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Expansion and Trade
 The
Early and Middle Bronze Ages (2300-1600 BC) saw the first
real towns and commercial centres developing. The export of
copper expanded into Egypt and Asia Minor and cultural relations
and contracts with neighboring countries continued to improve.
Much of the shipping went through the port of Enkomi and
it has long been thought that Enkomi identifies with the town
of Alasia referred to in ancient texts. However, inscriptions
on fourteenth century BC tablets found at Tell al Armana in
Middle Egypt cast doubt upon this theory. Currently being
examined, they seem to pinpoint the copper-rich capital of
Alasia as being one of two towns, Alassa Paleotaverna or Kalavassos
Ayiosdemetrios in the southern side of the Troodos Mountains.
Final proof has yet to be established. What is known is that
the word copper is derived from the Greek kipris meaning ‘Cyprus’
so the two have long been synonymous.
 The
Mycenaean peoples who continued the development of cities
around the island, such as Enkomi in the North and Paphos
in the South brought Greek cultural methods with them and
this shows in the style of the highly decorative pottery that
has been found. They started to produce figurines, vases,
highly decorative plates etc. These were produced not just
for the home and domestic market but also for export. Much
as we would find in a China shop of today, so the late Bronze
Age traders were selling statues, not of pop idols and princes
but of gods and goddesses of their pagan culture, horses,
chariots, and various animals. Designs feature strongly on
their plates, bowls, and other household vessels.
 The
continued prosperity and cultural growth of the people during
the late Bronze Age appears to have been disrupted by a turbulent
time when the island came under attack from a distant culture
that has never been identified. These people are referred
to as ‘The Sea People’ and where they come from
and returned to is a matter of pure conjecture. During this
time many cities were destroyed and rebuilt, fortified or
abandoned. After causing considerable trouble and turbulence
‘The Sea People’ disappeared as mysteriously as
they arrived.
| At around this time Achaen settlers landed on
the northern coast at what is now called at Achaens’
Beach and began the colonization which links the
cities of Salamis, Soli, Paphos, and others with
heroes from the siege of Troy. They brought with
them their cultures and their pagan gods. Terracotta
figures of both male and female deities bear strong
resemblance to those found around Mycenae and Crete.
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