The Dairy Culture of Cyprus

A sheepfold illustrating a herd of 6 sheep. In a trapezoidal pen, open on the smallest side, lie six very schematic sheep; one of the smallest lies near a drinking trough. Limestone model (7 x 13 x 6.6 cm). Hellenistic Period (3rd century BC). Sanctuary of Golgoi–Ayios Photios. Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York).

Traditional shepherd with vourkan and tsipoin. The milk is collected in a clay pot. A painting by the self-taught folk painter Michael Kasialos (1885-1974). Publication license: M. Kasialos family.

Milking scene from a mural depicting the Nativity of Christ (1494), Church of the Holy Cross of Agias-matis, Platanistasa. The galeftiri (wide-mouthed container) can be seen, placed on the ground between the shepherd's open, bare feet. The sheep in the mural seem to be identified with the Cypriot breed of fat sheep. © Holy Metropolis of Morphou. Publishing license from the Department of Antiquities.

«The Agiomandres of the Sunshine». There is a stone sculpture “galeftiri” carved on a rock and the grooves they carried milk from one galeftiri to another. (5th century AD). The whole area of the pen is estimated at twelve acres. Agioi Iliofotoi, Kato Moni. Photo: Konstantinos Irakleous. © Kato Moni Community Council.

The tsiriggoudia of anari. Rizokarpaso, 2019. Photo: N. Avraamidis. © Museum of Cypriot Food and Nutrition

The oldest detailed recipe for making halloumi, 1620. Agricultural notes of the Monk Agapios of Crete (1796) 177-178.

The dairy products of Cyprus: (from right to left) Halloumin, fresh anari, flauna cheese, yoghurt, dried and fresh trachanas, halitsia. Photo: N. Avraamidis. © Museum of Cypriot Food and Nutrition. In the background, a Cypriot shepherd in a traditional costume and the Venetian manuscript with the oldest written reference to the Cypriot halloumin.