Xylofagou

Xylofagou (Greek: Ξυλοφάγου [locally [ksiloˈfau]]) is a sprawling Greek-Cypriot village situated close to the A3 Motorway between Dhekelia (Larnaca) and Paralimni / Agia Napa. It lies on the northern flank of a hill,[2] on the edge of an area of a group of several similar villages known as the "Kokkinochoria" ("the red villages"), known for growing vegetables, especially potatoes, in red soil.

Xylofagou
Ξυλοφάγου
Agios Georgios church
Agios Georgios church
Xylofagou is located in Cyprus
Xylofagou
Xylofagou
Location in Cyprus
Coordinates: 34°58′30″N 33°51′6″E
Country Cyprus
DistrictLarnaca District
Population
 (2011)[1]
 • Total6,231
Time zoneUTC+2 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+3 (EEST)
Websitewww.xylophagou.com.cy

Etymology

"Xylo" is the Greek word for "wood". "fagou" roughly means "eater's". And the whole name roughly translates to "Woodeaters" Most of the village lies in Larnaca District.

Landmarks

The town is home to a medieval Venetian watchtower.[3][4]

Near Xylofagou is the Cave of the 40 Martyrs, where Christian soldiers sacrificed their lives in the 16th century to evade capture by the Ottomans.[5]

To commemorate the essential part the potato played in the Community's establishment and growth, a 16-foot-tall potato statue nicknamed the "Big Potato" was erected in the village. The statue proved controversial, with some mocking its suggestive shape.[6] Community leader George Tasou responded to the comments by stating “I'm not bothered because it’s brought publicity to our village, and I’m hoping it will promote the Cyprus potato around the world”.[7]

Xylophagou Tower
Xylophagou Tower
(Greek: Ο Πύργος της Ξυλοφάγου, Turkish: Xylofagou Gözetleme Kulesi)
Xylofagou is located in Cyprus
Xylofagou
Location within Cyprus
General information
Architectural styleMedieval
Town or cityXylofagou
CountryDhekelia,  Akrotiri and Dhekelia
Larnaca District  Cyprus
Coordinates34.950326°N 33.855896°E / 34.950326; 33.855896

Xylophagou Tower is a Venetian watchtower located in Pyrgos, south of Xylofagou.[8][9]

Discoveries

Xylofagou is the site of the oldest known dwarf elephant fossils on this island, assigned to the species Palaeoloxodon xylophagou, dating to around 200,000 years ago.[10]

References
  1. "C1. POPULATION ENUMERATED BY SEX, AGE, DISTRICT, MUNICIPALITY/COMMUNITY AND QUARTER (1.10.2011)", Population - Place of Residence, 2011, Statistical Service of the Republic of Cyprus, 2014-04-17, archived from the original on 2014-04-20, retrieved 2014-04-20
  2. Bekker-Nielsen, Tonnes (2004). The Roads of Ancient Cyprus. Museum Tusculanum Press. p. 189. ISBN 978-87-7289-956-5. Retrieved 16 March 2012.
  3. "The Venetian Watchtowers…". www.angloinfo.com. 20 March 2017. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
  4. "Venetian Watchtowers Route (West Larnaka Region)". Larnaka Tourism Board. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
  5. Bryant, Sue (27 January 2009). Frommer's Cyprus With Your Family: From the Best Family Beaches to Mountain Villages. John Wiley & Sons. p. 182. ISBN 978-0-470-72318-0. Retrieved 16 March 2012.
  6. Castrodale, Jelisa (18 October 2021). "A Village in Cyprus Is Now Home to This 16-Foot-Tall Potato Statue". Food & Wine. Retrieved 2021-10-24.
  7. Pitta, Antigoni (15 October 2021). "'Viral' Big Potato garners attention at home and abroad". Cyprus Mail. Retrieved 2021-10-24.
  8. "The Venetian Watchtowers…". www.angloinfo.com. 20 March 2017. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
  9. "Venetian Watchtowers Route (West Larnaka Region)". Larnaka Tourism Board. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
  10. Athanassiou, Athanassios; Herridge, Victoria; Reese, David S.; Iliopoulos, George; Roussiakis, Socrates; Mitsopoulou, Vassiliki; Tsiolakis, Efthymios; Theodorou, George (August 2015). "Cranial evidence for the presence of a second endemic elephant species on Cyprus". Quaternary International. 379: 47–57. Bibcode:2015QuInt.379...47A. doi:10.1016/j.quaint.2015.05.065.
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