of my interview with Professor of Ottoman and Turkish Studies, Antonis Hadjiantoniou. The text in full:
"The dragoman of Cyprus caused sedition and discord by performing a great deal of villainy to the Muslim worshippers. He escaped from Cyprus, and when he arrived at Istanbul he was then arrested and executed in front of the Sublime Gate. His corpse was put upside-down in the basket of a broom-seller, carried around, and left outside the gate of the fish market. He thus became a warning to others. He was going to escape to Russia by converting his property and cash to bills of exchange. His house in Beşiktaş was given to the Chief tax inspector. It was rumored that all his property and cash totaled 5,500,000 kurush."
-Cabi Omer Efendi 1809