Dionysus and Acme, Cyprus Wines Commemorative Issue, Republic of Cyprus

Dionysus and Acme, Cyprus Wines Commemorative Issue, Republic of Cyprus

Postage stamps--Cyprus--History

Γραμματόσημα--Κύπρος--Ιστορία

Dionysus, the God of wine, was the son of Zeus by Semele a Theban princess. It was on mount Nysa in Libya that he invented wine. A mosaic in the House of Dionysus discovered in 1962 in Paphos depicts the legend of Icarius the first mortal to be taught wine making by the God himself. Cyprus wines have been appreciated since biblical times and in Solomon's Song of Songs (chap.i.v.14) the bride compares the bridegroom to a cluster of Cyprus in the vineyards of Engaddi. In 1363 A.D. the Lusignan King Peter I attended a banquet in London where the Kings of England, France, Scotland and Denmark were present and Cyprus wines were served. In 1772 A.D. Giovanni Mariti wrote: ""During the Ottoman period, when a child was born to a Christian family, it was the custom to bury a jar of wine underground and leave it hidden there for about 20 years to be opened at the child's wedding and served to the attending guests"". (From: Wines of Cyprus, Nicolas Books) The wine ""Commandaria"" one of the best known for centuries derives its name from the Commandarie of the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem who had settled at Kolossi. The first modern winery was built in 1893 in Limassol and by 1943 there were four major wineries supplying to the European and world markets. In the 1980s small wineries were established with a capacity of 50,000 to 300,000 bottles a year while the major companies continued to upgrade the quality of their wines and to introduce new wines. In 2002, the revenue earned from the export of wine and spirits amounted to C£6,600,000.

Cyprus Post, Republic of Cyprus

Κυπριακά Ταχυδρομεία, Κυπριακή Δημοκρατία

Cyprus Post, Republic of Cyprus

Κυπριακά Ταχυδρομεία, Κυπριακή Δημοκρατία

Library of Cyprus University of Technology

Digital Heritage Research Lab of Cyprus University of Technology

26th October 1964

Designer: A. Tassos

Απαγορεύεται η δημοσίευση ή αναπαραγωγή, ηλεκτρονική ή άλλη χωρίς τη γραπτή συγκατάθεση του δημιουργού.

www.cypruspost.gov.cy

TIFF

EL, EN

Image

DIONISOS-1964-10M

35.160417, 33.346556

Aspioti - Elka, Athens