CHARACTER OF THE PEOPLE.
In Cyprus we encounter a population which essentially resembles the
modern, rather than the ancient Greek in character.
One of the most pleasing features of the island is the everyday
domestic life of its inhabitants. The members of every family cling
inseparably together, and share among themselves whatever good or evil
fortune awaits them. To pay for the education of a son or brother,
parents and children will suffer both want and hunger. Brothers will
not marry until their sisters are provided for, and it is often truly
touching to see how the grey-headed fathers and mothers, who seem
here to be particularly numerous, are honoured and cared for by their
children.
Among the ancient Greeks the men allowed themselves much freedom in
love affairs and worshipped at the shrine of beauty. The women, on the
contrary, were chaste and modest, and lived retired, industriously
employed in their household duties. Such are the Cyprian women at the
present day. The influence of the female part of the community has,
moreover, of late remarkably advanced. Perhaps among no other people
do women hold a more influential position. The mother is the mistress
of the household, and it is principally by her that the family is
held together. It is a common saying, that men make laws, but women
regulate the manners of a people. The laws, however, are dependent
upon the manners, and the more strictly these latter are watched
over, so much the better for the well-being of the State. The modern
Greeks make the best sailors, and the most discreet and prudent men of
business in the world; they are good hands at fine work, are fond of
horticulture, and are skilled manufacturers and money dealers. Although
fond of the warm slopes and sunny climate of their native land, they
are ever ready to quit it at a moment’s notice to seek their fortune
elsewhere. They are remarkable among all the dwellers in the East for
their activity and the elasticity of their spirits, which nothing
seems to subdue, and which, when repressed, is continually breaking
out more cheerfully and brightly than before, like their own sunny sky
after the storm has passed away. They are fond of literature, and are
delighted with a graceful expression, or a witty saying. They take an
interest in everything and delight in talking and telling tales. Their
understanding and imagination in short are extraordinarily powerful and
active.
And now having said so much on the bright side of their character,
we must turn to their vices and faults. Their laughable conceit,
which displays itself in a thousand unexpected forms, might be passed
over, as also the grasping avarice which is conspicuous in most of
their dealings, for vanity may rise into ambition, and niggardliness
be refined into praiseworthy economy, were their other vices not so
numerous and so grave. In social life we may place falsehood and
faithlessness, knavery and lying, at the head of the catalogue. Of
insatiable covetousness, heartless robbery, and implacable revenge,
examples are numberless. Justice is so totally set aside that, if a man
be placed upon a jury, he is compelled to acquit the offender, because
he thinks in his heart that he himself may shortly be placed in the
same unfortunate predicament.
If we are asked what is the political condition of Cyprus, we can
only say that it is busied with small matters, in important affairs
it is all baseness and subserviency. No one can deny to the modern
Greeks the possession of political cunning. Nevertheless, in the
great and necessary virtue of obedience, they are altogether wanting,
and officers and soldiers will discuss and quarrel over political
questions, forgetting that it is the duty of the one to command and of
the other to obey. No sooner is an important proclamation issued, than
it becomes the subject of criticism, and mockery, but no one thinks of
obeying it.
The modern Greek is one of the slyest, most active, and most
persevering of rascals, but his efforts are all for the purpose of
over-reaching his antagonist, and cheating the State. In like manner,
barefaced simony is practised throughout the Eastern churches. The
whole country is full of combinations and parties, not employed in
establishing principles, but merely in endeavouring to obtain power in
order to reward their partisans with places and emoluments.
These evils cast so deep a shadow over the modern Greek that the few
bright points remaining—hospitality, public spirit, courage, and
patriotism—almost disappear in the general gloom.
In ancient times the effeminacy and luxury of the Cypriotes had passed
into a proverb. The worship of Venus assumed the character of unbridled
sensuality, and the young of both sexes, brought up in the midst of
these luxurious festivals, soon learnt to look upon pleasure as the end
and aim of their existence.
Clearcus de Soli gives the following account of the effeminate
manners of the Cyprian kings: He says, “There were women attached
to the household of the ladies of the royal family who were called
‘Flatterers;’ at a later date their name was changed to ‘Clemacides,’
because they were in the habit of curving their backs into a sort of
step for the use of the ladies as they got into, and came down from,
their litters.” Clearcus speaks angrily of this abject and despicable
practice, which tended to increase the indolence and luxuriousness
of the princesses who kept these women. “But,” he adds, “these
‘Clemacides,’ after having spent the early part of their lives in the
midst of luxury and refinement, are left to an old age of misery.
Decency will not allow me to relate to what degree of libertinism these
women brought the princesses and ladies of the court. I will only add
that practising upon themselves and upon others all sorts of abominable
witchcraft, they offered by their shameful conduct a spectacle of the
most repulsive vice.”
Clearcus, too, has given us the following description of a young
Paphian king: “This young man carried the refinement of luxury, to the
extent of lying on a bed, or sofa with silver feet, overspread with a
splendid carpet or rug; under his head were three pillows covered with
very fine linen of a rich colour, and handsomely trimmed. His feet
rested upon two purple cushions, and he was dressed in a white robe. At
some distance from the bed stood slaves, and near the young king were
his flatterers, men of good position.” Clearcus adds: “Each of these
devoted himself in some way to add to the indolence of the prince. One
seated at the foot of the bed had the young man’s feet resting upon
his knees; another seated near the bed, bent over the hand which the
king allowed him to caress, and gently stretched out one finger after
another; the third, who was highest in rank, stood at the head leaning
over the cushions and passing his left hand through the young prince’s
hair, whilst with the right he gently waved a fan.”
To such a height of notorious extravagance had the princes of Cyprus
attained, that Antiphanes, a comic poet of Rhodes, wrote a most amusing
comedy, in which he caricatured the folly of the Cypriotes.[12] Manners
such as we have described had their origin in the luxurious example of
neighbouring Persian satraps, and were brought to the utmost refinement
of self-indulgence by the subtile mind of the Greek.