Kitra

Kitra ( Greek: Χύτροι ) is one of the ten city-states of ancient Cyprus . The city was well located in the very center of the island west of Mesaoria . Currently, only ruins remain from Kitr, but its ancient name has preserved the nearby city of Kitreya.

Map of city states in ancient Cyprus

The Kiters were founded by Kitros, the grandson of the hero of Attica Akamantas, who immigrated to Cyprus after 1200 BC. e. During the time of the Assyrian king Ashurbanipal, Kitra was one of the ten city-states of Cyprus and they were ruled by king Pilagura. The cult of Apollo , Artemis and Aphrodite of Paphia was very popular in the city. Over the centuries, the city had several names (Kitrai, Kiteria, Kitrai, Kitrides), because of which there was an opinion about the existence of several such cities, although at present only the ruins of Kitr have been discovered and studied.

The city continued to exist in the early stages of the Middle Ages , as evidenced by a list of local bishops of eight. The first of these was St. Pappus, who suffered a martyrdom during the reign of Constantius Chlorus , and St. Demetrian ( 885 - 912 ) gained fame. The Greek Orthodox Chair was abolished in 1222 by the papal legate Cardinal Pelagius, ^[1] after the island came under the control of the crusaders .