Demetrios Pierides (; 1811–1895) was a

Greek Cypriot Greek Cypriots (, ) are the ethnic Greek population of Cyprus, forming the island's largest ethnolinguistic community. According to the 2023 census, 719,252 respondents recorded their ethnicity as Greek, forming almost 99% of the 737,196 Cypri ...

banker, vice consul of Great Britain and collector of ancient Cypriot artefacts. He was the son of Pierakis Demetriou Corella (1790–1821) and Maria Caridi (c. 1775 – 1870)

Career

He studied history and literature in England 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, also spelled Larnaka, is a city on the southeast coast of Cyprus and the capital of the Larnaca District, district of the same name. With a district population of 155.000 in 2021, it is the third largest city in the country after Nicosi ...

. 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 Cyprus Human habitation of Cyprus dates back to the Paleolithic era. Cyprus's geographic position has caused the island to be influenced by differing Eastern Mediterranean civilisations over the millennia. Periods of Cyprus's history from 1050 BC hav ...

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

Cyprus Museum The Cyprus Museum (also known as the Cyprus Archaeological Museum) is the oldest and largest archaeological museum in Cyprus, located on Museum Street in central Nicosia. The museum is home to the most extensive collection of Cypriot antiquities ...

. 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".

References

* Coudounaris, A., Covotsou, M. (2002). Pierides Museum: Laiki Group Cultural Centre. Nicosia: Pierides Museum - Laiki Group Cultural Centre. * Coudounaris, A. (1972). Merikai Palaiai Oikoeneiai tis Kyprou - Some Old Families of Cyprus. {{DEFAULTSORT:Pieridis, Demetrios 1811 births 1895 deaths 19th-century Greek educators Greek Cypriots Educators from the Ottoman Empire