Interactive walk at Katydata/Skouriotissa-“Mining the past: From slag to capitalism”

The Bank of Cyprus Cultural Foundation with the bahçes Histories* of Cyprus, announces a series of walks and invites you to the first walk at Katydata titled Mining the past: From slag to capitalism on Saturday 11/1/2025.

In this walk, we will meet at the village of Katydata and walk together to Skouriotissa, one of the island’s oldest and most intensively used mining sites on the island. Along the way, we will discuss how the Romans exploited the deposits of copper pyrite found in these northern foothills of Troodos, leaving behind the largest ancient slag heaps known in Europe. We will then discuss the history of the American-owned Cyprus Mines Corporation (CMC), which brought Cyprus into a rapidly expanding network of industrial capitalism in the early twentieth century but was also responsible for many Cypriots gaining access to decent housing, schools, good wages, and even a railway!

Through the interactive walk by bαhçές Histories* of Cyprus, together, we will bring this place and these sources into dialogue to tell the (hi)story of mining in and around Katydata. We do not assume any prior knowledge of the history of Cyprus. The walk will take place in English with simultaneous translation in Greek. Everyone is welcome; but you do need to book your spot!

Free Participation / booking required at 22128175 and +90 543 546 7740, or via personal message through Facebook /Instagram pages of bαhçές histories* of Cyprus

Coordination team: Aliosha Bielenberg, Nur Cetiner, Maria Georgiou

Meeting place:  Community Council in Katydata, at the entrance of the village, coming from the Nicosia/Evrichou road (tel 99127565)/ Time: 11:00-13:00