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, cer...
2 Maj 20231h 14min
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...
15 Apr 20231min
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...
2 Apr 202353min
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, Leon...
15 Mars 20231min
12. Travelling Artists in Cyprus: 1700-1960 with Rita Severis
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 c...
2 Mars 202354min
Primary Source XII: From the Diary of Esmé Scott-Stevenson 1880
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 ...
16 Feb 20231min
11. Between Constantinople & the Caliphate: Cyprus in Late Antiquity with Luca Zavagno
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 (...
3 Feb 20231h 6min
Primary Source XI: al-Baladhuri and the Arab Invasions of Cyprus
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 o...
15 Jan 20232min
