10_b_route_X_b_txt

Trakhona or Trakhonas (Kizilbash), (now: Kizilay). This village like Trakhoni probably takes its name from former quarries of hard stone, traces of which may be observed near the river. The name does not appear on the old maps but in its place seems to have existed a village under the name of 'Ara', mentioned in one of Amadi's stories (Chronicles of Amadi, p. 467). The village church dedicated to the Panagia, is a small ancient monotholos, now in course of gradual reconstruction on a larger scale. The eastern part still survives with its iconostasis of XVIIIth century style, and in front of it two grave slabs from which the effigies have entirely disappeared. Over the south door within a picturesque narthex or loggia is a medieval shield of arms: p.p.p. a plain cross, a fess; also a square panel containing an elaborate XVIth century shield beneath a helmet with the coat of arms, barry of three. The wooden door beneath is dated 1773. Several fine fragments of some medieval building are inserted in the south wall, amongst others a beautiful XIVth century capital with a human face and foliage.

Alona, or Avlona (now: Gayretköv), was known in the middle ages as 'Avelone' (vide 'Les Assises'). It possesses a church of St. George and a chapel of the Khardhakiotissa (supposed to benefit intestinal complaints), both of them buildings of the XIXth century style. The place-name Alona, Salona, etc., refers to a thrashing floor; this Alona near Morphou seems to have been one of the principal centres of the Messaoria, during the middle ages.

The Peristerona River widens out into vast expanses of shingle between Peristerona and Morphou. On its northern bank are the insignificant villages of Masari or Masara (now: Sahinlar), Phylia or Philia (now: Serhadköy) , Kyra (now: Mevlevi) , and Khrysiliou or Chrysiliou (now: ?). The last named is an ancient settlement, as it is marked on the old maps, and at Kyra Dr. Ross (1845) found tombs, partly ancient and partly 'Frankish' at a monastery known as 'St. George the Royal', probably meaning the village church which has since been rebuilt. In this neighbourhood was a medieval 'Casal' named Zenuri or Tenari, a corrupted form of the famous family name De Nores.

Kato Kopia (now: Zümrütköy) is a modern village.

Argaki (now: Akcay) is marked on the old maps as 'Ariati', it possesses a modernised church dedicated to St. Barbara.

Pano Zodia (now: Yu. Bostanci) and Kato Zodia (now: As. Bostanci), is a large village and agricultural centre. Its churches of the Stavros, St. George, and the Archangel are all in the usual modern and unattractive style.

Syrianokhori (now: Yayla), on the west side of Morphou, as its name implies, must be an old Maronite settlement, but it retains nothing of any interest. Its small church of St. Nicholas has been modernised.

Pnasi Monastery, near Syrianokhori (now: Yayla), is one of the small incomplete foundations of modern times with a poor little chapel dedicated to the B.V.M. Kalokhorio, or Kaputi, a modern hamlet.

MORPHU (internal link)

On the south side of Morphou the villages of Niketa or Nikitas or Ay. Niketas (now: Günesköy), Prastion or Prastio (now: Aydinköy), Elea (now: Doganci), with a church of St. George, Pendayia (now: Yesilyurt), a mere collection of mud buildings of the poorest description, with small rebuilt churches devoid of interest. The last mentioned hamlet was perhaps of greater importance in the middle ages, for the great bay on this side of the island was then known as the 'Bay of Pentayia', and this now very insignificant place gave its name to the barony of Pentayia or 'five saints'. The modernised village church is dedicated to SS. Sergius and Bacchus.

Xeropotamos Monastery. A large mud building enclosure with a small chapel at one side of no great age. A curious inscription in Greek of the XVIth century no longer visible, recorded the foundation of this monastery (see Turner's 'Travels', 1815). A few ancient fragments from the neighbouring site of Solea lie scattered about the inclosure, or have been used up in its walls, amongst them are five large marble capitals from some ancient temple. Traces of foundations and ruins of an important settlement of former days may be found in the immediate neighbourhood of this monastery and of the modern hamlet of Pendayia, and the ruins of another important monastery are conspicuous towards the south.

The Petrasidis River, on which Pendayia (now: Yesilyurt) is situated, takes its name from the prettily situated and once important village of Petra, a place frequently mentioned in the chronicles. Here there was until recently a very picturesque Byzantine church, dedicated to the Transfiguration, or Chrysosoteros. The other churches of the village dedicated to SS. Basil, Marina, and Zacharias are of no particular interest. The church of the Transfiguration seems to have been converted into a mosque, and much mutilated by the substitution of a wooden roof for the dome which formerly covered it.

previous page \| overview old routes Cyprus \| detailed multi-clickable map Cyprus \| map of this route \|	In the year 1915... TRAKHONA TO PETRA... Consult this list of Greek and (new) Turkish place names

Trakhona or Trakhonas (Kizilbash), (now: Kizilay). This village like Trakhoni probably takes its name from former quarries of hard stone, traces of which may be observed near the river. The name does not appear on the old maps but in its place seems to have existed a village under the name of 'Ara', mentioned in one of Amadi's stories (Chronicles of Amadi, p. 467). The village church dedicated to the Panagia, is a small ancient monotholos, now in course of gradual reconstruction on a larger scale. The eastern part still survives with its iconostasis of XVIIIth century style, and in front of it two grave slabs from which the effigies have entirely disappeared. Over the south door within a picturesque narthex or loggia is a medieval shield of arms: p.p.p. a plain cross, a fess; also a square panel containing an elaborate XVIth century shield beneath a helmet with the coat of arms, barry of three. The wooden door beneath is dated 1773. Several fine fragments of some medieval building are inserted in the south wall, amongst others a beautiful XIVth century capital with a human face and foliage. Alona, or Avlona (now: Gayretköv), was known in the middle ages as 'Avelone' (vide 'Les Assises'). It possesses a church of St. George and a chapel of the Khardhakiotissa (supposed to benefit intestinal complaints), both of them buildings of the XIXth century style. The place-name Alona, Salona, etc., refers to a thrashing floor; this Alona near Morphou seems to have been one of the principal centres of the Messaoria, during the middle ages. The Peristerona River widens out into vast expanses of shingle between Peristerona and Morphou. On its northern bank are the insignificant villages of Masari or Masara (now: Sahinlar), Phylia or Philia (now: Serhadköy) , Kyra (now: Mevlevi) , and Khrysiliou or Chrysiliou (now: ?). The last named is an ancient settlement, as it is marked on the old maps, and at Kyra Dr. Ross (1845) found tombs, partly ancient and partly 'Frankish' at a monastery known as 'St. George the Royal', probably meaning the village church which has since been rebuilt. In this neighbourhood was a medieval 'Casal' named Zenuri or Tenari, a corrupted form of the famous family name De Nores. Kato Kopia (now: Zümrütköy) is a modern village. Argaki (now: Akcay) is marked on the old maps as 'Ariati', it possesses a modernised church dedicated to St. Barbara. Pano Zodia (now: Yu. Bostanci) and Kato Zodia (now: As. Bostanci), is a large village and agricultural centre. Its churches of the Stavros, St. George, and the Archangel are all in the usual modern and unattractive style. Syrianokhori (now: Yayla), on the west side of Morphou, as its name implies, must be an old Maronite settlement, but it retains nothing of any interest. Its small church of St. Nicholas has been modernised. Pnasi Monastery, near Syrianokhori (now: Yayla), is one of the small incomplete foundations of modern times with a poor little chapel dedicated to the B.V.M. Kalokhorio, or Kaputi, a modern hamlet. MORPHU (internal link) On the south side of Morphou the villages of Niketa or Nikitas or Ay. Niketas (now: Günesköy), Prastion or Prastio (now: Aydinköy), Elea (now: Doganci), with a church of St. George, Pendayia (now: Yesilyurt), a mere collection of mud buildings of the poorest description, with small rebuilt churches devoid of interest. The last mentioned hamlet was perhaps of greater importance in the middle ages, for the great bay on this side of the island was then known as the 'Bay of Pentayia', and this now very insignificant place gave its name to the barony of Pentayia or 'five saints'. The modernised village church is dedicated to SS. Sergius and Bacchus. Xeropotamos Monastery. A large mud building enclosure with a small chapel at one side of no great age. A curious inscription in Greek of the XVIth century no longer visible, recorded the foundation of this monastery (see Turner's 'Travels', 1815). A few ancient fragments from the neighbouring site of Solea lie scattered about the inclosure, or have been used up in its walls, amongst them are five large marble capitals from some ancient temple. Traces of foundations and ruins of an important settlement of former days may be found in the immediate neighbourhood of this monastery and of the modern hamlet of Pendayia, and the ruins of another important monastery are conspicuous towards the south. The Petrasidis River, on which Pendayia (now: Yesilyurt) is situated, takes its name from the prettily situated and once important village of Petra, a place frequently mentioned in the chronicles. Here there was until recently a very picturesque Byzantine church, dedicated to the Transfiguration, or Chrysosoteros. The other churches of the village dedicated to SS. Basil, Marina, and Zacharias are of no particular interest. The church of the Transfiguration seems to have been converted into a mosque, and much mutilated by the substitution of a wooden roof for the dome which formerly covered it.