Best cyprusthepodcast Podcasts (2024)

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BONUS EPISODE! Follow Where Reason Leads: Zeno of Citium & Stoicism with Andrew Erskine 37:32

7h ago37:32

37:32

In this episode, Professor Andrew Erskine (University of Edinburgh) delves into the life and legacy of Zeno of Citium, the ancient philosopher whose teachings laid the foundation for the Stoic school of thought. Born in Citium (Kition) Cyprus, Zeno's journey from humble beginnings to philosophical prominence is a testament to the power of resilienc…

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NEW! Primary Source XXXI: "I want YOU for the Cypriot Mule Corps!" 1:11

2h ago1:11

1:11

For this month's primary source, I've taken some liberty with its recording, turning this very real enlistment ad into a radio spot. However, historically speaking, there was no radio service at the time -- and so this certainly would not have been broadcast in Cyprus. Given the widespread illiteracy at the time, enlistment campaigns such as the on…

1
30. Living on the Edge: Earthquakes and The Kourion Urban Space Project with Laura Swantek 1:37:24

13d ago1:37:24

1:37:24

In the 4th century, a series of powerful earthquakes shook the island of Cyprus, leaving a profound impact on its inhabitants and Kourion in particular. These seismic events not only disrupted daily life but also reshaped the landscape, causing widespread destruction and challenging the resilience of Cypriots. The earthquakes of the 4th century sta…

1
Primary Source XXX: The Sibylline Oracle 1:17

29d ago1:17

1:17

The Sibyls of ancient Greece and Rome were oracles that divined the future by channeling the god, Apollo. Sibyls were considered to be intermediaries between the mortal world and the divine realm, and their pronouncements were highly regarded by the Greeks. Sibyls were often consulted by individuals, city-states, and rulers seeking guidance on impo…

1
29. Dedicating to your God: The Votive Tradition with Erin Averett 1:01:58

1M ago1:01:58

1:01:58

Votive practices in Cyprus have long been an integral part of the island's rich cultural and religious traditions. Cypriots have engaged in diverse acts of votive offerings to express gratitude, seek divine favor, or fulfill vows. In ancient Cyprus, votives played a significant role in the worship of various deities. The sanctuaries dedicated to go…

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Primary Source XXIX: The Idalion Bilingual 0:50

2M ago0:50

0:50

The Idalion Bilingual inscription comprises a dedication composed in Phoenician and Greek, using the Cypriot syllabic script. This inscription played a crucial role in deciphering the Cypriot syllabic writing system and is often referred to as the equivalent of the 'Rosetta stone' in Cyprus. Despite Idalion being under Phoenician rule at that time,…

1
BONUS EPISODE! A New Paradigm Shift? The Peopling of Cyprus with Dora Moutsiou 38:50

2M ago38:50

38:50

There's a good chance that you might have heard of a recent study published in May 2024 that revises our understanding of when Cyprus was first settled. You can read more on it here: Archaeology Magazine. ...but to borrow a short excerpt from the article, "It had been argued that hunter-gatherers only traveled to inhospitable islands in the eastern…

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28. Holy Men & Heathens: The Last Pagans of Cyprus with Georgios Deligiannakis 1:00:00

3M ago1:00:00

1:00:00

**My apologies on my audio quality for this episode. Working off an old laptop for this particular recording. Early Christianity in Cyprus dates back to the first century AD, when the island was part of the Roman Empire. According to tradition, the apostles Paul, Barnabas, and John Mark traveled to Cyprus to spread the message of Christianity. The …

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Primary Source XXVIII: The Apocryphal Acts of Barnabas 3:32

3M ago3:32

3:32

If you're listening to this month's Primary Source, you're hearing from the acts of Cyprus' patron saint, St. Barnabas. St. Barnabas was a Cypriot Jew who converted to Christianity and undertook missionary work across the island and beyond. In the Acts of the Apostles, he was accompanied by St. Paul most famously confronting a magician named Elymas…

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27. Between Constantinople & the West: The Middle Byzantine Period with Tassos Papacostas 1:06:11

4M ago1:06:11

1:06:11

For this month's episode, I speak with Tassos Papacostas (King's College London) about Cyprus during the Middle Byzantine Period. We touch upon the political and economic changes that characterize the period in addition to the population movement from urban centers to rural ones (focusing on the 10th century settlement of the Troodos region in part…

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Primary Source XXVII: St. Neophytos the Recluse 3:20

4M ago3:20

3:20

St. Neophytos the Recluse (Άγιος Νεόφυτος ο Έγκλειστος ca. 1134–1214) was a twelfth century Cypriot hermit and saint whose short chronicle, "On the Calamities Against the Country of Cyprus," provides us with an invaluable look into the Third Crusade and, more specifically, its impact on Cyprus which he considers an unmitigated disaster. He is decid…

1
26. The Most (In)visible Minority: Black Cypriots with Serap Kanay 1:17:33

5M ago1:17:33

1:17:33

The roots of the Black Cypriot community can be traced back to different historical periods. Cyprus, being under various foreign dominations, witnessed the movement of people from Africa, particularly through trade routes and often forced migrations. The archaeological record can certainly attest to a Black presence as far back as the Archaic Perio…

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Primary Source XXVI: An excerpt from The Ottoman Judicial Register 1:07

5M ago1:07

1:07

According to late Ottoman historian, Ronald C. Jennings, little is known “about the places of origins of Black slaves or free blacks in Ottoman Cyprus except that their presence can be documented by the 1590s in the judicial registers from Nicosia” -- as can be heard in this excerpt. Though a very short Primary Source, it is revealing. As was commo…

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25. 1177 BC: The Year Civilization Collapsed with Eric Cline 1:04:00

6M ago1:04:00

1:04:00

My guest this month is renowned archaeologist, Eric Cline. You might be familiar with Dr. Cline from his seminal work, "1177 BC: The Year Civilization Collapsed," which was shortlisted for the Pulitzer Prize in 2014, in addition to "Three Stones Make a Wall" and "Digging up Armageddon." Eric, in collaboration with renowned illustrator, Glynnis Fawk…

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ZENO OF CITIUM NOW ON PATREON! Follow Where Reason Leads: Zeno of Citium with Andrew Erskine 1:29

6M ago1:29

1:29

For all Patreon members, you can access my interview on Zeno of Citium with Professor Andrew Erskine (University of Edinburgh) now on Patreon. For as little as $1 a month, your contributions help fund the History of Cyprus Podcast and keep it ad free. Please consider supporting the History of Cyprus Podcast and help build this digital repository of…

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Primary Source XXV: 1177 BC: An Interview with Glynnis Fawkes 46:42

6M ago46:42

46:42

This month's primary source is bit different! Glynnis Fawkes, a highly acclaimed cartoonist and illustrator, has made significant contributions to the field of archaeology by illustrating numerous excavations in the Eastern Mediterranean (and in Cyprus) since 1998. Some of her work is featured in the book, "Cartoons of Cyprus" -- with a wonderful f…

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24. King Kinyras and the Cypria: Cyprus in the Homeric World with John Franklin 1:23:27

7M ago1:23:27

1:23:27

*My apologies; I had a broken microphone on the day of the recording. But thankfully John's audio quality is perfect! The Epic Cycle, also known as the Trojan Cycle, refers to a collection of ancient Greek epic poems that were composed between the 8th and 6th centuries BCE. It is a series of narratives that revolve around the events related to the …

1
Primary Source XXIV: The Hosting of the Achaeans 1:18

7M ago1:18

1:18

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 …

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23. A Fiddler's Fervor: The History of the Cypriot Fiddler with Nicoletta Demetriou 53:52

8M ago53:52

53:52

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 o…

1
UPDATE: Let's keep the project going together! 2:02

8M ago2:02

2:02

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 $…

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Primary Source XXIII: An excerpt from Magda Ohnefalsch-Richter on Cypriot Music (1913) 2:26

8M ago2:26

2:26

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 o…

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22. The Kyprogenes: Aphrodite with Stephanie Budin 1:02:14

9M ago1:02:14

1:02:14

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 …

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Primary Source XXII: A reading from Hesiod’s The Theogony 2:01

9M ago2:01

2:01

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 exactl…

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21. Tα Kυπριακά: The Cypriot Greek Dialect with Stavroula Varella 1:00:01

10M ago1:00:01

1:00:01

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, Tur…

1
Primary Source XXI: The Cypriot Greek Dialect: An excerpt from Leontios Machairas 3:23

10M ago3:23

3:23

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, suc…

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20. The Dragoman: The Ottoman Period with Antonis Hadjikyriacou Part 2 41:36

11M ago41:36

41:36

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 Hadjikyriac…

1
Primary Source XX: Cabi Omer Efendi and the Execution of Hadjigeorgakis Kornesios 1809 1:40

11M ago1:40

1:40

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 Hadjigeorg…

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19. Osmanlı Kıbrısı: The Ottoman Period with Antonis Hadjikyriacou Part 1 1:12:38

12M ago1:12:38

1:12:38

The Ottoman Period in Cyprus, which lasted from 1571 to 1878, was a significant era in the island's history as it had a lasting impact on its culture, society, and economy. During this period, the Ottoman Empire brought Islam to the island and established a system of local administration through appointed governors and officials. This resulted in a…

1
Primary Source XIX: Grand Vizier Sokollu Mehmet Pasha 1571 1:21

1y ago1:21

1:21

Sokullu Mehmed Pasha was a prominent Ottoman statesman who served as the grand vizier (chief minister) of the Ottoman Empire for over a decade during the 16th century, under the reigns of Suleiman the Magnificent and Selim II. In this excerpt, he addresses the Venetian Ambassador, acknowledging their recent defeat at the Battle of Lepanto but remin…

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18. Felis Cypria: Cat Domestication in Prehistoric Cyprus? with Jean-Denis Vigne 59:42

1y ago59:42

59:42

My guest this month is Dr. Jean-Denis Vigne, Emeritus Director of Research from the Natural History Museum in Paris. In this episode, we discuss the oldest farming village in a Mediterranean island (i.e., Klimonas) in addition to the significance of the Chirokitia Culture to the Neolithic Period and, of course, the earliest possible evidence of fel…

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Primary Source XVIII: Friar Francesco Suriano’s Observations on the Cats of Cyprus 1484 2:00

1y ago2:00

2:00

If you have ever visited Cyprus, you would have certainly noticed the abundance of cats on the island. On his way to Jaffa in 1484, the Venetian Friar, Francesco Suriano, noticed the same thing. His observations on the number of cats on the island is a perfect springboard in introducing my next month's guest: Dr. Jean-Denis Vigne, esteemed paleozoo…

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17. Venexia e l’ixola de Zipro: Venetian Cyprus with Benjamin Arbel 1:16:32

1y ago1:16:32

1:16:32

The Venetian period in Cyprus has been characterized as one of decline and decay. But was it? In this month's episode, Benjamin Arbel (Professor Emeritus Tel Aviv University) and leading historian on Venetian Cyprus challenges the "Black Legend" and discusses the social, economic and political impact of La Serenissima on the island of Cyprus.…

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Primary Source XVII: George Boustronios and the Last Queen of Cyprus, Catherine Cornaro 1:29

1y ago1:29

1:29

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 m…

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16. Eύώδεα Κύπρον: Perfumery Production in Ancient Cyprus with Maria Rosaria Belgiorno 59:24

1y ago59:24

59:24

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 Natio…

1
Primary Source XVI: Hymn to Aphrodite 1:19

1+ y ago1:19

1:19

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" "heavenl…

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15. Le Coeur de Lion: King Richard’s Conquest of Cyprus with Angel Nicolaou-Konnari 59:24

1+ y ago59:24

59:24

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…

1
UPDATE: How you can support The History of Cyprus Podcast...! 1:37

1+ y ago1:37

1:37

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 equipme…

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Primary Source XV: King Richard’s Letter on the Conquest of Cyprus 1191 2:13

1+ y ago2:13

2:13

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 hims…

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14. The Copper Island: Copper Production in Ancient Cyprus with Lina Kassianidou 1:14:15

1+ y ago1:14:15

1:14:15

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 involve…

1
Primary Source XIV: Aristotle on Cyprus’ Natural Resources 1:22

1+ y ago1:22

1:22

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 …

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13. Grilling the Past: Halloumi & Ethnoarchaeology with Rafael Laoutari 53:18

1+ y ago53:18

53:18

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 rura…

1
Primary Source XIII: Richard Pococke & Cypriot Cheese 1738 1:50

1+ y ago1:50

1:50

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 i…

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12. Travelling Artists in Cyprus: 1700-1960 with Rita Severis 54:34

1+ y ago54:34

54:34

The canvas isn't simply a medium that the artist uses to capture an image. The paintbrush can be loaded with preconceived notions, biases and agendas. What is more, it can be revealing in ways never considered and provide a unique lens into the past. Rita Severis (the Co-Founder of the Costas & Rita Severis Foundation and Honorary Consul of Canada)…

1
Primary Source XII: From the Diary of Esmé Scott-Stevenson 1880 1:11

1+ y ago1:11

1:11

Esmé Scott-Stevenson, wife of the Commissioner of Kyrenia, authored several books documenting her travels across the Mediterranean. She traveled throughout Cyprus with a number of dignitaries and, in 1880, she published "Our Home in Cyprus," observing Cypriot customs in 19th century Cyprus. Her work offers us a springboard into this month's episode…

1
11. Between Constantinople & the Caliphate: Cyprus in Late Antiquity with Luca Zavagno 1:06:59

1+ y ago1:06:59

1:06:59

Luca Zavagno's (Bilkent University) work, "Cyprus Between Late Antiquity and the Early Middle Ages" frames the bulk of this month's episode. Traditional narratives suggest that the late Roman Period (i.e., Byzantium) for Cyprus was a period of physical dislocation, social disruption and economic turmoil precipitated by the infamous 7th century Arab…

1
Primary Source XI: al-Baladhuri and the Arab Invasions of Cyprus 2:29

1+ y ago2:29

2:29

Aḥmad ibn Yaḥyā ibn Jābir al-Balādhurī was a 9th century Arab (or possibly Persian) historian whose work, "Futūh al-Buldān" (Conquest of Lands) provides us a valuable non-Roman/Byzantine perspective on the Arab invasions of Cyprus. You'll hear al-Baladhuri reference Cyprus' infamous "condominium" where the island's tax revenues were split between t…

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10. Cythereia Cypros: Roman Cyprus with Ersin Hussein 1:25:26

1+ y ago1:25:26

1:25:26

For this month's episode I welcome Dr. Ersin Hussein (Swansea University in Wales) to discuss Cyprus' political and social history as a Roman province. Ironically, although Romans were sticklers for record-keeping, the textual evidence on Cyprus is surprisingly scarce. Using epigraphic (e.g., monuments, inscriptions), coins and textual evidence, Er…

1
Primary Source X: Ammianus Marcellinus and the Voraciousness of Rome 1:36

2y ago1:36

1:36

Ammianus Marcellinus was a Roman soldier and an historian from the late Roman Period whose historical works, Res Gestae, provides us a brief glimpse into Rome's policy towards Cyprus. He describes Roman policy as "voracious" and implies opportunism as Rome sought to replenish its depleted coffers by seizing Cyprus and draining it of its treasury. O…

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9. Rule Britannia: Cyprus in the British Empire with Andrekos Varnava 59:57

2y ago59:57

59:57

Held in secret in 1878, the Cyprus Convention negotiated the administrative handover of Cyprus from the Ottoman Empire to the British. It was certainly an opportunity to strengthen British presence in the Eastern Mediterranean. Lulled by romanticized images of what Cyprus was thought to be, they found a very different reality. Some, in fact, would …

1
Primary Source IX: Archbishop Sophronios Speech 1878 3:04

2y ago3:04

3:04

In 1878, Cyprus Archbishop Sophronios III delivered a speech celebrating Cyprus' new status as a protectorate of Great Britain. The speech would've been delivered to Sir Garnet Wolseley, the island's first appointed High Commissioner, in French, and presumably in front of a large crowd. Sophronios held high hopes for Cyprus' future as a British Pro…

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