Ancient Cyprus

The island of Cyprus has a long and fascinating history. Located in the Eastern Mediterranean between the ancient lands of the Aegean and the countries of the Near East, Cyprus developed into a melting pot of civilization and cradle of culture. During the past 100 or so years archaeologists have uncovered numerous monuments and artefacts which are of universal importance as they illustrate the history of the entire Mediterranean region. Indeed, one of the ancient Cypriot sites, at Paphos, has been included in the World Cultural Heritage list.

With a commitment to Cyprus stretching back almost seven decades, Mobil thought it fitting to commission a concise written and pictorial history of seven millennia af Cypriot art and archaeology. We turned to internationally-known archaeologist and author, Dr. Vassos Karageorghis, the present Director of the Department of Antiquities of the Republic of Cyprus, who has been intimately connected with the island's antiquities for the past 30 years.