Ansichten von der Insel Cypern

German magazines often reproduced engravings from British or French magazines, as is the case here. Small views of various sites in Cyprus introduced the island to the German public. The series of six engravings here include a view of the Salt Lake and Hala Sultan Tekke in Larnaca, Mount Olympus, the castle of Paphos, Famagusta, Nicosia and Cape Greco. Each scene contains one monument or site well known. The Hala Sultan Tekke features at the edge of the Salt Lake in Larnaca designated by its two tall minarets. Now only one remains. The surrounding land looks rather arid and dry. In contrast, Mount Olympus appears covered in snow with small houses indicating hamlets at the foothills. The castle of Paphos is a square fort practically built in the water’s edge, while the view of Famagusta proudly exhibits the Latin Cathedral of St Nicholas (Lala Mustafa Pasha Mosque). What is curious in this picture is that the Cathedral has a Christian steeple and not a minaret, although it was turned into a Moslem mosque then. The view of Nicosia from afar emphasizes the town's peripheral walls out of which protrude a number of minarets and at the centre the Latin Cathedral of St Sophia (Selimiye mosque), this time portrayed as a mosque as it was. The town appears not only protected by its walls but also by the mountain range in the background. Finally Cape Greco shows remnants of ancient ruins, probably one of the many observation posts or small forts built all along the shores of the island. Taken as a collection, these scenes give an idea of the multiculturalism of the island from ancient, to medieval, from Christian to Moslem. Certainly the engraving can be seen as a postcard promoting the island’s attractions.