Arodes
| Arodes | ||
|---|---|---|
| ||
| Country | Cyprus | |
| District | Paphos District | |
| Elevation | 590 m (1,940 ft) | |
| Population (2001[1]) | ||
| • Total | 127 | |
| Time zone | EET (UTC+2) | |
| • Summer (DST) | EEST (UTC+3) | |
Arodes (Greek: Αρόδες) is a village in the North West of Cyprus close to the Akamas peninsula. It is about 23 km from the town of Paphos. Arodes is composed of two smaller settlements; Pano Arodes (mainly Greek Cypriot) and Kato Arodes (previously mainly Turkish Cypriot).
In 1975 (a year after the Turkish invasion of Cyprus), Kato Arodes was abandoned and many of the buildings fell into disrepair. Some houses have now been renovated and made into holiday homes on the provision they be returned to their rightful owners in case of a settlement in the Cyprus dispute. Most residents of Kato Arodes moved to Kapouti (known as Kalkanli by Turkish Cypriots) to the north of the island.
In February 1995, an earthquake occurred that destroyed 50 homes and damged 570 others. The shock had a moment magnitude of 5.9 and a maximum Mercalli intensity of VII (Very Strong). Two people were killed and five were injured.[2]
The population of Pano Arodes has decreased in the past 30 years as the population has aged and younger residents move to towns for employment.
In his book "Historic Cyprus" (Second ed. 1947) at page 177, Rupert Gunnis (who was Inspector of Antiquities on the island at the time) described the village as follows:
"The mediaeval name of the village was Rhodes, from the fact that it was the property of the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem, whose headquarters were until 1522 in the island of Rhodes.
"The Christian village contains an eighteenth-century Church of St. Kelandion, an early bishop of Paphos. To the north side of the church lies the large stone sarcophagus of St. Agapiticos, while the companion one of St. Misiticos is to the south. The village legend is that those who wish to win the love of a person, be it a girl or boy, come secretly at night and chip off a fragment of the sarcophagus of St. Agapiticos. This is powedered and introduced into the loved one's drink, who will immediately reciprocate the donor's passion. Conversely, should a person desire to quarrel with another, he merely carries out the same procedure with powedered stone from the sarcophagus of St. Misiticos. It is interesting to note that the latter is far more worn away than that of St. Agapiticos, but this is explained by the fact that its powers are much in request by young men and women who wish to change their lovers."
References
- ↑ Statistical Service of the Republic of Cyprus (MS Excel), 2001 Population Census
- ↑ USGS. "M5.9 - Cyprus region". United States Geological Survey.
Coordinates: 34°56′16.89″N 32°24′16.30″E / 34.9380250°N 32.4045278°E