A Sold-Out Evening Exploring Cyprus as a Crossroads of Art

The Cultural Section of the Cyprus High Commission in London was delighted to welcome audiences to a sold-out event at Cyprus House for “Cyprus as a Crossroads of Art: From Antiquity to the Medieval Period.” The overwhelming response and full attendance once again demonstrated the growing public interest in Cypriot archaeology, history, and the island’s rich artistic heritage, bringing together academics, researchers, students, and members of the wider public for an evening of exploration and discussion.

The event examined Cyprus not as a peripheral location in the Mediterranean, but as a dynamic centre of cultural interaction — a place where artistic traditions, beliefs, and visual languages continuously met, evolved, and were reinterpreted across centuries.

The first presentation, “Sculpture and Identity in Archaic Cyprus (740–475 BC)”, was delivered by Alexis Kyriacou, archaeologist, art dealer, and PhD researcher. Through an engaging examination of limestone votive sculpture from important archaeological sites including Kition, Amathus, Tamassos, and Marion, Kyriacou explored how artistic production in ancient Cyprus reflected the island’s unique position at the crossroads of civilizations.

His presentation highlighted how Cypriot sculptors drew inspiration from a range of traditions, including Greek, Phoenician, Egyptian, and local artistic practices, creating hybrid visual forms that were distinctly Cypriot in character. Rather than presenting Cyprus as a passive recipient of outside influences, he demonstrated how artists and communities on the island actively selected, adapted, and transformed artistic elements according to local needs, religious practices, and social identities. Through the study of hairstyles, clothing, gestures, facial features, and symbolic details in sculpture, audiences were invited to consider how art functioned as an expression of identity and belonging in the ancient Mediterranean world.

The second presentation shifted to the medieval period and was delivered by Dr Mark Merrony, Editor-in-Chief of ANTIQVVS magazine, Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, and Fellow at Wolfson College, Oxford. Focusing on the mosaics of Kykkos Monastery, Dr Merrony examined the rich iconography and craftsmanship of these remarkable works, placing them within their broader historical and artistic context.

His presentation explored the symbolism embedded within religious imagery, the technical sophistication required in the production of mosaics, and the wider artistic influences that travelled across regions through trade routes, political relations, and religious networks. Audiences were introduced to the ways in which Cypriot art of the Byzantine and later periods continued to negotiate influences from both East and West while maintaining a distinctive local identity. His talk revealed how visual culture became a means through which spirituality, politics, and cultural memory were expressed and preserved across generations.

Together, the two presentations created a fascinating dialogue across more than a millennium of history, highlighting both continuity and transformation within Cypriot artistic expression. The discussions that followed reflected the audience’s enthusiasm and curiosity, reinforcing the importance of archaeology and cultural heritage in deepening our understanding of Cyprus and its place within broader Mediterranean history.

📸 Photos from the event can be viewed below.

The Cultural Section of the Cyprus High Commission would like to warmly thank both speakers and all those who joined us for contributing to such a successful and thought-provoking evening.