Demetrios Pieridis
Encyclopedia
Demetrios Pierides Greek Cypriot
son of Pierakis Demetriou Corella (b.1790-d.1821) and Maria Caridi (b.?1775-d.1870). He was a banker, vice consul of Great Britain
and collector of ancient Cypriot artefacts.
and was a private tutor of Greek of the Duke of Sutherland. At a later stage he was a professor of English language in Greece.
Pierides was the Director of Ottoman Bank in Larnaca
. In 1849 he took part in an expedition, led by Royal Navy Captain T.Graves, to compile the first proper map of Cyprus. He was a Member of Parliament (1884-1885) in Cyprus, and vice consul of England (1849-1850).
and will to prevent art dealers from selling the rich cultural heritage to foreign collectors of antiques, made Demetrios Pierides a collector of ancient artefacts. By that he managed to keep an important part of Cyprus handicraft history on the island. Parts of his collections laid the ground for the Pierides Museum.
Pierides was one of the founding members of the Museum of Cyprus. Many European intellectuals who knew Pieridis, used to call him "The Wise Greek". he wrote many scientific articles on Cypriot antiquities both in English and in French.
His father Pierakis was a merchant and land owner in Cyprus. He was hanged by the Turks, together with other prominent lay men and Bishops, on 10 July 1821 as a punishment for the Greek uprising.
The family motto is "Emmenein", meaning "Persistence".
Greek Cypriots
Greek Cypriots are the ethnic Greek population of Cyprus, forming the island's largest ethnolinguistic community at 77% of the population. Greek Cypriots are mostly members of the Church of Cyprus, an autocephalous Greek Orthodox Church within the wider communion of Orthodox Christianity...
son of Pierakis Demetriou Corella (b.1790-d.1821) and Maria Caridi (b.?1775-d.1870). He was a banker, vice consul of Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
and collector of ancient Cypriot artefacts.
History and Career
He studied history and literature in EnglandEngland
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and was a private tutor of Greek of the Duke of Sutherland. At a later stage he was a professor of English language in Greece.
Pierides was the Director of Ottoman Bank in Larnaca
Larnaca
Larnaca, is the third largest city on the southern coast of Cyprus after Nicosia and Limassol. It has a population of 72,000 and is the island's second largest commercial port and an important tourist resort...
. In 1849 he took part in an expedition, led by Royal Navy Captain T.Graves, to compile the first proper map of Cyprus. He was a Member of Parliament (1884-1885) in Cyprus, and vice consul of England (1849-1850).
Antiquities
His interest in ancient history of CyprusHistory of Cyprus
-Prehistory:Cyprus was settled by humans in the Paleolithic period who coexisted with various dwarf animal species, such as dwarf elephants and pygmy hippos well into the Holocene...
and will to prevent art dealers from selling the rich cultural heritage to foreign collectors of antiques, made Demetrios Pierides a collector of ancient artefacts. By that he managed to keep an important part of Cyprus handicraft history on the island. Parts of his collections laid the ground for the Pierides Museum.
Pierides was one of the founding members of the Museum of Cyprus. Many European intellectuals who knew Pieridis, used to call him "The Wise Greek". he wrote many scientific articles on Cypriot antiquities both in English and in French.
Family
Pierides married Theodora Cyprael Halil (b.1819-d.1859) and had two sons, Zenon D. Pierides and Gabriel-Cyprael Pierides. He also had five daughters (Adelais, Kalliope, Maritsa, Anna and Thecla).His father Pierakis was a merchant and land owner in Cyprus. He was hanged by the Turks, together with other prominent lay men and Bishops, on 10 July 1821 as a punishment for the Greek uprising.
The family motto is "Emmenein", meaning "Persistence".