A commandery of the Knights Templar...
ZEYTINLIK (TEMPLOS-TEMBLOS)

Zeytinlik lies approx. one mile above the historic port of Girne (Kyrenia), in the foothills of the Kyrenia mountain range, in an area of outstanding beauty.

In 1192 Girne fell to the Crusaders led by Richard the Lionheart, but was then handed on to Guy de Lusignan who (and his heirs) divided the region into feudal estates.

Interestingly, some place names closely resemble the names given to them by the Frankish overlords. The village of Temblos or Templos (Zeytinlik in Turkish) was a Commandery of the Knights Templar.

Zeytinlik formed the end of one of the two escape routes from Saint Hilarion Castle.

The upper escape exit, called a "postern gate", is in the Upper Ward, where Kings, Queens, princes and high nobles could escape down the mountain side to Karaman (Karmi), when an enemy blocked the main entrance and surrender of the castles was imminent.

The other postern gate (picture at right) is in the Middle Ward of Saint Hilarion and was meant for lower ranking people - it led downhill to Zeytinlik.

See: ground plan of St. Hilarion (between nr. 16 and 17).