August 14, 2025Open Access

Monument-building and the construction of national identity in a bicommunal state, 1960–63

Key Points

Monuments constructed in Cyprus between 1960 and 1963 reflect national identity and the Cyprus conflict, shaping public memory.
The emotional attachment of Greek and Turkish Cypriots to their respective nations persisted despite the state's independence, indicating deeper historical ties.
The analysis of public monument erection provides insights into intercommunal relations and identity formation in a bicommunal state.
Understanding the historical context of these monuments aids in comprehending the ongoing implications of national identity in Cyprus.

Abstract

Historical narrative, memory and identity formation are strongly linked to decisions taken behind the erection of a monument in a public space. This is especially true in places with a difficult past such as Cyprus. This paper attempts to document the monuments constructed in Cyprus between the establishment of the Republic of Cyprus in the summer of 1960 and the eruption of the intercommunal conflict in 1963, in an attempt to demonstrate the extent to which they reflected the Cyprus conflict. The paper also underlines that the emotional, cultural and intellectual attachment of Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, to Greece and Turkey, respectively, continued even after the establishment of an independent state.

Monument-building and the construction of national identity in a bicommunal state, 1960–63

Key Points

Abstract

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