Ancient Cypriot Art Objects From The Fourth Millennium BC To The End Of The Roman Period Editorial Photo

Room 72 at the British Museum in London displays Cypriot art objects from the fourth millennium BC to the end of the Roman period.In Greek mythology, the island of Cyprus is known as the land of the goddesss of love, Aphrodite.The island has been inhabited for at least 12,000 years. Settlers were attracted by its fertile land and traders by its abundant resources of timber and copper – the word copper actually comes from the name Cyprus. Major political powers fought for control over Cyprus, because of its strategic location in the Eastern Mediterranean. This long history of contact created a material culture that was diverse, yet still distinctively Cypriot.