Cyprus is a beautiful island nation located in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. It has a rich history and culture spanning over 9000 years. The country offers much for visitors to explore, from ancient sites to stunning beaches. Let’s challenge your knowledge of Cyprus with the following 38 riddles and their answers!
Geography Riddles
Riddle 1: I’m an island country in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea south of Turkey. What country am I?
Answer: Cyprus
Riddle 2: Two countries share control of me, though I was once entirely under British rule. I’m divided by a buffer zone known as the “Green Line.” What island am I?
Answer: Cyprus
Riddle 3: My highest point is Mount Olympus at 1,952 meters. I have a temperate climate with hot, dry summers and cool winters with most of my rainfall between November and March. What country am I?
Answer: Cyprus
Riddle 4: You can find me off the south coast of Turkey. I’m the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea after Sicily and Sardinia. Over 11,000 square kilometers of land make up my area. What island am I?
Answer: Cyprus
History Riddles
Riddle 5: I was an ancient Phoenician colony that came under Assyrian, Egyptian and Persian rule before Alexander the Great conquered me. I was then fought over by the Ptolemaic dynasty of Egypt and the Seleucid dynasty before becoming a province of the Roman Empire. What island am I?
Answer: Cyprus
Riddle 6: One of my most famous landmarks dates back to Roman times when I had the second largest theater in the Roman world. The site continues to be used for cultural performances today. What is this landmark?
Answer: Kourion Theater
Riddle 7: Originally built as a Byzantine church, I was converted to a mosque during Ottoman rule. Located within North Nicosia’s Venetian walls, I remain the focal point of a United Nations buffer zone separating the Greek and Turkish controlled areas. What historic landmark am I?
Answer: Selimiye Mosque
Riddle 8: During the Middle Ages, I was ruled by the Byzantine Empire, the island’s governor even declaring himself emperor for a short time in 649 AD. Who am I?
Answer: Cyprus
Riddle 9: The Lusignans, the former crusader kings of Jerusalem, took control of me after purchasing me from Richard the Lionheart. They made me a wealthy island from trade routes before losing power to Venice. What island nation am I?
Answer: Cyprus
Culture Riddles
Riddle 10: One of my oldest wine grape varieties dates back over 4,000 years. It’s known for its crisp white wines with citrus and floral notes. What grape varietal am I describing that’s native to Cyprus?
Answer: Xynisteri
Riddle 11: I’m a traditional Cypriot flatbread similar to pita bread. My name comes from the Greek word for ‘to pinch’ referring to how the bread is shaped. What type of bread am I?
Answer: Flaouna
Riddle 12: A popular alcoholic drink unique to Cyprus, I’m made from grape pomace, the pulp and skins left over after grapes are pressed for winemaking. Sometimes I’m flavored with aniseed giving me a licorice taste. What traditional Cypriot beverage am I?
Answer: Zivania
Riddle 13: Skinny red tubers growing in sandy soil near the sea, I have a bittersweet, nutty taste. I am used in Cypriot vegetable stews, meat dishes, and salads. What vegetable am I?
Answer: Cyprus potato
Riddle 14: Small green fruits growing prolifically on bushes along roadsides and in the wild, I am too sour to eat raw so I am made into a dark molasses-like syrup used in pastries and sweets. What tangy Cypriot berry am I?
Answer: Carob
Mythology Riddles
Riddle 15: In Greek mythology, the goddess Aphrodite emerged from this body of water after being born from the sea foam created when Cronus cut off Uranus’s genitals and threw them into the ocean. What Cyprus location does this myth refer to that’s known as the birthplace of the goddess of love?
Answer: Petra tou Romiou (Aphrodite’s Rock)
Riddle 16: Legend says I got my name from a Greek warrior who survived attempted execution by hiding inside a decomposing hollow horse carcass. I ruled Salamis before Teucer joined the Trojan War. What mythological king of Salamis was I?
Answer: Teukros
Riddle 17: According to Homer’s Odyssey, my forehead sprouted horns after I claimed to be more beautiful than the goddess Aphrodite. What mythological queen of Cyprus was cursed in this way as punishment for my pride?
Answer: Queen Pygmalion
Ancient Sites Riddles
Riddle 18: I’m an archaeological site spanning over 6,000 years of history including settlements from the Chalcolithic Age, Bronze Age, Phoenician era, Roman rule, and Byzantine period. My present state owes much to extensive excavations carried out by Swedish Cyprus Expedition researchers. What site dating back to 4,500 BC am I?
Answer: Choirokoitia
Riddle 19: Greek for ‘Sanctuary of Apollo’, I’m an ancient city-state located on the island’s southern coast near Larnaka Salt Lake. My sprawling ruins feature fortification walls, palaces, temples, a theater, and intricate mosaics depicting scenes from Greek mythology. What major archaeological site dating back over 2000 years am I?
Answer: Kition (present day Larnaka)
Riddle 20: Rising from the Mesaoria plain between Nicosia and Famagusta, I’m one of the best preserved ancient kingdoms of Cyprus. My ruins feature Cyclopean-style walls with huge limestone blocks and the remains of at least three temple complexes dedicated to different gods. What Iron Age city-state lasting from around 1200 to 30 BC was I?
Answer: Kingdom of Tamassos
Modern Cyprus Riddles
Riddle 21: One of my cities located on the northeast coast has been continuously inhabited for over 2,300 years. Today I’m a bustling tourism hotspot packed with high rise hotels and nightclubs that draw over 2 million visitors per year. What party town am I?
Answer: Ayia Napa
Riddle 22: Located within my capital’s 16th century Venetian walls, this thoroughfare is packed with high-end international stores and designer boutiques. Sometimes called my version of ‘Rodeo Drive’, what famous shopping street in Nicosia am I describing?
Answer: Ledra Street
Riddle 23: Ranking among the healthiest diets in the world, I’m high in olive oil, vegetables, grains, fruit, fish, beans, potatoes, herbs and spices, but low consumption of meat and dairy. What regional cuisine native to Cyprus am I?
Answer: Cypriot Mediterranean diet
Beaches and Diving Riddles
Riddle 24: Located on the Karpaz Peninsula near Golden Beach, these shallow bay waters are renowned as one of the Mediterranean’s best sea turtle nesting sites inhabited by endangered green and loggerhead turtles. What protected beach area am I?
Answer: Alagadi Beach
Riddle 25: Covering over 10,000 square kilometers in the Levantine Sea, I’m one of the largest submarine canyons in the world with steep limestone cliffs plunging to depths over 2000 meters. What undersea geological feature found south of Cyprus am I?
Answer: Eratosthenes Seamount
Riddle 26: Home to the protected Episkopi Bay, I’m renowned for my clear waters and underwater visibility for diving and snorkeling to explore sea caves filled with corals, sea sponges and schools of fish. What western coastal city am I near Paphos?
Answer: Lemesos
Food and Drink Riddles
Riddle 27: Stuffing neck-end pork shoulder with coriander seeds, cumin, and chili flakes then slow roasting it for hours results in this delicious Cypriot comfort dish. What meaty local specialty am I describing?
Answer: Koupepia
Riddle 28: Originating in the Kelokedara region, this Cypriot pasta variety is made into spiral shapes similar to fusilli. It’s traditionally served with grated halloumi or kefalotyri cheese and speckled with cracked black pepper. What type of handmade Cypriot pasta am I?
Answer: Trahanas
Riddle 29: Grilling small cubes of halloumi or kefalotyri cheese so they get crispy brown outer shells yet remain oozy inside results in this popular Cypriot meze appetizer. What’s this beloved melted cheese starter dish called?
Answer: Saganaki
Riddle 30: These tiny red berries grow wild on low shrubs around Cyprus. Too tart to eat raw, they are made into sweet and tangy jams, juices and molasses-like syrups used in cookies and pastries. What Cypriot berry that’s a vitamin C powerhouse am I?
Answer: Loquats
Landmarks and Sights Riddles
Riddle 31: Known as the jewel in the crown of Cypriot medieval architecture, this Gothic cathedral located in Famagusta has seen coronations, royal weddings, and the burials of nobles and Lusignan royalty over its 700 year history. What historic Cypriot cathedral and tourist attraction am I describing?
Answer: St. Nicholas’ Cathedral
Riddle 32: Located near Paphos, these vast underground tombs were the burial sites of high ranking officials and aristocracy of the ancient city-kingdom of Nea Paphos. Intricate pillars and frescoes depicting Greek mythology adorn my walls and chambers. What historic landmark am I?
Answer: Tombs of the Kings
Riddle 33: Known as the jewel of Venetian architecture in Cyprus, I’m located in North Nicosia just south of the Green Line buffer zone. My name means “big church” in Greek referring to the grand scale of my structure first built as a Catholic church during Venetian rule. What iconic tourist attraction and cultural center am I?
Answer: Büyük Han
Riddle 34: Constructed by the Ottomans in 1571 using marble and Venetian columns, I’m one of the oldest and largest active mosques in Nicosia. My name means “Sultan Selim Mosque” in Turkish. What iconic Islamic house of worship am I located in north Nicosia?
Answer: Selimiye Mosque
Wildlife Riddles
Riddle 35: The island fox of Cyprus, I’m the only native carnivore found on the island. With large ears, brown fur, white underbellies and bushy tails, we are adept at hunting birds, rodents and reptiles. However, habitat loss threatens our survival. What species of endemic Cyprus wildlife am I?
Answer: Cypriot mouflon
Riddle 36: Located on Cape Greco along the eastern coast, this national park protects one of the major nesting areas for an endangered Mediterranean turtle almost hunted to extinction for its prized scutes overlaying its shell. What is the common name of this sea turtle species?
Answer: Loggerhead sea turtle
Riddle 37: Over 85 species of these winged animals migrate across Cyprus every year as it’s located directly on the intersection of Asia, Africa and Europe. Huge flocks can be seen from March to October stopping to rest and refuel around the island’s salt lakes. What type of migratory bird am I referring to?
Answer: Birds / migratory birds
Conclusion
Riddle 38: Known as the birthplace of the goddess Aphrodite, my strategic location in the Mediterranean made me an important trade hub sought after by many great civilizations from the Egyptians to the Ottomans over thousands of years. Today I’m an independent country welcoming millions of tourists to my beautiful island. What country rich in ancient history and culture am I?
Answer: Cyprus
I hope you enjoyed challenging your knowledge of Cyprus with these 38 riddles. Let me know if you have any other questions!
