EURO
European Union standard euro coins
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Cyprus chose three basic design of the coin:
• 1 and 2 €: the village of Pomos Idol - example of prehistoric art in Cyprus, representing the island's history, its culture and civilization.
• 10, 20, 50 cents: the ship Kyrenia IV century BC. e. It presents the history of Cyprus and as a symbol of the importance of Cyprus in trade.
• 1, 2 and 5 cents: mouflon - the most typical representative of the fauna of Cyprus is the nature of the island in general and wildlife in particular.
1; 2; 5 euro cent, Cyprus
The Cypriot euro coins were designed by Tatiana Sotiropoulou and Erik Maell.
The national side of the Cypriot 1, 2 and 5-cent coins shows the moufflon, a species of wild sheep typical of the island’s wildlife.
The obverse of the coin depicts a couple of moufflons. On the right side of the circumference of the words "Cyprus" in the official languages of the island - Greek and Turkish. Between them, the year of issue.
European moufflon (lat. Ovis musimon ) - ruminant cloven-hoofed animals kind of sheep. These are the only wild sheep of Europe live in the high mountains of Corsica and Sardinia
Body length adult sheep to 140-145 cm, height at withers - 80 cm, weight 45 - 50 kg. Horn rams helically twisted by thickenings rings they can determine the exact age of the animal, hornless females are slightly smaller than males.
Mouflon is very fearful and cautious, lives in small herds that during rest or meal time exhibit. He is a valuable game and hunting raids him, lying in wait, beckon the males during the breeding season, imitating the voice of a female, or, finally, the stalk. With domestic sheep they are crossed, giving fertile offspring. Mouflon easily tamed, it is losing the fear of man.
The only habitat of the mouflon in the CIS are the Crimean Mountains, where they are more acclimated in 1913. Therefore, they are the most valuable animals, subject to special protection and hunting of mouflon is prohibited. There is also an Asian Moufflon (Ovis orientalis), from which went home sheep.
Mouflon image has the symbol «Cyprus Airways» Cypriot airline.
10; 20; 50 euro cent, Cyprus
The 10, 20 and 50-cent coins depict the Kyrenia ship, a famous trading vessel dating from the 4th century BC. This ship is regarded as the best preserved ancient vessel of the eastern Mediterranean, now exhibited in the Ancient Shipwreck Museum in Kyrenia Castle on Cyprus.
Image ship "Kyrenia" Sailing. On the right side of the circumference of the words "Cyprus" in the official languages of the island - Greek and Turkish. Between them, the year of issue.
In 1967, the Greek merchant ship was discovered near the northern coast of Cyprus by local divers, which sank in about 300 BC. e. (The time of Alexander the Great!) At a depth of 18 m, 1.5 km from the anchorage of Kyrenia. By name the nearest port of the ship was given the name "Kyrenia".
At the invitation of the Greek and Cretan authorities an international expedition, which was the basis of the team from the University of Pennsylvania, in 1967-1969 gg. He picked up the remains of the ship from the seabed. The hard work of assembling the ship took six years. Wooden casing was made of Aleppo pine, its length was 14 m, width -. 4.5 m The vessel was equipped with a sail and could reach a speed of 4.5 knots. The ship was built about 80 years before the crash. Its cargo consisted of more than 400 amphorae of wine from Rhodes, jars with almonds and 29 millstones for ballast. From the perspective of modern shipbuilding, the word "ship" is too loud for a vessel of such a "Kyrenia". Even some modern yachts look impressive. But at his age, "Kyrenia" was not a small merchant ship - it can take on board up to thirty tons of cargo.
The number of teams is likely accounted for four people. Since the skeletons could not be found, the archaeologists suggest that sailors certainly tried to escape and swim to shore as soon as the ship looming over the threat of flooding.
Now the wreckage of the Shipwreck Museum in Kyrenia castle. Here, the temperature and humidity are carefully controlled to preserve the wood. It is believed that the ship remained for about 75% of the original version, which is very good. Archaeologists believe it is the best preserved ship Classical period of Greece.
In 1988 and 2002, respectively. (The Olympic Games in Athens) years were built full-size copies of Kyrenia, where enthusiasts made several sea expeditions.
1 and 2 euro , Cyprus
The Cypriot€1 and €2 coins show a cruciform idol (Idol of Pomos) dating from the period around 3000 BC. It is thought to be a fertility symbol.
Image Idol of Pomos. On top of the words "Cyprus" in the official languages of the island - Greek and Turkish. Bottom - the year of issue.
In Cyprus, near the village of Pomos (province Pofos) found a large number of stone-age sculptures. Time the Idol of Pomos (the name given on the location) dates from about 3000-2500 years. BC.
Sculptures made of steatite, represent a woman with outstretched arms. They probably used as a symbol of abundance. The dimensions of these sculptures were very different:. From a few centimeters to statues height of 1,5 m Small figurines worn as amulets around his neck.
Idol of Pomos is a characteristic example of prehistoric art in Cyprus, and they are similar to other religious symbols of those times, in many parts of the world. Currently, the sculpture on display at the Archaeological Museum of Nicosia and the Museum of Art of the Stone Age in Athens.
Image idol is placed on euro coins as a sign of a culture that was prevalent only in Cyprus.
