By the summer of 1974, the island of Cyprus was home to two separate refugee communities. Charting the displaced cultures of the Greek Cypriot community in the south, and that of the Turkish communities in the north, Lisa Dikomitis provides a moving and detailed qualitative ethnography of the refugee experience in Cyprus. In her groundbreaking study, made possible by the opening of the north/south border during fieldwork, Dikomitis demonstrates how both ethnic groups are linked by their histories of displacement to a single 'place of desire', a small mountainous village located in the north of the island. By identifying the specific social and cultural meanings that the notions of home, identity, justice and suffering have come to have for both populations, Cyprus and its Places of Desire will appeal to scholars and students of Cypriot, Turkish and Greek history as well as those with an interest in the fields of anthropology, sociology and identity.
On a sweltering day in July 1878, the men of the 42nd Royal Highlanders - the Black Watch - waded ashore at Larnaca Bay to begin the British occupation of Cyprus. Today, Britons on sunbeds colonise the same stretch of sand, the latest visitors to an island which has long held a special place in the English imagination - and a controversial role in British imperial ambitions. From Britain's acquisition of the island in 1878 up to independence in 1960, a true understanding of the complexity of Cypriot society and its aspirations eluded most British administrators. In the late 19th century, the British worked furiously to outmanoeuvre a restless Russian Empire bent on southward expansion. In this 'Great Game' of superpowers, few episodes were bolder than the British acquisition of Cyprus through a secret treaty with the Ottoman Empire. Initially considered strategically vital for the defence of India, the island soon lost its importance as a military staging post, when Britain occupied Egypt. Nevertheless, Cyprus became a major centre of Allied espionage and counter-espionage in both World Wars - a role that up to now has never been fully revealed. But despite the island's importance, British rule on Cyprus was often somewhat lackadaisical: low salaries resulted in a colourful staff of hard drinking colonial rejects and scholarly classicists of independent means. Disastrous governance combined with a misunderstanding by the British of the growing desire for enosis, the union of Cyprus with Greece, contributed to increasing Cypriot disillusionment with British rule. Drawing on largely unpublished material, Morgan reflects on why successive administrations failed so catastrophically to engage with their Cypriot subjects, and how social segregation, confusion about Cypriot identity and the poor calibre of so many administrators all contributed to the bloody guerilla conflict that led, finally, to Cypriot independence. Sweet and Bitter Island explores for the first time the unique bond between Britain and Cyprus and the complex, sometimes tense, relationship between the two nations which endures to the present day. Extensively researched and lyrically written, this is the definitive portrait of British colonial life on the Mediterranean island.
When the Turkish invade Cyprus in 1974 Pru, a young British Army wife, has her life turned upside down. Two weeks later she flees the country with a baby who isn't hers. Over thirty years later that baby, now a grown woman called Leni, returns to the island of her birth to find out about the chain of events that led her to be brought up as Pru's child. She discovers the true cost of war, how the hurt still continues through the generations and what being a family really means. In this story of love and loss Leni will lay ghosts to rest in more ways than one.
World-renowned 'tell it like it is' guidebook Discover Cyprus with this comprehensive, entertaining, 'tell it like it is' Rough Guide, packed with comprehensive practical information and our experts' honest and independent recommendations. Whether you plan to explore picturesque villages, discover on spectacular ruins, hike in the Troodos Massif or just laze on a pristine beach, The Rough Guide to Cyprus will help you discover the best places to explore, sleep, eat, drink and shop along the way. Features of The Rough Guide to Cyprus: - Detailed regional coverage: provides in-depth practical information for each step of all kinds of trip, from intrepid off-the-beaten-track adventures, to chilled-out breaks in popular tourist areas. Regions covered include: Larnaka, Pafos, Lefkosia and North Cyprus. - Honest independent reviews: written with Rough Guides' trademark blend of humour, honesty and expertise, and recommendations you can truly trust, our writers will help you get the most from your trip to Cyprus. - Meticulous mapping: always full-colour, with clearly numbered, colour-coded keys. Find your way around Lemesos, Pafos and many more locations without needing to get online. - Fabulous full-colour photography: features a richness of inspirational colour photography, including idyllic images of Cyprus's stunning beaches and jaw-dropping views of the ruins of ancient Salamis. - Things not to miss: Rough Guides' rundown of the Karpaz Peninsula, Troodos, Girne and Lemesos's best sights and top experiences. - Itineraries: carefully planned routes will help you organise your trip, and inspire and inform your on-the-road experiences. - Basics section: packed with essential pre-departure information including getting there, getting around, accommodation, food and drink, health, the media, festivals, sports and outdoor activities, culture and etiquette, shopping and more. - Background information: comprehensive Contexts chapter provides fascinating insights into Cyprus, with coverage of history, religion, ethnic groups, environment, wildlife and books, plus a handy language section and glossary. - Covers: Larnaka and around, Lemesos and around, Pafos and aroun, the Troodos Mountains, Lefkosia and North Cyprus. About Rough Guides: Rough Guides have been inspiring travellers for over 35 years, with over 30 million copies sold globally. Synonymous with practical travel tips, quality writing and a trustworthy 'tell it like it is' ethos, the Rough Guides list includes more than 260 travel guides to 120+ destinations, gift-books and phrasebooks.
This edited volume of interdisciplinary essays considers the aspects of nation, identity, and collective experience in the notoriously divided island of Cyprus. The contributors examine the role of international politics particularly the involvement of Greece and Turkey and examine the changing relationship between the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities since 1955. The book challenges prevailing assumptions about political and cultural identity in Cyprus and theorizes on the prospects for mobilizing more multi-dimensional and workable formations of community on Cyprus. The result is a tightly conceived volume, divided into sections of national identity, political possibilities, the location of culture, and social and psychological perspectives.
By and large, architectural historians use texts, drawings, and photographs to craft their narratives. Oral testimony from those who actually occupy or construct buildings is rarely taken as seriously. Speaking of Buildings offers a rebuttal, theorizing the radical potential of a methodology that has historically been cast as unreliable. Essays by an international group of scholars look at varied topics, from the role of gossip in undermining masculine narratives in architecture to workers' accounts of building with cement in midcentury London to a sound art piece created by oral testimonies from Los Angeles public housing residents. In sum, the authors call for a renewed form of listening to enrich our understanding of what buildings are, what they do, and what they mean to people.
This book reflects the way in which the city interacts with the sacred in all its many guises, with religion and the human search for meaning in life. As the process of urbanization of society is accelerating thus giving an increasing importance to cities and the 'metropolis', it is relevant to investigate the social or cultural cohesion that these urban agglomerations manifest. Religion is keenly observed as witnessing a growth, crucially impacting cultural and political dynamics, as well as determining the emergence of new sacred symbols and their inscription in urban spaces worldwide. The sacred has become an important category of a new interpretation of social and cultural transformation processes. From a unique broader perspective, the volume focuses on the relationship between the city and the sacred. Taking a multidisciplinary approach, combining the expertise of philosophers, historians, architects, social geographers, sociologists and anthropologists, it draws a nuanced picture of the different layers of religion, of the sacred and its diverse forms within the city, with examples from Europe, South America and the Caribbean, and Africa.
A cultural history of the goddess of love, from a New York Times bestselling and award-winning historian. Aphrodite was said to have been born from the sea, rising out of a froth of white foam. But long before the Ancient Greeks conceived of this voluptuous blonde, she existed as an early spirit of fertility on the shores of Cyprus -- and thousands of years before that, as a ferocious warrior-goddess in the Middle East. Proving that this fabled figure is so much more than an avatar of commercialized romance, historian Bettany Hughes reveals the remarkable lifestory of one of antiquity's most potent myths. Venus and Aphrodite brings together ancient art, mythology, and archaeological revelations to tell the story of human desire. From Mesopotamia to modern-day London, from Botticelli to Beyoncé, Hughes explains why this immortal goddess continues to entrance us today -- and how we trivialize her power at our peril.
In 1974 the Greek colonels ousted the Greek-Cypriot leader of Cyprus, Archbishop Makarios, and Turkey retaliated by invading and seizing a third of the island. Cyprus remains split in two, like Berlin before the wall came down, bristling with troops and spying bases, and permanently policed by the United Nations. Henry Kissinger claimed he could do nothing to stop the coup because of the Watergate crisis, but this book presents evidence to support the view that it was no failure of American foreign policy, but the realization of a long-term plot. The authors describe the strategic reasons for Washington's need to divide the island. Their account encompasses an international cast of characters that includes Eden, Eisenhower, Nixon, Kissinger, Wilson, Callaghan, Grivas, and the leaders of the two halves of the divided island, Clerides and Denktas.
The Rough Guide to Cyprus in epub format explores every corner of this Mediterranean paradise, from the fine, sandy beaches and wooded hillsides to the ancient churches and buzzing bars. The guide is fully up-dated taking in the island's entry into the EU with new sections offering a guide to Cyprus's hearty traditional cuisine and its rich artistic and religious architecture - breathtaking Ottoman mosques, Byzantine churches and gothic cathedrals. The introduction covers what not to miss and is illustrated with stunning photography showcasing Cyprus's dramatic natural beauty. There are dozens of reviews from the best restaurants, nightlife and hotels in Cyprus to the top shopping spots, entertainment and outdoor activities, as well as all the essential information you need for the trip of a lifetime. The Rough Guide to Cyprus is the essential guidebook to this divided island, covering both North and South with an insider's eye. Make the most of your time with The Rough Guide to Cyprus.
