HISTORY ETHNOGRAPHY NATURE WINE-MAKING SITE MAP
Selected and rare materials, excerpts and observations from ancient, medieval and contemporary authors, travelers and researchers about Cyprus.
 
 
 
 
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CLAUDE DELAVAL COBHAM
Exerpta Cypria
page 21

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Engatlcli. These vineyards are in Cyprus, near the city Nicomosa, and are called to-day by the inhabitants Kn gad dia. k% The wines of Cyprus are naturally red, and after a year they grow white, and the older they are the whiter they grow : they smell well, are wholesome and very strong, and unless largely mixed with water are hardly fit to drink. There is in Cyprus on a certain high mountain in the care of the monks of S. Benedict the cross of the good thief, and part of a nail of the Passion; and other worshipful relics. Also in Cyprus is the body of the blessed Hilarion nnder the royal care in the castle which is called Gedainors [Dieu d'amonrs]. And another saint who is called Zozoniou or Zozomion is held in this island in great reverence, whose head is preserved in the royal chapel. S. Barnabas also of the city Salamina or Constantia now destroyed, near Famagusta, was bom in Cyprus. There are in the mountains of Cyprus wild sheep, with hair like that of goats and dogs, which are said to be found nowhere else. It is a veiy swift animal and its flesh is good and sweet. When I was out limiting I saw several caught by dogs, and especially by the tame leopards of Cyprus. On Christmas-day I reached Syria. J. DE VERONA. Jacobus de Verona, an Angostinian monk, left Verona May 7, 1835, eniharked at Venice May 29, visited Cyprus, preached at Nicosia before Hugues IV. de Lusignan, and left the island on July 21 for the Holy Land, Sinai and Egypt, returning in October to his home. We translate from the rude Latin of the test published in the Revue de VOrient Latin (1895, pp. 175—179) by M. Reinhold Koeliriclit. With a calm sea and favourable wind we sailed past Rhodes, which belongs to the Brethren of S. John uf Jerusalem, and reached Cyprus in great alarm, because a pirate, a savage robber of the sea, one Bartholomew Malopolus,. was following us or close to us. At length by God's help we escaped him and arrived at the city of Paphus, commonly called Bafa; then passing by the city of Cyprus we anchored in the harbour of Fainagosta, a city of Cyprus, un Friday, the last day of June (1335) ; and on the following day, the first of July, we all, merchants and pilgrims and sailcn« and crew, went to the church of S. Maria de la Cava, which is about two bowshots outside the town, and there in most devout fashion I celebrated mass, and we offered one large or double candle to the glorious Virgin who delivered us from so many dangers, for while we were yet at sea we had thus made our vow. The chnrch is worthy to be visited devoutly and often : it is in a cavern, and you descend into it by thirty-six steps. It is well lighted and adorned and painted, but of small size. Everyone who lands goes there forthwith. There are three chaplains who remain there continually, and celebrate daily for the crowd of visitors. For at sea when the sailors at even sing Salve Regina one of them always invokes the help first of the Holy Cross of Mount Calvary, then that of the Blessed Virgin Mary of the Cave, and for many years the worshippers in that church respond Deus exaudiat. I stayed twenty days in that island of Cyprus, and got to the city of Nicosia, and visited the Lord Hngo, king of Cyprus, who is virtuous, gracious and devout. Every Sunday and Feast day he hears sermons from clergy in his own chapel—I too preached before him—and ltì EXCERPTA CYPRIA.

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