The Culture of Cyprus
Cypriots are very proud of their cultural heritage, which stretches
back more than 9000 years. Cyprus has many traditions and customs.
Cypriot culture is reflected in the rich folk art of the island.
Age-old crafts, handed down from one generation to another, are
faithfully carried on to this day by skilful hands and nimble fingers,
fashioning handcrafts, both decorative and useful, that would grace
any home. It is probably no surprise with a history so long, that
Cyprus is remarkably rich in culture.
Its importance has been honored by UNESCO which has included nine of
the island's Byzantine mountain churches and the entire town of Kato
Pafos in its World Cultural Heritage List. Wherever you go in Cyprus
you are reminded of a strong tradition that is kept alive from
generation to generation through the many events which are celebrated.
Food, too, reflects the culture: in the North you'll find mostly
Turkish cuisine, in the Republic, Greek. But wherever you are in
Cyprus, you'll come across kleftiko (oven-baked lamb) and mezedes
(dips, salads and other appetizers). Cyprus is also famous for its
fruit, which the government protects with a ban on imported products.
You'll find strawberries, stone fruit, melons, prickly pear, citrus
and grapes. Folk dancing is a popular pastime in Cyprus. It is often
done at ceremonious occasions to traditional music.
The younger generation of Greek Cypriots, having grown up in a
relatively peaceful, settled, and prosperous society, continues to
maintain aspects of traditional culture but also enjoys more modern
international clothing, popular music, and movies. Sports have come to
play a major role in the Greek Cypriot community. The government has
built stadiums, sports halls and swimming pools and has subsidized
associations and clubs for a wide spectrum of sports: there is a
professional league for association football (soccer) and a semi
professional league for basketball. Cypriots compete in the Olympic
Games, and young Cypriots engage in a variety of athletic activities,
including archery, bowling, fencing, gymnastics, skiing, tennis,
volleyball, and weight lifting.
Greek culture is rich with traditions and is famous for its myths, arts, sculptures and architecture. Ancient Greeks situated in several lands close to the Mediterranean Sea, Turkey and south of France. Because of the contact with Egyptians, Syrians and Persians Greeks inspired and were inspired by other cultures. Like many of their cultural creations, kraters were another example.
Foreseeing the future, pain, drugs and alcohol. It all sounds like elements in the plot of a Hollywood movie. These elements, however, are not of a movie, but of the past of a society. “The Pueblos of New Mexico”, an essay written by Ruth Benedict talks of these different societies. Dionysian, derived from the Greek god of wine Dionysus, perceives values through “the annihilation of the ordinary bounds and limits of existence” (517). The Dionysian culture holds values that approve recklessness, glorification, states of emotional excess, and a general passion to break through the usual routine of everyday life. This society is one that has very similar characteristics to the societies of today. The frequent use of drugs and alcohol, the desire to foresee the future, and the constant self-inflicted pain were just some of the things that the Dionysian cultures believed in.
Many diverse cultures are found in every corner of the world. Every culture is defined by its traditions and values. The film “The Odyssey,” depicts the culture of the ancient Greeks where it illustrates the life of a man, Odysseus, who has gone on a journey just to get back to his kingdom. Many values and traditions could be identified through the path of the journey. Some elements that are found important to the Greeks are the music, the religion, and the duty to the kingdom.
In the Hellenic era from 500 to 338 BCE, the Greeks had many major values. These values include Greek mythology, social roles, war, agriculture, and government. Some of the values are still present today. Greek mythology is still prevalent in the modern Greek society and western society because it is still studied today. The Greeks’ view on social roles is one of the ideas that are not shared in modern society but were widespread in past culture. The Greek agricultural and political values are used in modern society because like the Greeks our society revolves around agriculture and trade and both of our governments are both democratic. The view of war in ancient Greece is currently shared, but just not in the same way. Our war values are not as strict. The Greek values are explained and expanded upon below.
During the Archaic Age of Ancient Greece, circa 776-500 B.C.E., the population growth in Ancient Greece called a need for more food supplies, and this demand was met by trade, establishing colonies, and by warfare to seize more land (Making Europe 71). According to Kidner, the Archaic Age “brought a revival of culture, the economy, and political significance to Greece” (71). As Greece began to overpopulate, methods for dealing with the overpopulation had to be found, once of these methods was to import food, which caused an expansion of Greek commerce and production of trade goods (Making Europe 71). Another solution to the overpopulation of Greece was to find new land somewhere else, and during the colonization that lasted from 750-550 B.C.E., Greeks colonized coastal cities because they wanted access to trade routes across the sea (Making Europe 71). The revival of Greek trade also brought Near Eastern culture into Greece, including new styles or art. According to Kidner, “Greek sculpture assumed a very Egyptian look, and Greek pottery depicted many eastern designs…and Greek potters and sculptors soon used designs from their own myths and legents”
As the Greek and Roman empires ascended immensely throughout the western world, new ideas changed the way the Mediterranean Society handled things, which were spread across the globe. “The rise of the series of city-states of classical Greece began in the ninth century B.C.E. and during the late sixth century B.C.E, Rome’s development as a republic began as Etruscan society declined”(Bentley et al, 2008 p.132, 145). The development of these empires encouraged cultural circulation, blending the culture of the two empires into the land it conquered. As Greece and Rome gained more territory within the Mediterranean society, they began to progress toward a more civilized order of humanity. How were they alike? How were they different? How did they each influence the western world? These questions imply the relationship between the social orders among the Greco-Roman civilization. Although both Ancient Greece and Rome may be compared in many ways, I will discuss the Mediterranean society under the Greeks and Romans influence.
In society today, Going Greek is a controversial topic. One of the main questions on every freshman's mind when he or she first arrives at school is "Should I rush a fraternity or a sorority?” This is a particularly tough decision for most people, and there are many determining factors to consider. While evaluating the Greek system as a whole, one must consider the reasons that make becoming part of the Greek system so worthwhile. Joining the Greek system is a unparalleled experience because it gives individuals a second family that helps to make a home away from home, it gives students an easy way to become a major part of campus life, and it provides young adults with a a good foundation as an individuals entering alumni status.
Officially titled the Hellenic Republic, Greece is a country whose historical and cultural heritage continues to influence the modern world through art, philosophy and politics. Greece is located in southern europe. Critically placed at the byroads of Europe, Western Asia and North Africa. Greece shares land borders with four countries: Albania, Bulgaria, Turkey, and the Republic of Macedonia. The country is greatly consumed by water to the south with over 1,400 islands, the largest of them being Crete. Over eighty percent of Greece is of mountains, the largest and most culturally significant being mount Olympus, which in Greek mythology is the resting place of the twelve olympians. Greece is a country which is filled with aesthetically pleasing landmarks which have existed for thousands of years and are deemed historically significant. These include, but are not limited to the Parthenon, Acropolis of Athens, Panathenaic stadium, Mount Athos, Sounion (where the temple of Poseidon lays), Temple of Hephaestus and Theatre of Dionysus. These are just a few of the influential landmarks this authentic country possesses.
Greek life in most people’s eyes is considered to be joining a sisterhood or brotherhood such as a sorority or a fraternity. Greek life is an extremely large part in numerous universities. More than half of the students are actually members of a Greek organization. Some may say that Greek life is not for them, but they truly do not know all of the advantages that come from being a member of a Greek organization. Do they realize how several of our nation’s leaders were members of Greek life probably not, since most of them were? One should join Greek life, not only for abundant friendships gained, but because of advantages, for example leadership skills and along with the countless networking
Many of the contributions made by Athens during the classical age have continued to influence European and American society up to the present day. First, what are the enduring contributions? Where can you observe them in modern American culture? What was it about Athens at the time that nurtured these developments? Why were these contributions so enormously influential?
The Daily Life of Ancient Greeks Life in Greece in ancient times will remind you of your own life in many ways. There were school, family, athletic competitions, and social gatherings. Knowing that participants in their sporting events competed nude or that you rarely knew your husband/wife until the wedding day does however, make you grateful for the society that you live in today. Babies Life for the Greeks in Athens began in their home. Babies were delivered by the women of the family, and only in cases of serious complications was a mid-wife called.
Prior to joining the Greek community at OSU, my perceptions of Greek life were entirely based on stereotypes and what I had seen in movies. To my surprise, however, these outlandish stories and stereotypes did not make their way from the big screen to Stillwater. After gaining considerable life skills, valuable relationships, and countless opportunities because of my fraternity and the Greek community, I was given the chance to give back to both by serving as president of my fraternity in 2016 as a sophomore. While I felt inexperienced to lead a group of 110 men, I quickly found and relied upon the greatest strengths of the Greek community- our accountability to one another and cohesiveness from chapter to chapter. I was able to draw strength
Humphrey Iyoha-Edomwande Black Greek-Letter Fraternity interest started in 1972 at Jackson State University. When asked why he got involved in Greek life he responded by saying that he felt that men in Greek-Life held a sophisticated demeanor to themselves and he loved the leadership and community service of the organizations, which drew him to Greek-Life. Humphrey look into into various organizations on campus at the fairs but one stood out to him the most, which was Phi Beta Sigma. Why did Humphrey choose this specific organization? Humphrey was intrigued by this organization because their beliefs and morals coincided with his. There were a few aspects about their organization that stood out to him, which was fellowship, leadership, showmanship,
Culture in Egypt is rich and deep. Having one of the oldest cultures dating back to before the pharaohs; Egypt’s culture is well developed and distinctive. With a religious cultured background, Egypt is developing rapidly into a restructured culture, combining old with new. An overview shows a complex structured culture built on many influences.
The Eastern Mediterranean island of Cyprus is the homeland of two distinct peoples: the Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots. Their relationship is not one of a majority and minority, but one of equal partnership. The Turkish Cypriots speak Turkish, are Muslims and share the culture of their motherland, Turkey. The Greek Cypriots, on the other hand, speak Greek, are Orthodox Christians and profess the culture of their motherland Greece. After more than 300 years of Turkish rule, the island came under British influence in 1878, but sovereignty was formally transferred by Turkey to Britain in 1923. British colonial administration continued until 1960 when as a joint bi-communal state, the DRepublic of Cyprus was founded under international treaties, signed by Great Britain, Greece and Turkey, and by the leaders of both the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities in their separate capacities. The 1960 arrangements created a political partnership between the two national communities which would enable them to share power and cooperate in a bi-communal state, with the necessary checks and balances and guarantees. Unfortunately, this political partnership and the internationally sanctioned regime lasted only three years.