Nicosia, Cyprus. Cyprus lies close to Turkey, Syria and Egypt, yet is described as culturally oriented toward Greece, which is much farther away across the Mediterranean.
Neighbours and distance
Turkey is described as about 75 kilometres from Cyprus, with Syria around 100 kilometres away and Egypt farther still. Cyprus is referenced as being seen as a geographic “crossroads of continents,” while also being portrayed as culturally isolated.
Cultural orientation toward Greece
The text says Cyprus is a “melting pot of peoples” shaped by many historical influences, but that its cultural orientation has long been Hellenic. In terms of language, religion and identity, it says Cyprus has looked to Greece, despite Greece being roughly 800 kilometres away across the Mediterranean.
Comparisons and political identity
Cyprus is compared with Alaska being culturally American despite its distance from the US mainland, and the Falkland Islands being British despite their distance from the UK. The text adds that Cyprus differs because it is not politically part of the country it most closely identifies with culturally, describing Cyprus as a self-governing island with its own identity and history.
Isolation and the horizon
The piece argues that geography shapes more than people realise, and that Cyprus is defined by distance as well as by nearby neighbours. It describes a sense of isolation associated with empty horizons and the Mediterranean, and links island life to closely watching the seas, skies and clouds, adding that the weekend skies “have something to say.”
Do you see Cyprus as more defined by its proximity to neighbours or by its distance from Greece?
