Start here: Cyprus in ten pages

1. 1
   

   Step 1 · Chronology · 10 min read

   The Chronology of Ancient Cyprus

   The whole sequence at a glance, with the pottery, stratigraphy and radiocarbon behind the period names that follow.

   The sequence of periods used for ancient Cyprus from the Epipalaeolithic to the Roman period, and the pottery, stratigraphy and radiocarbon behind it.

2. 2
   

   Step 2 · Chronology · 15 min read

   Cyprus Before Humans: Dwarf Hippos, Dwarf Elephants and the First Visitors

   Before any people: an island of dwarf hippos and dwarf elephants, and the first human visitors at Akrotiri-Aetokremnos.

   Pleistocene Cyprus, an oceanic island of dwarf hippos, dwarf elephants, a genet and an endemic mouse, and its first human visitors at Akrotiri-Aetokremnos.

3. 3
   

   Step 3 · Chronology · 11 min read

   Neolithic Cyprus

   Farmers cross from the mainland, build villages of circular houses, and much later take up pottery.

   The period c. 9000–3900 BCE in which farmers from the mainland settled Cyprus, built villages of circular houses, and later adopted pottery.

4. 4
   

   Step 4 · Chronology · 11 min read

   Chalcolithic Cyprus

   Circular villages again, now with Red-on-White pottery, picrolite cruciform figures and the first small-scale copper working.

   The period c. 3900–2500 BCE of circular villages, Red-on-White pottery, picrolite cruciform figures and the island's first small-scale copper working.

5. 5
   

   Step 5 · Chronology · 10 min read

   Early Bronze Age Cyprus

   The Bronze Age opens with the Philia phase: rectilinear villages, Red Polished pottery and chamber-tomb cemeteries.

   The period c. 2500–1950 BCE, from the Philia phase through Early Cypriot I–III, of rectilinear villages, Red Polished pottery and chamber-tomb cemeteries.

6. 6
   

   Step 6 · Chronology · 11 min read

   Middle Bronze Age Cyprus

   Multi-roomed village houses, White Painted pottery, growing copper production and the island's first overseas trade.

   The Middle Cypriot period, c. 1950–1650 BCE, of multi-roomed village houses, White Painted pottery, growing copper production and the first overseas trade.

7. 7
   

   Step 7 · Chronology · 11 min read

   Late Bronze Age Cyprus

   Copper exports turn Cyprus into an urban, literate trading power, until the crisis around 1200 BCE.

   The Late Cypriot period, c. 1650–1050 BCE, when copper exports made Cyprus an urban, literate trading power before the crisis around 1200 BCE.

8. 8
   

   Step 8 · Chronology · 11 min read

   Cypro-Geometric Cyprus

   The Early Iron Age: new dromos tombs, early ironworking, the Cypriot Syllabary and the debated origins of the kingdoms.

   The Early Iron Age of Cyprus, c. 1050–750 BCE, of new dromos tombs, early ironworking, the Cypriot Syllabary and the debated origins of the city-kingdoms.

9. 9
   

   Step 9 · Chronology · 11 min read

   Cypro-Archaic Cyprus

   The city-kingdoms under Assyrian, Egyptian and Persian overlords, with rural sanctuaries and regional pottery styles.

   The age of the Cypriot city-kingdoms, c. 750–475 BCE, under Assyrian, Egyptian and Persian overlordship, with rural sanctuaries and regional pottery styles.

10. 10
    

    Step 10 · Chronology · 20 min read

    Cypro-Classical Cyprus

    The last phase of the kingdoms under loose Persian rule, ending when Ptolemy I abolished the kings.

    The last phase of the Cypriot city-kingdoms, c. 480–310 BCE, under loose Persian overlordship, ending when Ptolemy I abolished the kings.

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