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Introduction.
History is known through multiple sources – human
communal knowledge passed personally from generation to
generation, archaeological examination of material
objects in or on the ground and through historical
documents such as published maps or books.
Eptakomi is well known through this last source of
published material. As early as 1754 a foreign reader
far removed from Cyprus could have read of Eptakomi by
name and seen its position on a map. Earlier records
help paint a broader picture of the wonderfully special
landscape in which the village sits.
Classical context
Eptakomi sits in area of classical connections. It is a
village of the Karpas, an ancient name for the remote
eastern peninsula of Cyprus where early Christianity
arrived from the close-by Holy Land. At the same time it
occupies a distinctive position at the easternmost part
of the Kyrenia mountain range where Mount Yioti marks
its dramatic endpoint. It is near to Salamis, one of the
five ancient kingdoms of the island, whilst its northern
limit is defined by the coastline of small bays and
beaches upon which the earliest settlers arrived.
The classical site of Αχαιών Ακτή where Teucer (the
founder of Salmais) landed is widely regarded to lie a
short distance to the west of Eptakomi on the north
coast at Galounia.
Early Cartography
The earliest maps of Cyprus typically show only the
major classical and Byzantine towns such as Paphos,
Limassol, Famagusta, Kyrenia and Salamis. Map evolution
during the 1300 and 1400’s was primarily focused at
supporting mariners and sea farers. So the importance of
places for shipping (such as capes or prominent
mountains) influenced what was shown. Cape St Andreas
was an early landmark on maps.
Eptakomi Chapel Sites
When the medieval map makers began to record more
detail, they charted villages, churches and castles
often with equal status. So, for example, Davlos and
Ayios Nikolaos were shown as two equal places. There are
8 known chapel sites in the Eptakomi area and these
probably relate closely to the seven communities that
came together to form Eptakomi. |
