Lythrodontas
Lythrodontas is built on the foothills of the Machairas mountains, with the green of olive trees dominating the landscape. It is no coincidence that the village is well known for its rich olive groves.
It is located in the Nicosia District, relatively close to the capital, as it is only 31 kilometers from Nicosia.
According to the Great Cypriot Encyclopedia, the name of the village suggests that it was founded during the Byzantine era. However, ancient remains reveal that the village had been inhabited since antiquity, mainly from the Hellenistic period.
Later, during both the Frankish and Venetian periods, Lythrodontas was a feudal estate. It is even marked on maps as “Litrondi.” Karouzis adds that: “During medieval times it was a well-known fiefdom which, according to Florio Bustronius, belonged successively between 1464 and 1468 to Vinciguerra Moresin and Petros Boustronios.”
During the Ottoman period, many of the village inhabitants were crypto-Christians, known as “Linobambakoi.” Later, however, as the Great Cypriot Encyclopedia characteristically states, “they collectively and openly became Christians.” It further explains: “According to Nearchos Clerides, this happened after one Easter when they went to the churches and the other residents did not allow them to attend the service. As a result, the next day they all went to the Archbishopric in Nicosia and were baptized.”
Regarding the Ottoman era, it is also mentioned that “many residents of Lythrodontas acquired land property in Latsia, near Nicosia, where they eventually settled and established large olive plantations.”
Over time, especially from the beginning of the 20th century, Lythrodontas became, as emphasized by the Great Cypriot Encyclopedia, the main village of the region. Today, Lythrodontas continues on a path of development. In fact, as Karouzis observes, many residents of the capital build their country homes in Lythrodontas.