Karpasia

About

Karpasia (Ancient Greek: Καρπάσεια and Καρπασία), Latinized as Carpasia, and also known as Karpasion (sometimes mistaken for Karpathos), was an ancient town in Cyprus, situated on the northern shore of the Karpas Peninsula, 3 km (1.9 mi) from the modern town of Rizokarpaso. According to tradition, it was founded by the Phoenician king Pygmalion of Tyre. It had a harbour, whose moles remain visible to this day.

According to archaeological evidence, the earliest possible date for the foundation of the town is the 7th century BC. It was first mentioned in literature in 399 BC. The town was mentioned by the writers of antiquity, including Strabo.

The city is also mentioned in the Hellenica Oxyrhynchia, which is a history of ancient Greece known from papyrus fragments. In 306 BC, the town was the site of landing for Demetrius I of Macedon, whose forces stormed Karpasia and the neighbouring town of Urania, before proceeding to Salamis. The architectural style as well as the techniques used in building the stone houses of the town incorporated elements of Phoenician influence.

In the Delphic Theorodochoi inscription (230 BC), which was published by André Plassart, there is a mention of a Karpasian...