FAMAGUSTA TO NICOSIA BY RAILWAY...
| Consult this list of Greek and (new) Turkish place names |
(...) "A
small railway between the two ancient capitals - Famagusta and Nicosia
- of the island with a continuation to Evrykhou was constructed about
the year 1905, chiefly for the purpose of carrying grain through the
great agricultural plain of the Messaoria to the restored port of embarkation
at Famagusta. Railways with a very limited service of passenger trains
are not of very much utility to the student of local topography and
antiquities. In the present case the vicinity of the three large towns
Famagusta, Nicosia, and Morphou may be more conveniently visited from
either of these centres by a carriage than from neighbouring railway
stations." (...)
For Famagusta (now: Gazi Magusa) click
here.
For Stylos (now: Mutluyaka), and the
ruins of Trapeza, see Route VII.
Gaidhoura
(now: Korkuteli) is a small modern
village with a prominent unfinished church (a rebuilding of 1906).
Prastion
(now: Dörtyol), a modern village
with two large modern churches. Near the railway station is a modern
church of St. Anastasius. The name of Prastion seems; a Romaic corruption
of the Frankish Prati = fields.
Pyrga
(now: Pirhan) and Sinta
(now: Inönü) are small
modem hamlets.
Yenagra
(now: Nergizli, Nergisli), or Genagra,
a mixed village of some antiquity has a church, conspicuous on a hill-top,
of medieval cross plan with dome, and an added nave. 'Enagra'
was a fief of the Domaine Royale
in the Bailiwick of Lefkonico in the
XVth century.
Mousoulita (now:
Kurudere), an insignificant hamlet with two smaJI modern
churches.
Marathovouno
(now: Ulukisha), an imposing village
situated on a hill at some little distance from the railway. The village
church in the modern style is of considerable size.
Angastina
(now: Aslanköy), (on the ancient
maps 'Angestrina')
an ancient village with a name of possibly neo-latin origin. The village
church is modern, but there is also a chapel of St. Therapon of Palestine,
an early Bishop of Constantia who there suffered martyrdom at the hands
of Abu Bekir in 632. This chapel seems an ancient structure, it is situated
at the west end of the village.
Exometokhi
(now: Düzova). A small hamlet
with a modern church of St. George. Strambaldi says this village
belonged to the Neville family in 1391 and it is therefore of some antiquity.
Epikho
(Abukhor)
(now: --). An uninteresting hamlet
chiefly inhabited by Moslems. Near by are some large tombs which have
been rifled long ago.
(Voni
(now: Gökhan) and Trakhoni
(now: Demirhan) form part of the
excursion from Nicosia, and with Palekythro
(now: Balikesir) is also taken as
part of Kythrea (now:
Degirmenlik or Deyirmenlik).
Kaimakli (now:
?). This, although ranked as a distinct village with a siding
on the railway, is little more than a faubourg of Nicosia. It derives
its name from having been at one time the principal milk farm of the
district for the supply of the 'kaimak' or clotted cream beloved of
Turks. At the present day it seems to be considered the centre of the
building fraternity whose members travel about the country for the purpose
of erecting the strange and hideous 'barn' shaped churches now such
a familiar characteristic of the Cyprus landscape. As if to advertise
this special trade of its inhabitants the centre of the village is graced
with one of the most pretentious of these remarkable structures surmounted
by a dome which forms a landmark for some distance around. The building
is covered with ornament of the most barbarous and meretricious character
- a mere pile of misapplied details and an exhibition of the total depravity
of taste in modern work, even when uninfluenced by circumstances which
are supposed to produce a similar result in more civilized countries.
The name Kaimakli does not of course occur on the maps made previous
to the Turkish conquest, but a place name 'Micti'
seems to occupy the position.
To this more ancient village belongs a small and picturesque church
dedicated to the Archangel, situated at the east end of the settlement.
This is a monotholos with a western narthex; within, the barrel vault
is strengthened by ribs, and on its plastered surface are inserted old
porcelain plates in the style of many old churches in Cyprus. The most
interesting feature about the interior is the presence of two medieval
tombstones, with the effigies
of a gentleman and a lady dimly discernible. In the usual position within
the canopies over their heads are shields of arms: three crosses. The
inscriptions on these memorials are unfortunately completely obliterated.
This church is threatened with destruction but as it now serves chiefly
as a cemetery chapel, it may remain abandoned to this more humble use.
Omorphita
(now: ?). A mere modern off-shoot
from Kaimakli.
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