Χύτροι | |
 Map showing the ancient city Kingdoms of Cyprus | |
  Chytri Shown within Cyprus | |
| Location | Cyprus |
|---|---|
| Region | Nicosia District |
| Coordinates | 35°15′07″N33°29′41″E / 35.251979°N 33.494769°E /35.251979; 33.494769 |
Chytri (orKhytri,Greek:Χύτροι) was one of theten city-kingdoms of Cyprus in antiquity. It was located in the centre of the island, in the territory of Chytraea, west ofMesaoria. Today the modern town ofKythrea has preserved the ancient name.
According to mythology, after thefall of Troy, Greek immigrants led by Chytros, son of Alexander and grandson of the AthenianAcamas,[1] hero of the Attic tribe of the same name, settled on Cyprus. The modern village ofKythrea is situated near the ancient kingdom of Chytri which was founded by Chytros. Anecropolis has been discovered. In the time of theAssyrian kingAshurbanipal, Pilagura was king of Chytri, one of theten kingdoms on the island. Numerous inscriptions have been found in the Cypriot dialect, some in ordinary Greek. Chytri was noted for the worship ofApollo,Artemis andAphrodite Paphia. In theDelphic Theorodochoi inscription, one inscription mentions Chytri.[2] Later forms of the name are Cythraia, Cythereia, Cythroi, and Chytrides; according to the work ofAthanasios Sakellarios (Κυπριακά, 1890, 202–205) Kythrea should be Cythera or Cythereia; he identifies Chytri with Palo-Kythro, a village with ruins two hours south of Kyrka.[3][4] However, historical texts mention only one town.
Diogenes Laërtius writes that there was a festival held at Chytri withtheatrical plays.[5]
Chytri was an episcopal see at an early date.Michel Le Quien's list of the bishops of the see (II, 1069) is incomplete, with only eight being recorded: the first is Saint Pappus, who was martyred underLicinius,Maximinus Daza orConstantius Chlorus; the most famous is SaintDemetrian, 885 –c. 912.[citation needed]
TheGreek Orthodox, see of similar title was suppressed in 1222 byPelagio Galvani, thepapal legate,[6] while the island wasa Latin crusader kingdom.
Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913)."Chytri".Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.