The third largest island in the Mediterranean, on its east end. Cyprus was inhabited as early as the late Neolithic Age (mid-6th millennium BC) and by the late Bronze Age (c 1600 BC-c 1050 BC) had become a trading center, visited and settled by Mycenaeans and Achaeans, who introduced Greek culture and language. By 800 BC, Phoenicians had begun to settle there. By the 7th century BC, a number of Cypriot kingdoms had achieved great wealth and influence. It was finally taken over by the Ptolemys of Egypt and then annexed by Rome in 58 BC. Initially its most important center was Enkomi; later Salamis.