PSILOMOFOU

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Psimolofou is a large village located in Orinis, about sixteen kilometers from the capital city of Nicosia and two kilometers northeast of Argates. According to Goodwin, the name is a corruption of “opsimos lophos,” meaning “a good hill on which to plant.” The village dates back to the Lusignan period, during which time it was a fief and farm settlement. Although it was a mixed village until 1958, the Greek Cypriot population was predominant.
 
 
Historical Population:

From the Ottoman period, Psimolofou was a mixed village with a tiny Turkish Cypriot minority. As can be seen from the chart above, in the Ottoman census of 1831, Muslims (Turkish Cypriots) constituted only 7.6% of the population. The 1891 British census, on the other hand, put the Muslims’ proportion at 15%. However, during the British period, while the population of the village increased steadily, the Turkish Cypriot population declined, from 50 persons in 1891 to 21 in 1946. By 1960 there was only one Turkish Cypriot living in the village.

Displacement:

It is known that in 1958 all the Turkish Cypriot inhabitants (approximately 30) apart from one elderly man were displaced from Psimolofou. Most sought refuge in nearby Turkish Cypriot villages or in the Turkish sector of Nicosia(074). Currently, it is difficult to determine the PsimolofouTurkish Cypriots’ current place of residence, since they have settled in numerous villages throughout the north of the island.

Current Inhabitants:

Currently Psimolofouis mainly inhabited by its original Greek Cypriot villagers and some displaced Greek Cypriots from the north. Until the 1970s, most of the inhabitants were involved in agriculture. Today, very few inhabitants are still farmers. Most of the residents now hold jobs or have businesses in the capital city of Nicosia.  


 
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