Our Travel Journal: Island Hopping 2024: Cyprus, Kato Pafos Archaeological Park

The ground and rocks (ancient ocean floor) are always white.

Cyprus’ history is a bit convoluted due to it being so central to development of the western civilization. To keep it straight we have incorporated this timeline into our travel journal. All research was done online, but we think from some reliable sources. Now we can look at all these ruins and put them into some perspective.

Indigenous peoples (pre-history to 709 BC): Probably arrived from the Levant and were contemporaries with the Minoans of Crete

Assyrian Empire (c. 709 BC): Early historical records suggest Assyrian influence on Cyprus began around this time.

Egyptian Rule (c. 560 BC): Cyprus came under the sway of the Egyptian pharaoh Amasis II.

Persian Empire (c. 525 BC - 333 BC): The Persians, led by Cyrus the Great, conquered Cyprus.

Alexander the Great and Hellenistic Period (333 BC - 30 BC): Cyprus became part of the Hellenistic world after Alexander's conquest of Persia and Egypt. Upon Alexander’s death one of his generals, Ptolemy, took control of Egypt and established the Ptolemy dynasty.

Roman Republic and Roman Empire (58 BC - 330 AD): After defeating Cleopatra, (a Ptolemy) and Mark Antony, Rome annexed Cyprus in 58 BC, incorporating it as a senatorial province.

Byzantine Empire (330 AD - 1191 AD): Following the division of the Roman Empire, Cyprus fell under Byzantine rule. This is the time that laid the foundations of Cyprus as a Christian bastion primarily under the influence of Saint Barnabas.

Frankish Dominion (1191 - 1489): During the Crusades Richard the Lionhearted (the same one of Robin Hood fame) captured Cyprus from the Byzantine Empire (supposedly his Christian ally). He later sold it to the Knights Templar to raise funds to buy his freedom, after the French (supposedly his Christian ally) imprisoned and held him for ransom. The Knights Templar established the Lusignan dynasty resulting in Frankish rule.

Venetian Rule (1489 - 1571): The Republic of Venice displaced the Franks through naval battles, and governed Cyprus for several decades.

Ottoman Empire (1571 - 1878): The Ottomans, led by Grand Vizier Lala Mustafa Pasha, captured Cyprus in 1571, and it became a part of the Ottoman Empire.

British Empire (1878 - 1960): The United Kingdom took control of Cyprus in 1878, initially as a protectorate and later as a crown colony.

Independence (1960): Cyprus gained independence from British rule in 1960.

Intercommunal Strife and Turkish Invasion (1974): Political tensions between Greek and Turkish Cypriots led to a Turkish military intervention in the northern part of the island.

Division of Cyprus (1974 - Present): The island remains divided between the Republic of Cyprus in the south (largely Greek Cypriot) and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in the north (recognized only by Turkey).

This timeline highlights the diverse array of powers and empires that have influenced the history and culture of Cyprus over the millennia. Such is the price one pays for being at the crossroads of history.

Today Sandy and I set out to see a little more of this history first hand. To get to the Kato Pafos Archaeologic Site we drove along the southern coast of the island to the port and resort town of Pafos. Of the three large cities that Sandy and I have spent time in, Larnaka, Limassol, and Pafos, the latter is the one we prefer hands down. That said, our little hamlet of Zygi has completely won our hearts.