Cyprus

ica churches. A weakened economy, imperial
neglect, and the earthquakes of the 4th century
brought social and ideological changes
that opened the way for a strong Church to resacralize
urban space and change the course
of Cypriot history.
In AD 649 Cyprus suffered the first attack
by Arab invaders. Twenty more raids followed
until AD 961. Prosperous cities such
as Salamis, Lambousa, and Soloi were destroyed;
the economic and cultural life of the
island was disrupted; and political instability
followed. Treasures of the Church and of
wealthy merchants vanished from the island
– either stolen or removed for safety. At various
times, Cyprus was partially or completely
occupied by the Arabs, until the Byzantine
Empire reasserted control in AD 965.
The period from the 7th to the 12th century is
characterized by political instability. Numerous
Arab raids and invasions brought about periods
of partial or complete occupation of Cyprus.
Ancient ecclesiastical materials and objects, as
Bronze cross (AD 900-1200) from Church of Agia
Paraskevi, Temvria
30
Gold earrings (AD 500-700), excavated at Kouklia
well as those of merchants were removed from
the island. The glory of Byzantine art of this
period is the churches of the 11th-12th century
adorned with wall paintings, along with two
five-domed village churches.
The Eastern Frontier of Christendom
Medieval period, 1191-1570
A series of events related to the Third Crusade
brought the island in 1192 under the
Frankish Dynasty of the Lusignans. The
capture of Cyprus by the Crusaders cut the
island off once and for all from the Byzantine
Empire. It was in 1191, that King Richard the
Lionheart of England took over Cyprus. A
year later, in 1192, he sold the island to Guy
de Lusignan. In 1197 Cyprus became another
Crusader Kingdom, following, however, its
own course under the great Lusignan dynasty,
which ruled over the island for nearly
three hundred years (1192-1489).
The first three decades of the 13th century was
a period of intensive construction. The building
of the Gothic cathedrals of Nicosia and Famagusta,
as well as the finest example of this architecture,
Bellapais Abbey, began along with
some strongholds on the Kyrenia mountain
range. In terms of cultural accomplishment, the
period of the Lusignan dynasty is considered
the golden age of medieval Cyprus.
In 1489 the island passed on to the Venetians,
and became a military garrison and a
trading center. Representative examples are