As a fertile island, Cyprus is unsurpassed, for it produces good wine, good oil and also enough corn for its own use. In Tamassos there are, moreover, a large number of copper mines, containing copper sulphates as well as copper oxide, which is suitable for medical purposes. Eratosthenes [3rd Cent BC] tells us that in ancient times the plains used to be covered with dense forest and, as a result, could not be cultivated, but the mines remedied the situation, for the inhabitants chopped down the trees in order to smelt copper and silver. Eratosthenes also says that shipbuilding was a further reason for deforestation, for the sea was a traffic route, sometimes for whole merchant fleets. Since the islanders were unable, in spite of this, to master the sheer extent of the forest on the island, they allowed anyone who was willing and able to fell trees to adopt the land thus won as their own property, without having to pay any taxes. - Strabo 14.6.5 [AD 19] - Strabo of Amasia, Greek historian and geographer.
Cyprus is a young forward looking country with its roots in the Classical Greek period and stretching back over 90 centuries into the mists of prehistory and legend. Cyprus lies at the crossroads of great civilisations. It has had a tumultuous past, its history is primarily that of occupation. The conquerors have had a strong influence on the Cypriot character, leaving an impression on the land, in the arts and forming the bedrock of Cypriot culture. Only in its recent history has Cyprus gained independence. An independence that has not been without a heavy price. Cyprus today is a divided island, with the northern part occupied by Turkey.
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The beautiful island of Cyprus is steeped in ancient history and is supposedly the birthplace of Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love. Legend has it that she rose from the waves at 'Petra tou Romiou'. Travellers have visited the island throughout ancient times to worship the goddess.
The largest peak in the Troodos Mountains, Mount Olympus, was said to be the home of the Greek Gods, presided over by Zeus. Also available to visit, is the pool, in a secluded natural grotto, where Aphrodite was said to bathe (48km from Paphos, near Polis). Another notable local attraction is the 'Tombs of the Kings', which are impressive rock-cut tombs - carved out of solid rock. These vaults held the tombs of nobles from the Ptolemy periods. Famous visitors to the island include the Greek conqueror, Alexander the Great, who stopped off at the island to make repairs to his ships before carrying on his adventures. The famous Egyptian queen, Cleopatra, was given the island of Cyprus as a present by her Roman lover Marc Antony.
