CYPRUS (srprus), (Gr. KtIrpos, koo"ProsI, the modern Kebris, one of the largest islands in the Mediterranean, and next to Sicily in importance.
It is about 14o miles in length, and varies in breadth from 5o to 5 miles. From its numerous headlands and promontories, it was called Kepacr rts, Kerastis, or the Horned; and from its exu berant fertility, MaKapla, Allacaria, or the blessed (beatant Cv,brunt : I Ior. Carm. iii:26, 9). Its prox imity to Asia Minor, Phumicia, and Egypt, and its numerous havens, made it a general rendezvous for merchants. 'Corn, wine, and oil,' which are so often mentioned in the Old Testament as the choicest productions of Palestine (Deut. xii:17; Chron. ix:29; Nell. x:39; Jer. xxxi:12), were found here in the highest perfection. The for ests also furnished large supplies of timber for ship-building. which rendered the conquest of the island a favorite project of the Egyp tian kings. It was the boast of the Cyprians that they could build and complete their vessels without any aid from foreign countries (Ammian. Marcell. xiv :8. sec. 14). Among the mineral prod ucts were diamonds, emeralds, and other precious stones, alum, and asbestos ; besides iron, lead, zinc. with a portion of silver. and, above all, copper.
Cyprus was originally peopled from Phoenicia (see CH1TTIM). Amasis I, king of Egypt, sub dued the whole island (Herod. ii :182). In the time of Herodotus the population consisted of Athenians. Arcadians, Phoenicians, and Ethiopians (vii:9o). Under the Persians and Macedonians the whole island was divided into nine petty sover eignties. After the death of Alexander the Great it fell to the share of Ptolemy, the son of Lagus. It was brought under the Roman dominion by Cato. Under the Emperor Augustus it was at first an imperial province, and afterwards, with Gallia Narbonensis, made over to the senate (Dion Cass. liv; iv.). When the empire was divided it fell to the share of the Byzantine emperors.
Cyprus was one of the first places out of Palestine in which Christianity was promulgated, though at first to Jews only (Acts xi :19), by 'those who were scattered abroad' after Stephen's martyrdom. It was visited by Barnabas and Paul on their first missionary tour (Acts xiii :4), and subsequently by Barnahas and John Mark (Acts xv :39). Paul sailed to the south of the island on his voyage to Rome (Acts xxvii :4). (See