Athienou Αθηένου, Αθηαίνου (Greek) | |
|---|---|
 Church of Panayia Chriseleousa | |
  Athienou | |
| Coordinates:35°04′N33°32′E / 35.067°N 33.533°E /35.067; 33.533 | |
| Country |  Cyprus |
| District | Larnaca District |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Kyriakos Kareklas |
| Population (2021)[1] | |
• Total | 9,721 |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (EET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+3 (EEST) |
| Postal code | 7600 |
| Website | www |
Athienou (Greek:Αθηένου orΑθηαίνου,locally[aθiˈenu]) is a village inLarnaca District,Cyprus. It is one of only four villages located within theUnited Nations Buffer Zone, the other three being:Pyla,Troulloi andDeneia. Today, Athienou has a population of around 10,000people. Since 1990, it has been home toDavidson College's Athienou Archaeological Project. The town's city hall includes a museum of local history and culture that was established in 2008.
It is considered by many, that the name of the village Athienou, derived from the ancient Greek word, "Atta" (Greek: Αττα) or "Atha" (Greek: Αθθα), meaninglarge rock, which characterized the rocky land of the village.According to another theory, the name derives from aLusignan calledÉtienne, who lived in the area, and the people who lived in the village were mentioning his house as "Etienne's Place" (Greek: "Στου Ετιένου",stou etiennou), and in later years that changed into Athienou.[2][3]
It has been a settlement sinceMiddle Bronze Age.[4][5][6] In ancient time, the town Golgoi[el] existed near modern Athienou.[7]
Golgoi was traditionally said to have been founded by Golgos fromSikyon in thePeloponnese. This link is reinforced by an archaic limestone relief discovered at the site and now housed in theMetropolitan Museum of Art in New York. The relief depicts aChimaera, a symbol associated with Sikyon and featured on its coinage.[8]
Media related toAthienou at Wikimedia Commons| Municipalities ofCyprus | |
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| Nicosia District |
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| Limassol District |
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| Larnaca District |
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| Famagusta District | |
| Paphos District |
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| Kyrenia District | |
| International | |
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| National | |
| Other | |
