Famagusta Maritima: Mariners, Merchants, Pilgrims and Mercenaries presents a collection of scholarly studies spanning the thousand year history of the port of Famagusta in Cyprus. This historic harbour city was at the heart of the Crusading Lusignan dynasty, a possession of both Genoa and Venice during the Renaissance, a port of the Ottoman Empire for three centuries, and in time, a strategic naval and intelligence node for the British Empire. It is a maritime space made famous by the realities of its extraordinary importance and influence, followed by its calamitous demise. Contributors are: Michele Bacci, Lucie Bonato, Tomasz Borowski, Mike Carr, Pierre-Vincent Claverie, Dragos Cosmescu, Nicholas Coureas, Marko Kiessel, Antonio Musarra, William Spates, Asu Tozan, Ahmet Usta, and Michael Walsh.
There was a time seven centuries ago when Famagusta's wealth and renown could be compared to that of Venice or Constantinople. The Cathedral of St Nicholas in the main square of Famagusta, serving as the coronation place for the Crusader Kings of Jerusalem after the fall of Acre in 1291, symbolised both the sophistication and permanence of the French society that built it. From the port radiated impressive commercial activity with the major Mediterranean trade centres, generating legendary wealth, cosmopolitanism, and hedonism, unsurpassed in the Levant. These halcyon days were not to last, however, and a 15th century observer noted that, following the Genoese occupation of the city, 'a malignant devil has become jealous of Famagusta'. When Venice inherited the city, it reconstructed the defences and had some success in revitalising the city's economy. But the end for Venetian Famagusta came in dramatic fashion in 1571, following a year long siege by the Ottomans. Three centuries of neglect followed which, combined with earthquakes, plague and flooding, left the city in ruins. The essays collected in this book represent a major contribution to the study of Medieval and Renaissance Famagusta and its surviving art and architecture and also propose a series of strategies for preserving the city's heritage in the future. They will be of particular interest to students and scholars of Gothic, Byzantine and Renaissance art and architecture, and to those of the Crusades and the Latin East, as well as the Military Orders. After an introductory chapter surveying the history of Famagusta and its position in the cultural mosaic that is the Eastern Mediterranean, the opening section provides a series of insights into the history and historiography of the city. There follow chapters on the churches and their decoration, as well as the military architecture, while the final section looks at the history of conservation efforts and assesses the work that now needs to be done.
This book explores seven centuries of change in Cyprus and the Eastern Mediterranean world through the rise and fall of Famagusta’s medieval Armenian Church. An examination of the complex and its art escorts the reader from the era of the Crusades in Lusignan Cyprus, through the rise and fall of the Venetian, Ottoman and British Empires, to the political stasis of the present day. The Armenian church was a home for displaced villagers during the post-independence era, became a military storage facility post-1974 and eventually fell into abandonment once again. This study represents a pioneering history of the Armenian community in Famagusta and a probing analysis of the art and architecture it left behind. It is also a permanent record of the long-term engagement and commitment of Nanyang Technological University Singapore, the World Monuments Fund, and the Famagusta Municipality to protect this precious site, under extremely challenging circumstances.
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'This is a story of courage, brutality and fear, of loyalty and betrayal, of love and hatred, of despair and unquenchable hope. As always, Victoria Hislop brings vividly to life a horrendous episode in the history of the beautiful island of Cyprus. Excellent, in every way' Real Reader Review, ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ In the golden city of Famagusta, Greek and Turkish Cypriots alike enjoy a life of good fortune. Invasion comes without warning, bringing chaos and terror. As forty thousand people flee their homes in panic, Famagusta becomes a ghost town. But not everyone will find it so easy to leave . . . Discover for yourself why 10 million readers and critics worldwide love Victoria Hislop's books . . . 'Intelligent and immersive . . . Hislop's incisive narrative weaves a vast array of fact through a poignant, compelling family saga' The Sunday Times 'Adroitly plotted and deftly characterised, Hislop's gripping novel tells the stories of ordinary Greek and Turkish families trying to preserve their humanity in a maelstrom of deception, betrayal and ethnic hatred' Mail on Sunday 'Fascinating and moving . . . Hislop writes unforgettably about Cyprus and its people' The Times 'An imaginative tour de force, and a great read' Daily Mail 'Victoria Hislop writes so vividly about the Med, you can almost feel the scorching heat. An absorbing tale about family, friendship, loyalty and betrayal, set during a violent period in the history of Cyprus' Good Housekeeping 'Victoria Hislop has never let me down. Characters, storyline and location are all woven together into an intricate tapestry that educates as much as it entertains' Real Reader Review, ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 'As usual, Victoria casts a spell over her readers, telling a wonderful story that is spellbinding and awful . . . Fascinating' Real Reader Review, ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 'Excellent . . . I highly recommend The Sunrise and defy anyone reading it to remain unmoved and dry eyed' Real Reader Review, ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 'A wonderfully evocative tale of life before, during and after the Spanish Civil War . . . Fantastic' Real Reader Review, ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 'Victoria Hislop's well researched book with its convincing characters from both Greek and Turkish communities brings the history of this wonderful island to life and gives a remarkable picture of traumatic events . . . a superb read' Real Reader Review, ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
