The forests of C. had not wholly disappeared even in imperial times, though they were already very much reduced in area by the continuous export of timber (Strabo, xiv. 5). The cypress ( A V ' fir ') or Karamanian pine is the principal forest tree; and the juniper (?, the 'cypress Itirzn/i.'] ofIs44'*') probably formerly attained great size in C, and still grows freely oetween Larnaka and Famagiista. Besides these, C. has always pro- duced much wine and oil ; and carobs, anise, and madder are considerable crops. It grew enough com for its own population in the time of Augustus (Strabo, xiv. 5), and exports it now. Ladanum and resin were exported under the Roman Emjiire (Pliny, xii. 74, xiv. 123, xxiv. 34). Both Pliny (xxvii. 23. 58. 121, etc.) and Strabo (iii. 15) reooid the occurrence of precious stones ; and the former, mines of alum and gyiisum (xxx\d. 183). Salt is made in lagoons near Larnaka (Kition), and Pliny records the manufacture here (xxxi. 75) and at Salamis (xxxi. 84).
History. — The copper and the timber of C, so long as the supply lasted, gave the i.sland an im- portance in c<minierce and civilization out of all proportion to it« size. From the earlier part of tlie Bronze Age Cyprus maintained a large population and an art and culture distinct and in many res|]e<'ts highly developed, and ex])orted copper to Syria, Cilicia, and probal)ly to Egypt, to tlie farther parts of Asia Minor, and even to Central Europe. The influence also of Cypriote pottery was felt in Syria, and widely in A.><ia Minor ; some of the liner varieties have been found in Egypt, South Pales- tine, Tliera, Athens, and the Tioad.
C. was invaded by Tahutiiies ill. of the 18th dynasty of Egypt (n.C. 1503-1440), and appears to have remained tributary to Egypt for some time.
540
CYPRUS
GYRENE
It has been snggeated by Maspero and others that the Keftiu (cf. OT 'Caphtor') include the in- habitants of C. ; but the usual Egyp. name for C. is Asi (Flinders Petrie, Hist. Eg. ii. 118. 124).
The next period of Cypriote art and civilization is of great importance, but very obscure. Myce- naean settlements have been found on a number of sites, and the contact with their higher art and culture brought about a profound change in that of Cyprus. About the same time the abundant deposits or iron began to be worked, at fir.st for ornaments, but very soon for weapons and tools. Greek tradi- tion asserted a very early colonization of C, and esp. of Kurion and Salamis, both of which are now known to have been Mycenaean centres ; and tradi- tion is confirmed by the primitive ' iEoIic ' dialect of Greek which was spoken, and the peculiar syllabic script, which was not displaced by the Greek alphabet until the 4th cent. On the other hand, Phoen. inscriptions have been found in C. of the 9th cent, and onwards, and there are indica- tions that the culture of the Syrian coast had influence in C. even earlier. The natural centre of Phoen. influence was Kition (mod. Lamaka), but Phoenicians and Greeks seem to have settled side by side aU over the island. Kition (and perliaps ail C. ) appears to have been irregularly tributary to Tyre in the 10th to 8th cent. (Jos. c. Ap. I. 18 ; Ant. YVa. V. 3, X. xiv.). Consequently, C. was involved in the conquest of Phoenicia in 709 by Sargon, an important inscription of whom has been found at Kition (Berlin Museum). Later, Esar- haddon and Assurbanipal record tribute received from twelve kings of C. , some of whom appear to bear Greek names, while the island itself appears as Jaiman (' Ionian ').
About 660 C. was conquered and attached to Egypt by Amasis (Hd. ii. 182), and on his fall in 525 passed, with Egypt, to Cambyses of Persia (id. ui. 19. 21). In 501 the Greeks of C, in sym- pathy with those of Ionia, rebelled against Persia (irf. V. 105 f.), but in so mixed a population united eflbrt was impracticable ; the revolt was soon put do^vn, and in 480 C. furnished 150 ships to the fleet of Xerxes [id. vii. 90). During the 5th cent. C. re- mained under Persia, in spite of Cimon's repeated attempts to attach it to the Athenian League ; but a brisk copper trade was maintained with Athens, which sent fine pottery and bronze work in return. Early in the 4th cent. Evagoras succeeded in makmg Salamis the leading state in C, and in 387 openly revolted from Persia. But the Phoenician interest was wholly against him ; the Greeks, as osnal, were divided, and the attempt failed. Alex- ander the Great, however, received the voluntary submission of all the states of C. after the battle of Issufl, and efiScient help at the siege of Tyre from their fleets, and supplies of timber. At nis death (323) C. fell, with Egypt, to the share of Ptolemy, but was seized by Demetrius Poliorcetes, after a desperate sea-fight (Diod. Sic. xx. 759-761) and vigorous siege of Salamis. In 295, however, Ptolemy reconquered the island, which long re- mained closely attached to Egypt. It is under this regime that we first hear of Je^vish settlers in C. (1 Mac 15"). It was for a few years (B.C. 107- 89) a separate but dependent kingdom under Ptolemy Lathyrus, but in B.C. 58 was annexed by Rome, as security for financial loans to the bank- rupt Ptolemy Auletes. After reorganization by M. Cato it was first attached to the province of Cilicia, but was made a separate province by Augustus after Actium. As long as serious danger waa to be apprehended in the East, the new pro- vince, with its neighbours, remained imperial, and was governed by a proprietor (Dio. Cass. liii. 12 ; Strabo, xiv. 683 [/coi fw]). No monuments remain of this period. But very soon afterwards C. was