THE KINGDOMS OF ANCIENT CYPRUS IN SEARCH OF POLIS (original) (raw)

2021, Экономика, право, власть в древнем мире. Посвящается памяти В. И. Кузищина. СПб.: Алетейя, 2021.

The article deals with the main issues of discussion in the actual research of the political structure in pre-hellenistic Cyprus. It comprises two mutually connected questions: 1) the chronology and ways of state formation in Cyprus during the Early Iron Age and 2) the political, economic and social character of Cypriot city-kingdoms (or, to say more accurate, - polities), if they belonged to the world of Greek poleis or not. Both questions provoked intensive and fruitful polemics during recent 30 years, which resolution should bring us to more deep and comprehensive understanding not only for the history of ancient Cyprus, but for the concept of ancient polis in general. The author supports the interpretation of Cypriot kingdoms as a specific form of polis, developed as the result of several particular factors (more continuity with Late Bronze Age traditions, more close relationship with Near Eastern powers, resource-type of political economy). The survival of royal power as a political regime in Cypriot states (what do not exclude the existence of polis as citizen entity) could create in long distance the effect of “sleeping institutions” which restarted to act and react in Hellenistic times. Key-words: Cyprus, Ancient Greek polis, royal power, state formation, polity, antiquity, historiography