Neoklis Kyriazis | |
|---|---|
Νεοκλής Κυριαζής | |
 | |
| Born | 1877 (1877) |
| Died | 1956(1956-00-00) (aged 78–79) |
| Occupation(s) | Doctor, Folklorist, Historian, Scholar, Writer |
| Spouse | Maria Pieridi |
Neoklis Kyriazis (Greek:Νεοκλής Κυριαζής; 1877 – August 1956) was aCypriotmedical doctor andhistorian known for his significant contributions to thehistory ofCyprus. He was a member of the National Council of Cyprus.
Neoklis Kyriazis was born in 1877 inNicosia. His father was George Kyriazis,[1] one of fiveGreek brothers fromThessaly, who founded thecigarette empireKyriazi Freres.[2] His mother was Zafiro Odyssea Chasapoglou[3] great granddaughter of Tselepis Hadji-Petrakis Kytherios (1770–1830), one of the richest landowners inCyprus.[4] Neoklis’ maternal grandmother, Maritsa Tano, was a descendant of the Tano family, belonging to theItalian nobility.[5] He married Maria Pieridi (1871–1953), herself a descendant of anotherItalian nobility family (Cariddi).[6][7]
Kyriazis was a member of the National Council ofCyprus.[8] As a member of the St Lazarus Committee he founded the Museum ofSt Lazarus church inLarnaca.[9] One of his greatest achievements was the salvage and subsequent publication of many historical details concerningCyprus through the ages.[10] He started publishing articles on this subject from 1909, and over a period of 47 years he published several books and over 370 articles and studies. He participated in the publication of the monumental ‘Cyprus Chronicles’ (Kypriaka Chronica) a scientific/historical magazine (1923–1937) consisting of 4200 pages.[11][12] These Chronicles were under the auspices of a four-member committee (theBishop ofKition Nikodemos Mylonas, prof. Ioannis Sykoutris, Loukis Z Pieridis, and Neoklis Kyriazis), and covered every aspect of the history of Cyprus from the ancient times through to theTurkish and subsequentlyBritish occupation. Kyriazis was the only, or nearly only, author of this periodical from 1929–1937.
He worked asmedical doctor in Larnaca and wrote both scientific and popular papers on theCypriot Medical History, a subject continued by his grandson DrMarios Kyriazis.[13] As a doctor he was credited with the founding of a quarantine facility to prevent the spread ofcommunicable diseases from sailors visiting Larnaca. His medical library, instruments and other memorabilia are now exhibited at theKyriazis Medical Museum in Larnaca.
The Bishop ofKition said:Kyriazis was a rare and constructive personality with live national consciousness and selfless love for this island.[14] Larnaca Municipality honoured Kyriazis by naming a street after him. The Society of Cypriot Studies dedicated a commemorative plaque[15] in the courtyard of St Lazarus church. This roughly translates as:
Of the same craft asAesculapius -Neoklis Kyriazis -Humble pride of Larnaca -Lover of honourable letters -And sailor of the manuscripts -We salute you.