We spent today deepening our understanding of Cypriot culture through the guided and informed exploration of Limassol and the surrounding area. Our first archaeological adventure was of the ruins of Kourion, a once lively city upon a hill. There we discussed the difference between Greek and Roman architecture and learned that while Greeks tended to integrate nature into their designs (seen by their half-circle theaters built into hillsides), Romans were often inclined to demonstrate huge feats of construction (seen by their fully circular and independently standing theaters). We also learned that upon Roman arrival to the area, they recognized the well-developed culture, language, and architecture and therefore chose not to ruin and rebuild but to rather appreciate and add onto. This appreciation is what has allowed the ruins at Kourion to survive their rule and be seen as they are today.
Our second adventure was to Kolossi Castle. The castle stands as a relic of the Crusader Era and held a favorable agricultural location in terms of the surrounding area’s ability to produce sugar cane. It is comprised of three floors–the lowest with three parallel rooms, the middle with two parallel rooms facing the direction opposite of the basement’s rooms, and the top with two parallel rooms facing the direction opposite of the middle level’s rooms. Its structure allows for strong fortification and because of its design, parts of the walls are 9 feet thick. From the roof, those inside could protect castle through the use of cannons and bows & arrows, and the draw bridge entrance allowed for further protection. Outside of the castle we saw several carob trees and tried some of the old carob pods that had not been harvested during their prime last August. These trees bring me to my next topic of discussion: commodities!
Over the course of the tours, we were constantly updated on the “hot” commodity of different time periods and how the commodities offered from Cyprus fit into the larger global context. We discussed the history of wine in the region where, what would now be considered dessert wine, the first wines were produced 5,500 years ago from the naturally growing grapes on the island. The grapes and wine became valuable and a large export up until the Ottoman rule where the wine production reduced to be only local as the Ottomans abstained its exportation. Naturally, following the end of their rule the wine industry started to grow once more, and with a damaging disease spreading through vineyards in France, the Cypriots distributed thousands of vines to that region of Europe. Besides wine and grapes, Cyprus also became a crucial supplier of copper as it was first discovered there, and the name copper is actually derived from “Cyprus” through the Latin language. During British rule, the carob became a large export as it could be used for a diverse array of end products and could thrive in the climate of Cyprus. Today offered us the chance to discover the historical significance of many of the places and plants we will be walking by daily, and soon we’ll see how these older relics & goods play into the modern culture and business.
