Where does the name “Cyprus” come from?
The most common theory is that the name “Cyprus” comes from the ancient Greek word for copper ”κύπρος” (kypros). Cyprus was famous in the ancient world for its abundant copper deposits, and the island was one of the earliest centers of copper production and trade. The Greeks referred to the island as “Kypros” (Κύπρος), which likely derives from this association with copper, a metal that was highly valued in antiquity.
An alternative explanation supports that the name could derive from “Aphrodite Cypris”, supported by Joannes Zonaras in the 12th cent: “Ἢ Κύπρος αὕτη ἐστί παρ’ Ἐλλήνων οὕτω κληθεῖσα, διά τήν παρ’ αὐτοῖς θεόν’ τήν Ἀφροδίτην γάρ Κύπριν προσαγορεύουσιν”, meaning “Kypros is called as such by the Hellenes (Greeks) because its goddess Aphrodite is addressed as Kypris”.
Early evidence of the name “Kypros”
Cyprus was already called such by Homer in the 8th century BC: “ἐς Κύπρον δ’ ἐλθοῦσα θυώδεα νηόν ἔδυνεν ἐς Πάφον˙ ἔνθα δέ oἱ τέμενος βωμός τε θυώδης”, meaning ” when she (Aphrodite) came to Kypros, she was living in her temple in Paphos where she had a temple and a plastered altar” and by Herodotus in the 5th century BC: «καί γάρ τό ἐν Κύπρῳ ἱρόν ἐνθεῦτεν ἐγένετο, ὡς αὐτοί Κύπριοι λέγουσι», meaning “because her sanctuary [Aphrodite’s] in Kypro (Cyprus) also has its origin from here, as the Kypriotes (Cypriots) themselves confess”.
Other names periodically given to Cyprus
Cyprus in more recent times was given many other names. From 19th-18th century BC inscriptions and other sources found in Syria [Mari], Iraq [Mesopotamia] and Egypt [Memphis], Cyprus is called Alashiya, meaning “of the sea”. Timosthenes (3rd cent. BC) Acamantis, after the name of the legendary Troyan war hero Ακάμας, son of King Theseus of Athens, who inhabited the area of Akamas; Strabo (1st cent. BC – 1st. cent. AD) calls it Amathusia, from the city of Amathus; Publius Cornelius Tacitus (1st cent.) calls it Aerosa, from the Latin aerosus which means “full of copper”; Titus Flavius Josephus (1st cent.) asserts that it was called Chetima from Chetim [Kittim – allegedly the first inhabitant of Cyprus, son of Japheth] the grandson of Noah; Pliny (1st cent.) called it Sfikia, because 20 men who were called Σφήκες inhabited the island, as well as Aspelia, probably named as such after the Phoenicians; Xenagoras (2nd cent.) calls it Macaria, from Μακαρία which means “blessed”, and Cerastis from κέρας which means “horn”, pointing to the easter peninsula that relates to a horn; Astynomus Cryptos from “κρυπτός” which means “hidden”, Collinia from the Latin “collina” which means “hilly land”; Cytherea [Aphrodite in Greek mythology].
Cyprus, up to this moment, has a preserved history of 12,000 years. On the following site, you may find material added periodically regarding the history of the island as a whole, the history of certain cities and villages, as well some samples of the flora of the island.
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ARTICLES
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DIGITAL SOURCES
Academia Paphou – academiapaphou.com
Archaeology Wiki – archaeology.wiki/blog
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Bryn Mawr Classical Review – bmcr.brynmawr.edu
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History – history.com
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