Cyprus Citizenship Test key terms

A Neolithic settlement in southern Cyprus, occupied from around 7000 BCE and famous for circular stone dwellings; it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

An ancient city-kingdom on the east coast of Cyprus, near modern Famagusta, flourishing in the Iron Age and later becoming a major Roman and Byzantine centre.

The era of Eastern Roman rule over Cyprus, roughly from the fourth to the twelfth century, when churches, monasteries and the island's Orthodox administration developed.

The rule of a French noble family over Cyprus from 1192 to 1489, when Gothic cathedrals were built and a feudal system shaped the island's society.

The 1571 capture of Cyprus by the Ottoman Empire, which ended Venetian rule and introduced Ottoman administration, landholding patterns and the millet system.

The administration of Cyprus by Britain, beginning with occupation in 1878, formal annexation in 1914 and crown-colony status in 1925 until independence in 1960.

The independent state created by the Zurich and London Agreements, with a constitution that shared power between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots.

The Greek Cypriot coup against President Makarios and the subsequent Turkish military intervention, which divided the island and displaced many people.

The buffer zone patrolled by the United Nations that separates the areas controlled by the Republic of Cyprus from the northern area since 1974.

The founding charter of the Republic of Cyprus, establishing a presidential system with power-sharing, communal chambers and entrenched fundamental rights.

The head of state and government, elected directly for a five-year term, who appoints ministers and exercises executive power under the constitution.

Cyprus's unicameral parliament, elected by proportional representation, which passes laws and approves the budget; seats reserved for Turkish Cypriots remain vacant.

The body of government ministers appointed by the president, responsible for implementing policy and administering public services under the constitution.

The highest judicial body in Cyprus, hearing appeals, deciding constitutional questions and reviewing the legality of administrative acts.

An independent commissioner who investigates complaints about public administration and promotes good governance; the office is also called the Commissioner for Administration.

The electoral system used for parliamentary elections, allocating seats according to party vote shares in districts, with a threshold for representation.

The layers of local government: six districts administered by government commissioners and municipalities and communities run by elected councils.

The official language of Greece and Cyprus, based on Demotic Greek, used in education, administration and formal writing across the island.

The traditional spoken variety of Greek used by Greek Cypriots, differing from Standard Modern Greek in pronunciation, vocabulary and some grammar.

The coexistence of two language varieties, with Standard Modern Greek used in formal contexts and the Cypriot dialect used mainly in informal speech.

A conservative, archaising form of Greek once used in official and literary contexts; it was replaced by Demotic Greek in Greek education in 1976.

The writing system of twenty-four letters used for Greek, including Cyprus's official language, written from left to right with upper- and lower-case forms.

The status, recognised at the Council of Ephesus in 431 CE, by which the Church of Cyprus governs itself under its own archbishop rather than a foreign patriarch.

The autocephalous Orthodox church of Cyprus, headed by an archbishop, which plays a central role in religious life and national heritage.

The most important feast of the Orthodox Church, celebrated with midnight liturgy, candlelight, red eggs and family gatherings in Cyprus.

The first day of Lent in the Orthodox calendar, marked in Cyprus by outdoor picnics, fasting foods and kite flying.

A traditional Cypriot semi-hard cheese made from sheep's or goat's milk, often grilled, and protected as a product of designated origin.

A sweet dessert wine produced in the Commandaria region of Cyprus, made from sun-dried grapes and recognised as a protected designation of origin.

A traditional embroidered lace from the village of Lefkara, known for geometric cut-work designs and historically sold to travelling merchants.

The central mountain range of Cyprus, formed of ophiolite rock, containing pine forests, monasteries and the island's highest peaks.

The highest peak of Cyprus, reaching 1,952 metres in the Troodos range, used for skiing in winter and offering panoramic views.

The broad central plain of Cyprus between the Troodos and Kyrenia ranges, containing Nicosia and much of the island's agricultural land.

The capital of Cyprus, located inland on the Mesaoria plain, and Europe's last divided capital city since the 1974 partition.

Two British Sovereign Base Areas on Cyprus, retained after independence, with their own administration and restricted military zones.

The right of all adult citizens to vote, exercised in Cyprus from age eighteen in presidential, parliamentary, municipal and European elections.

Basic freedoms and protections guaranteed by the Cypriot constitution, including life, liberty, expression, religion and equality before the law.

The principle that all persons are subject to the same legal rules and entitled to equal protection, without discrimination.

The constitutional right to hold and practise a religion or belief, and the protection of recognised religious communities in Cyprus.

The legal obligation of Greek Cypriot men to serve in the National Guard, usually for a set period after reaching adulthood.

Local elections held to choose mayors and council members, allowing residents to participate in decisions about their communities.