Professor Stavroula Constantinou, Director of the Centre for Medieval Arts and Rituals (CeMAR) at the University of Cyprus, was featured in a two-part radio interview on the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation (CyBC) programme “Oi Latinoi tis Kyprou: History, Tradition, Culture”, now available as a single video:

source: https://radio.rik.cy/show/oi-latinoi-tes-kuprou/ (13 & 21 March, 2026)

The discussion presents the research project “Maternal Milk and Breastfeeding in Middle and Late Byzantium (8th–15th centuries)”, implemented under the Cohesion Policy Programme 2021–2027 and co-financed by the European Union through the Research and Innovation Foundation. The project builds on earlier research initiated in 2019 and aims to develop a critical history of motherhood and breastfeeding from Late Antiquity to the Byzantine period.

The interview addresses breastfeeding as the primary and safest form of infant nutrition in premodern societies, alongside the institutional role of wet nurses and the broader social and economic structures of infant care. It further examines gender roles, family organisation, and the lived experiences of women across different social strata.

Particular emphasis is placed on the religious and ritual dimensions of motherhood, including devotional practices, miracle narratives, and Byzantine iconography such as the Virgin Galaktotrophousa and Saint Anne. The discussion also draws attention to the enduring relevance of breastfeeding as a social practice requiring structured support systems.

CeMAR continues to advance this research through international collaborations, scientific publications, and the preparation of a monograph, contributing to the global scholarly discourse on the history of motherhood, gender, and health.

The project is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund and the Republic of Cyprus through the Research and Innovation Foundation (Programme “Excellence Hubs”: EXCELLENCE/0524/0012 and EXCELLENCE/1216/0020), as well as the University of Cyprus.