I observed here in AH.com that most of the topics concerning the island of Cyprus were mostly dealing with a Grecophone (Greek-speaking) Cyrpus (either the island as part of Greece, a surviving Crusader state of Cyprus, etc.), but I have yet to see a thread dealing with the island before its Hellenization... Until now.
Before the Hellenization of Cyprus, there are ethnic groups lived together in the said island: Phoenicians and Eteocypriot-speaking people, as well as Greek-speaking migrants. Phoenicians considered Cyprus for its once-abundant copper and forests; in fact, their goddess Astarte (Aphrodite/Venus) was the major deity of Cyprus. Furthermore, there are evidence of their presence through archaeological sites and in museums.
Here's the question: How could Cyprus remained Phoenician-dominated until the present times? How it will affect its history, as well as its neighbors?
Thanks!
Before the Hellenization of Cyprus, there are ethnic groups lived together in the said island: Phoenicians and Eteocypriot-speaking people, as well as Greek-speaking migrants. Phoenicians considered Cyprus for its once-abundant copper and forests; in fact, their goddess Astarte (Aphrodite/Venus) was the major deity of Cyprus. Furthermore, there are evidence of their presence through archaeological sites and in museums.
Here's the question: How could Cyprus remained Phoenician-dominated until the present times? How it will affect its history, as well as its neighbors?
Thanks!