Eleonora’s Falcon, Birds of Prey of Cyprus Thematic Issue, Republic of Cyprus

Eleonora’s Falcon, Birds of Prey of Cyprus Thematic Issue, Republic of Cyprus

Postage stamps--Cyprus--History

Γραμματόσημα--Κύπρος--Ιστορία

Eleonora’s Falcon takes its name from the Lusignan Queen Eleanor, wife of King Peter IV who reigned from 1345 to 1365. It is a migratory bird that visits Cyprus in the Spring and leaves in October though some may stay behind. It is capable of covering thousands of miles in its migrations. It breeds in the Canary Islands and North Western Morocco and winters in Madagascar, and eastern mainland Africa. It grows to a length of 38 cm. Falcons can be trained and used for hunting other birds and this practice has survived from the Middle Ages to our present times.
During Ottoman rule, The Sultan had the monopoly of tamed falcons while the Pasha of Cyprus could impose the death penalty on anyone breaking this monopoly.
(See also 90 mils stamp of 1969 Birds of Cyprus)

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

25th September 2003

Designer: G. Theofylaktou

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

www.cypruspost.gov.cy

TIFF

EL, EN

Image

2003-BIRDS-20

35.160417, 33.346556

Alex Matsoukis, Athens