What I Saw

16 Δεκ 2022

In 1738, Richard Pococke, after having visited Nicosia and “Telabaise”, followed the path of three miles down to the small town of Kyrenia:

In 1738, Richard Pococke, after having visited Nicosia and “Telabaise”, followed the path of three miles down to the small town of Kyrenia:

We went to a ruined port called Gerines, which is the ancient Cerynia; the ruined walls are about half a mile in circumference and seem to be on the foundations of the ancient walls, for I observed on the west side, a large fosse cut out of the rock, and the old town might extend further east beyond the present square fort, which is about a quarter of a mile in circumference.

Though the place is esteemed to be very strong, yet the Venetian governor, when the Turks were marching towards it, shamefully surrendered the fort, before the enemy paid siege to it. To the west of the town there are a great number of sepulchral grots, and I saw some pillars standing, and remains of the foundations of some ancient building. There is one church in the town, which is entire and two or three in ruins; the priest resides in the convent of Solea, there being not above five or six Christian families in the place. The chief trade here is with Selefki in Caramania, which is the ancient Seleucia in Cilicia; the commerce is carried on by two small French vessels, which export rice and coffee to that part, which is brought to Cyprus from Egypt. And they bring back storax and a great number of passengers. They also sometimes go over to Satalia, the ancient Attalia, in Pamphylia; but Selefki is the nearest place to this part of the island, being only thirty leagues off.

The 'What I saw...' series is made possible with the support of OPAP Cyprus and Active Citizens Fund.

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