Show Notes
"The Charites of Cyprus infused him with charm,With the tongue of Homer and the mind of Plato.-A distich from Ioannis Kigalas' portraitIoannis Kigalas (Greek: Ιωάννης Κιγάλας; Italian: Giovanni Cigala, c. 1622 – c. 5 November 1687) was a Cypriot scholar and professor of Philosophy, Language and Logic at the University of Padua. Along with his brothers, Demetrios and Hilarion, they were educated at the Greek College of Rome, each pursuing distinct but interconnected careers within the intellectual and ecclesiastical spheres of their time. In this excerpt we hear from Ioannis' colleague at the University of Padua, Charles Patin, professor of medicine, who praises Kigalas intellectual prowess. This leads us to next month's episode on the Kigalas Family.Here is the text in full:He cultivated the purity and elegance of the Attic language so earnestly that if the Attic Siren Isocrates or Xenophon’s muse were to revive, they would undoubtedly recognize in this man all the charms and beauty of their language. However, while he took delight in the more pleasant literary studies, he did not neglect the more rigorous disciplines; for he applied himself diligently to philosophy and theology, in which he excelled so much that, after demonstrating his sharp intellect through numerous public examinations, he was deservedly counted among the doctors of philosophy by the judgment of the wisest men.
More from The History of Cyprus Podcast
Sir Henry Light, a British officer stationed in Malta in 1814, received permission to travel through Egypt, the Holy Land, and Cyprus. Motivated by curiosity and leisure, he documented what he saw with detailed notes and sketches, capturing both the landscape and the people he encountered. In this excerpt, he describes the strong Frankish presence in Larnaca, noting the European consulates, Catholic churches, and the widespread use of Italian among the locals. A perfect segue into my next interview with Dr. Nicos Coureas as we discuss the Latin Community in Cyprus.
In this episode, I speak with award-winning cookbook author and food storyteller Irene Matys about her internationally acclaimed cookbook, My Cypriot Table, winner of the Gourmand World Cookbook Award for Best Mediterranean Food Culture Book in the World and, most recently, a 2026 Taste Canada Awards finalist. Irene shares her journey from being displaced from her home in Famagusta to building a new life in Canada as a refugee, and how those experiences inspired her cookbook. We also explore the rich traditions of Cypriot cuisine, the stories behind some of her favourite dishes, and the enduring connection between food, family and home.--------------------------------------------------------------You can find My Cypriot Table at any of these following websites around the world:
In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Anna Charalambidou and Dr. Petros Karatsareas—two linguists whose work explores how language, identity, and culture evolve in Cypriot and diasporic communities. Together, they founded The Grenglish Project, which documents and celebrates the distinctive mix of Cypriot Greek and English spoken by London’s first-generation Cypriots. We discuss the history of Cypriot migration to the UK, how communities formed, and how their language adapted over time. From code-switching and new hybrid words to shifting attitudes about “correct” Greek, Anna and Petros reveal how Grenglish reflects both heritage and change. Ultimately, the project offers a window into how language keeps diasporic identity alive across generations.
If you ever wanted to learn Cypriot Greek, it's never been easier. Cyprusays® is a language learning app designed to help learners speak Cypriot Greek naturally and confidently. In this Special "Primary Source," I speak with Australian born Effie Athanassiou, the Founder and CEO, along with her husband, Costas Athanassiou, serving as Executive Partner. The app goes beyond standard Greek to focus on the expressions, pronunciation, and cultural context that make the Cypriot dialect unique. Through short, engaging lessons, real-life phrases, and cultural insights, Cyprusays helps learners sound authentic while understanding the language as it’s actually spoken on the island. You can download it now on Google Play and on the App Store for iOS.
In this episode, we explore the complex history and contemporary character of Turkish Cypriot Islam, a tradition often described as highly secular, private, or even residual. My guest, Mete Hatay (Senior Research Consultant from the Peach Research Institute in Oslo), helps me unpack the many explanations Turkish Cypriots themselves have given for this secularism -- from claims of Alevi or crypto-Christian ancestry to broader narratives shaped by modern Turkish nationalism and a long history of religious marginalization.We trace Islam’s arrival in Cyprus and examine how early patterns of settlement—including the banishment of heterodox or “undesirable” Muslim groups to the island—shaped the religious landscape. The episode examines how the mid-19th century Ottoman reforms began dismantling these traditions long before modern secularism took hold. We explore how efforts to centralize authority, suppress heterodox practices, and control waqf resources alienated Cypriot Muslims from their own religious institutions. British colonial rule, despite preserving formal autonomy through the Evkaf, further weakened Islamic infrastructure.We also look at how Cyprus became an unexpected refuge for Young Turks and how, in the early 20th century, Kemalist ideals found unusually fertile ground among Turkish Cypriots--shaping attitudes toward religion, education, and public life for decades to come.