Geç Bronz Döneminde Kıbrıs-Myken (Akha) İlişkileri
Cyprus-Mycenae Relations in Late Bronze Age

Summary/Abstract: The earliest evidence regarding first human activities in the island of Cyprus came from a residential place located at the far end of Akrotiri (Ağrotur) peninsula, at the southern shores of the island. Pre-historical records revealed that first human traces on the island dated back to 10.000-9.500 BC. This period is contemporary to the Natufian period in the Eastern Mediterranean region. Together with the earliest people, groups flowing through the Southeastern Anatolia, North of Iraq and Syria, and the Eastern shores of Mediterranean began living in and settle down on the island. Thus, cultural origin of the island did not emerge via an intrinsic evolution; rather, it was gradually carried to the island via extrinsic Neolithic groups. These colonizer groups also brought an advanced culture. Agricultural and economic activities, as well as architectural forms and techniques were in similitude with those of their motherland (Anatolia, Syria, Palestine); moreover, cultural changes in the motherland were reflected to the island gradually. In other words, main reference group of social-economic-cultural formations was the Eastern Mediterranean, which could be specified as Anatolia and Levant. For example, it is easy to find obsidian on the island, which was an important commercial material originated in Anatolia, and architectural forms were compared to those of the Near East, like Tell Halaf, Byblos, Tepe Gawra, Jericho, Arpachiyah. Throughout the long pre-historical times, the island’s interaction period with the Eastern cultural referential premise continued until the emergence of Mycenaeans in history. Mycenaeans (Achaeans) began to leak into the island of Cyprus in Late Bronze Age (1600-1050 BC) within the framework of colonization. After obtaining cultural and political domination of the island, they started Hellenization activities by changing the native culture, and contributed to the ethnic structure of Cyprus. This work aims at shedding light to the historical fact that the island, then under the influence of the Eastern geocultural zone, began to be influenced by another geocultural zone (West) through Mycenaean colonization.

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