an island situated in the Levant, or most easterly part of the Mediterranean sea, between 33 and 36 degrees of east longitude, and 30 and 34 of north latitude. In ancient times this island was known by the names of Acamis, Ceraitis, Aspasia, Amathus, Macaria, Cryptos, Colonia, Sphecia, Paphia, Salaminia Erofa, and Cyprus. The etymologies of these names are neither very easily found, nor are they of much importance. The name by which it was most generally known is that of Cyprus, said to be derived from cypros, the name of a shrub or tree with which the island abounded; supposed to be the cypresses.

Cyprus, according to Eratosthenes, was first discovered by the Phoenicians, two or three generations before the days of Afterius and Minos kings of Crete; that is, according to Sir Isaac Newton's computation, 2006 years before the Christian era. It was at that time full of wood that it could not be tilled, and the Phoenicians first cut down that wood for melting copper, with which the island abounded; and afterwards, when they began to sail without fear on the Mediterranean, that is, after the Trojan war, they built great navies of the wood produced on the island. Josephus, however, informs us, that the descendants of Cittim, the son of Javan, and grandson of Japhtah, were the original inhabitants of Cyprus. According to his account, Cittim, seeing his brother Tarshish settled in Cilicia where he built the city of Tarbus, settled with his followers in this opposite island; and either he or his descendants laid the foundations of the city of Citium, which, according to Ptolemy, was the most ancient in the island. As Cyprus was too narrow to contain the great numbers who attended him, he left here as many as might serve to people the country, and with the rest passed over into Macedon.

The island of Cyprus was divided among several petty kings till the time of Cyrus the Great. He subdued them all; but left each in possession of his kingdom, obliging them only to pay him an annual tribute, and to send supplies of men, money, and ships, when required. The Cyprian princes lived thus subject to the Persians till the reign of Darius Hystaspes, when they attempted to shake off the yoke, but with bad success; their forces being entirely defeated, and themselves again obliged to submit. They made another more successful attempt about the year before Christ 357; but, however, could never totally free themselves from their subjection. It is very probable that they submitted to Alexander the Great, though historians are silent as to that event. On the death of the Macedonian conqueror, the dominion of Cyprus was disputed by Antigonus and Ptolemy the son of Lagus. At last Antigonus prevailed, and the whole island submitted to him about 304 years before Christ. He and his son Demetrius kept possession of it for 11 years, when it was recovered by Ptolemy, and quietly possessed by him and his descendants till 58 years before Christ, when it was most unjustly seized by the Romans. In the time of Augustus, it began to be ranked among the proconsular provinces, and to be governed by magistrates sent thither by the senate. In the year 648 it was conquered by the Saracens; but recovered by the Romans in 957. They held it, however, but for a very short time, and the barbarians kept possession of it till the time of the crusades. It was then reduced by the croisaders; and Richard I. of England gave it to the princes of the Lusignan family, who held it till the year 1570. They divided it into 12 provinces, in each of which was a capital city from which the province was denominated. So considerable was the island at this time, that besides the cities above mentioned, and others of less note, it contained 800 villages. In 1570 it was taken by the Turks, and though it hath ever since continued under their tyrannical yoke, is still so considerable as to be governed by a beglerbeg, and seven sanjaciers under him.

The air in this island is for the most part very wholesome, wholesome, on account of the many seas and marshes with which the country abounds. The soil is an excellent fertile clay; and would produce all the necessaries of life in abundance, if properly cultivated. There are but few springs or rivers in this island; so that when the rains do not fall plentifully at the usual seasons, the inhabitants are much distressed by the scarcity of water. By reason of the uncultivated state of the country, they are also greatly infested with poisonous reptiles of various kinds. The people are extremely ignorant and lascivious, as indeed they are remarked to have been from the remotest antiquity. Anciently the worship of Venus was established in this island, whence her title among the poets of the Cyprian queen; and such an inclination had the inhabitants to become the votaries of this goddess, both in theory and practice, that the young women used to prostitute themselves in her temple in order to raise themselves portions. Nor are their successors said to be much better at this day. The exports of the island are silks, oil, cotton, wine, salt, and turpentine; the imports are French and Venetian broad cloths; and sometimes a few bales of English manufacture, cutlery wares, sugar, tin, lead, &c.

Knights of Cyprus, an order instituted by Guy de Lusignan, titular king of Jerusalem, to whom Richard I. of England, after conquering this island, made over his right.