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A magnificent city built by Greeks centuries ago on the northern coast of Cyprus, was invaded by the Turkish army on 20th July 1974. Its people experienced the first wave of Turkish atrocities. Today its beauties are exploited by the invader and the stolen properties are used to attract tourists in the occupied part of Cyprus by the illegal regime.
If you are contemplating to visit Kyrenia then think twice. You could be staying in a stolen property.
Brief History of Kyrenia
A city of more than three thousand years of Greek history and civilisation. The first Greeks, who arrived on the island from mainland Greece and Asia Minor, immediately started the process of Hellenising Cyprus and its civilisation, by giving it Greek characteristics. Historical evidence links the present population of the island to the very first settlers from the Greek mainland. The Achaeans (a Greek race in ancient Greece) gave their name to the coast east of Kyrenia -the coast of the Achaeans. Remains of people of Achaean origin, their artefacts and bones can be found in the famous Castle of Kyrenia, where a museum was set up just before the Turkish invasion in the summer of 1974.
Lycophronas states that Kepheas, an Achaean from Dyme and Oleno in Achaea, built Kyrenia. Strabo testifies that Dyme was 60 stadia from Araxo and later, in 756 BC, it was amalgamated with the neighbouring city of Oleno and other cities. One of these cities was named Kerynia. Some tombs belonging to this "Kerynia" were found in July 1970. Pausanias mentions that many Myceneans established themselves in this Greek city. It was famous for its temple of Eumenides, which had the miraculous power of sending the impious and murderers mad.
The name Kerynia is very often found in many parts of ancient Greece. A mountain in Peloponnesos is called Kerynia. There is also another mountain in Peloponnesos called Kerynia, where a stag with golden horns used to live and it is known as the "Kerynitis Stag" that was dedicated to Artemis by the nymph Taigete. It was this stag that Hercules hunted for a year before he was able to catch it.
Kerynia was one of the Several Kingdoms of Cyprus. The descendants of their founders ruled these small states. As Salamis was ruled by the descendants of Teucer, so Kyrenia was ruled by the direct descendants of Kepheas.
During its long history, Cyprus inevitably was succumbed to its powerful neighbours as they periodically ruled the Eastern Mediterranean. Yet the local kings still ruled the Island's Kingdoms ensuring that their nationality, language, customs and traditions were preserved.
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