When I was ten, another move brought us to England, settling near the city of Oxford. Surrounded by institutions like the Ashmolean Museum, my love for museums and the stories they told only intensified.

At fifteen, my family moved to Cyprus. Living on the island connected me directly to my heritage in a way I hadn't experienced before. The landscape itself felt alive with history, a link to the millennia of civilizations that had shaped it. This period was crucial in solidifying my identity as a Cypriot and deepening my interest in the island's unique past.

When the time came for higher education, my path took a quantitative turn. I moved to Glasgow, Scotland, to pursue a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics & Physics at the University of Strathclyde. My academic journey continued in Scotland, moving to Edinburgh for a Master of Science in Computational Applied Mathematics at the University of Edinburgh.

Following my academic pursuits, I embarked on a career in technology, initially working in London. My professional journey saw me contributing to several tech startups before joining a major bank, where I currently work as a Machine Learning Engineer in the Netherlands. My role involves developing and designing machine learning platforms and building models, often focused on complex challenges like financial crime prevention.

While building my career in software and machine learning, my underlying passion for Cypriot history and archeology resurfaced. As I dedicated more time to learning about ancient Cyprus, I quickly encountered significant frustration. Information was scattered, difficult to access, often locked away in obscure, out-of-print academic texts costing hundreds to acquire, or buried in dense scholarly papers inaccessible to the general public. Much of the available material also presented Cypriot history merely as an adjunct to the stories of its larger neighbours, failing to capture the island's unique narrative. This difficulty in accessing reliable, comprehensive information about my own heritage ignited a new purpose.

This frustration became the catalyst for creating AncientCyprus.com. The website is my effort to democratize access to Cypriot history and archeology, to gather the fragmented knowledge, and to present the incredible research of archeologists from around the world in an accessible format for everyone. It’s my way of giving back to a field that fascinates me and contributing to a wider understanding of Cyprus's pivotal role at the crossroads of Mediterranean civilizations.

Around the same time I founded AncientCyprus.com in mid-2023, a second, parallel event occurred that profoundly shifted my relationship with Cypriot antiquity. While researching online, I stumbled upon a small, Early Bronze Age Cypriot bowl. Unlike the thousands of artifacts I had admired in museum photos or behind glass, this one had a price tag. Until that moment, my experience with antiquities had been purely observational, confined to institutional settings. The realization that one could privately own a tangible piece of this ancient history was startling.

When that first small bowl arrived, the experience was electrifying. Holding a four thousand year old object, crafted by my ancestors, feeling its contours and contemplating its journey through time, was profoundly different from simply viewing it. The slight tremble in my hands as I carefully placed it down, wary of damaging such a precious link to the past, underscored the deep connection I felt. This private and personal encounter with history reinvigorated my commitment to sharing Cyprus's story.

This experience sparked the idea of building a personal collection, not for mere possession, but with the explicit aim of preservation and education. Guided by historical significance and aesthetic appreciation, I began thoughtfully acquiring artifacts. Each piece represents a fragment of the vast, complex story of Cyprus – an island shaped by countless cultures, from its indigenous peoples to the influences of Mycenaean Greeks, Egyptians, Phoenicians and Assyrians.

Building this collection wasn't just about acquiring objects; it was about deepening my understanding and network. I actively connected with scholars, museum curators, and fellow enthusiasts, engaging in invaluable conversations that offered perspectives far richer than any textbook could provide. Crucially, I established and maintain open communication with the Cypriot Department of Antiquities, respecting their expertise and seeking their guidance to better understand the cultural context and significance of these historical artifacts.

My research suggests a staggering number of Cypriot artifacts – potentially between 83,000 and 165,000 – are dispersed across the globe, held in museums and private collections. This dispersion underscores the importance of documentation and accessibility. My collection, therefore, serves a dual purpose: personal learning and public sharing. I believe passionately that these remnants of Cyprus's past should be studied, appreciated, and accessible to as many people as possible. Each piece I acquire is carefully documented, photographed, and researched, including provenance information, stylistic analysis, and cultural context whenever available.

A significant aspect of this journey has been confronting the darker side of the antiquities world – the looting and illicit trafficking of cultural heritage, particularly prevalent following the tragic events of the 1974 invasion of Cyprus. The scale of this loss fueled my resolve to contribute positively. I have actively worked to report and assist in the repatriation of objects identified as stolen during that period, collaborating where possible to ensure these pieces return to their rightful home. This commitment to ethical collecting and cultural heritage protection is paramount.

My work as a machine learning engineer and my passion for Cypriot archeology might seem disparate, but they stem from the same core drives: a love for uncovering patterns, solving complex problems, and constructing narratives from data – whether that data is numerical code or the fragmented pottery of an ancient civilization. Creating AncientCyprus.com and curating my collection are extensions of this drive, using modern tools and a personal commitment to bridge the gap between academic research and public knowledge, making the rich history of Cyprus accessible to all who wish to explore it.

What began as personal curiosity has become a dedicated mission of preservation, education, and repatriation. Through AncientCyprus.com and the careful documentation of my collection, I hope to share the beauty, complexity, and enduring significance of Cypriot antiquities with a global audience, ensuring that the island's vibrant past continues to inspire and inform the present.

If you have any inquiries or wish to discuss Cypriot archeology, technology, or anything in between, please feel free to contact me at alexis@ancientcyprus.com or connect with me on LinkedIn.